1. Introduction:-

Ridge gourd is a very important Indian vegetable crop and it can be grown throughout

the year. It belongs to cucurbitaceae family. The Ridge gourd vegetable in green stage and

leaves with stem are used as vegetable, it is very famous vegetable in south and east India.

Health Benefits of Ridge Gourd are excellent blood purifier, Possessing laxative properties,

Beneficial for diabetes, Ridge gourd is extremely rich in dietary fibre, Aiding in weight loss,

Anti-inflammatory and antibiotic. It is a creeper and has a climbing or trailing habit. There is

a wide variation in shape and length of fruits.

2. Land selection and Preparation:

Ridge gourd can be grown in all kinds of soil, loam, clay loam and silt soils are best

suited for its cultivation. The land is prepared by ploughing for three to four times, followed

by planking. A well-pulverized soil promotes good soil aeration and enhances root formation.

Prepare the field as early as possible to give enough time for the weeds and stubbles of

previous crops to decompose. Plough the soil with chisel plough and harrow 2 to 3 times

alternately with intervals of one week. Plough at a depth of 15 to 20 cms. Harrow twice to

break the clods and level the field. Ridge gourd grows in a wide range of soils but it thrives

best in sandy and loamy soils. The suitable PH range is 6.5 to 7.5. Adding organic manure

and farmyard manure will make the soil rich. This paves way for better yield and quality

vegetable can be expected. Once adding FYM @ 10-15 tons and Neem Cake @ 250 Kg per

Package of Practices on Ridge Gourd

acre along with Azospirillum 5 Kg and 6.5 Kg of Pseudomonas after 2nd ploughing. to soil is

complete, cover the manure with soil and arrange mulching sheet and drip irrigation system

makes land preparation complete.

2.1 Mulching sheet

The arrangement of a Mulching sheet is very important because it is impermeable to water

and prevents the direct evaporation of moisture from the soil and thus limits the water losses

and conserves moisture. Mulch can facilitate fertilizer placement and reduce the loss of plant

nutrient through leaching. Mulches can also provide a barrier to soil pathogen and prevent

germination of annual weeds from receiving light.

2.2 Drip irrigation

Overhead irrigation wets the plants but produces runoff. In contrast, drip irrigation is a much

more controlled irrigation method. It works by exposing the roots to a direct supply of water.

Drip irrigation system release water in a slow and steady fashion and controlled amount of

water is supplied to plants at regular intervals.

3. Season and Climate:

Warm and humid climate is favourable for its growth and development. The optimum

temperature requirement is 25-300C. Long day and high temperatures favoured the

development of more female flowers. Luffa can be cultivated up to 500 m MSL. Ridge gourd

can be grown in all kinds of soil but loam, clay loam and silt soil with pH of 6.5 to 7.5 are

best suited for its cultivation. Proper drainage is highly beneficial. Excessive water can

results in poor growth and root diseases.

4. Selection/ variety/planting material/nursery raising

Pkm1.

CO-1.

CO-2.

Desi Chaitali.

Pusa Nasdar.

Phule Sucheta.

Kankan Harita.

b) Seed Rate:

The seed rate is 1 to 2 kg/acre.

4.1 Seed treatment:-

The seeds of ridge gourd are very hard and having a very smooth surface and may take

more time to germinate. In order to enable for earlier germination of seeds, they are to be first

roughed lightly with rolling over a sand paper and soaked in luke warm water over night.

Before sowing, the seeds are to be treated with Trichoderma viride @ 4 gm per kg or

Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10 gms per kg of seeds.

4.2 Transplanting

The seeds can be directly sowed three numbers in a pit or can be grown initially in a

polythene bag filled with same soil and transplanted at the pits after a healthy growth of the

plant. Thinning to two plants after healthy growth of plants to be carried out.

4.3 Spacing

The plants are sown at a spacing of 150 X 200 cm.

4.4 Methods

The seeds are sown following two methods.

Bed type the other is Pits or furrows type.

a) Bed type method is followed for Trellis or raised type of growing.

b) Pits type is followed for ground trailing method of growing. In ground trailing method,

the fruits will have a flat side whereas in raised method the fruits will be round shape.

5. Water management:

Install drip system with main and sub-main pipes and place the in line lateral tubes at

an interval of 1.5 m. Place the drippers in lateral tubes at an interval of 60 cm and 50 cm

spacing with 4 LPH and 3.5 LPH capacities, respectively.

6. INM

A) Introduction: Integrated Nutrient Management refers to the maintenance of soil fertility

and of plant nutrient supply at an optimum level for sustaining the desired productivity

through optimization of the benefits from all possible sources of organic, inorganic and

biological components in an integrated manner.

6.1 Organic: Apply 10 kg of FYM per pit, neem cake @ 100 kg before last ploughing

6.2 Bio-Fertilizer: Apply Azospirillum and Phospho bacteria @2 kg/acre and Pseudomonas

2.5 kg/acre as a basal dose along with FYM.

6.3 Chemical fertilizer:

N-P-K at the rate of 60-85-75 kg per acre before sowing and N @ 50 kg per acre after

30 days.

Spray Ethrel @ 2.5 ml per 10 litres of water after 15 days of sowing and once in a

week after that. This will help increase in yield.

6.4 Speciality fertilizer:

Soil: Apply DNP-G @3-4bags per acre as a basal dose along with 10kg of each PH-50 and

Amino-G

6.5 Foliar application:

Bio- Max: Dissolve 3 ml of “Bio Max” and 5gms of 19:19:19 in 1 litre of water. First spray

after 15 days of planting and next @ 30 days of plating.

Total: Dissolve 5 g of “Total” in every litre of water or 1kg in 200 litres of water and : spray

on both surfaces of leaves. Repeat spray at monthly interval.

Drip: Apply Bumper crop kit at 15-20days of planting which will enhance the yield and also

avoid the soil born diseases

6.5 Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms

Elements Symptoms Remedies Picture

N Lighter green or yellow

coloured leaves (first evident in

older leaves) - some plants

Nitrogen deficiency symptoms

begin as pale green leaves,

often smaller than normal; and

stunted, weak shoot growth

Urea contains 46%

Nitrogen.

Top dressing with

inorganic nitrogen

fertilizer @10-20 Kg

N/ha.

Foliar spray of nitrogen

fertilizers @ 0.5% N.

P Phosphorus deficiency

symptoms begin with reduced

growth with short, thin shoots.

Leaves are small, and

defoliation follows starting

with the lower leaves.

Correct soil pH by

adding adjuvants.

Apply p 205 @ 40-50

kg/ha as single or tripl (

phosphate.

Spray with 1-2%

solutiol) of triple super

phosph;

K Potassium deficiencies are first

characterized by reduced

growth, weak stems, and shoot

die-back. Early symptoms may

be difficult to distinguish. Leaf

symptoms include dull bluish-

green discolorations,

particularly in the interveinal

areas of the leaves, dull,

general chlorosis particularly at

the leaf tips and margins; then

tip burning and marginal

scorch on the older leaves with

the leaves curling under or

upwards

Normally, about 50 kg

K2O/ha will be

adequate for the soil

deficient in potassium.

Potassium may be

supplied regularly in

the form of potassium

sulphate.

Ca Calcium deficiency symptoms

appear initially on the young

leaves and the shoot apex. New

leaves are distorted with

hooked tips and curled

margins, which are irregular

and may show brown

scorching or spotting. Calcium

deficiency can also cause roots

of the plants to become

stunted, translucent, and

bulbous with dead tips.

Calcium deficiency can

be corrected by liming

the soil in the

appropriate quantity.

Apply calcium

containing fertilizers

like gypsum or chelates

etc.

Calcium Chelate 1 - 4%

Mg Magnesium deficiency

symptoms begin with

chlorosis, sometimes with red

or orange coloration on the

oldest leaves. As symptoms

progress the older leaves

shrivel and drop, the veins on

the remaining leaves stay green

and the interveinal areas have

an orange chlorotic mottle.

Growth can be much reduced.

Spray of foliage with

1% MgSO4 solution to

correct the deficiency.

S Symptoms of Sulfur deficiency

are much like those caused by

Nitrogen: reduced leaf size,

stunted growth, chlorosis,

orange to purplish

pigmentation and delayed

maturity

Sulphur deficiency can

be corrected by

applying fertilizers

containing sulphur like

Ammonium sulphate,

Sulphate of Potash.

Ammonium Sulphate

24%

Single Super Phosphate

12%

Paramphos 15%

Fe A deficiency of Iron causes a

decrease in the size of

chloroplasts, reduced

chlorophyll and reduced

photosynthesis. Symptoms

include yellow or white

chlorosis between green veins

on younger leaves and poor

vigor leading to death of the

shoot tips. These symptoms are

most serious in poorly drained,

alkaline soils.

Apply 10 kg/ha iron

sulphate through soil;

spray 0.5% FeSO4 +

0.1%citric acid; add

0.2% urea in the spray

solution for better

results

Mn Symptoms of Manganese

deficiency start as interveinal

mottled chlorosis, the leaves

become yellow and then

develop small necrotic lesions

in the most chlorotic areas.

Reduced leave size and

crimping of leaf margins are

also possible symptoms

Apply 10 kg/ha

manganese sulphate

through soil; foliar

application @ 0.12 kg

Mn/ha is useful

Zn Zinc deficiency symptoms

begin with interveinal

chlorosis. The first leaves in

the spring on trees remain

small, the stems fail to elongate

and the leaves appear to be in

whorls or rosettes.

Apply 15 kg/ha or more

Zn through soil; spray

10 kg/ha ZnSO4

Mo Symptoms of Molybdenum

deficiency start with the older

leaves and progress towards

the tip. The first symptom is

yellow-green or pale orange

interveinal mottling distributed

uniformly over the leaf.

Marginal wilting, inrolling and

cupping follow the chlorosis

and flower formation is

suppressed

Apply 1 kg/ha

ammonium molybdate

with NPK fertilizers

through soil; spray 200

ppm ammonium

molybdate before

flowering

Bo Boron deficiency symptoms

vary between plants but some

general symptoms are injury to

plants meristem and actively

dividing tissues and death of

the apical meristem. This can

lead to a bushy plant habit or

the death of all buds preventing

new growth

Spray 10 kg/ha borax or

0.2% borax through

soil; foliar application

of 0.1 ppm B

7. Integrated pest management:

1. Fruit fly (Bacterocera cucurbitae)

This is a major pest of majority of cucurbits especially that of bitter gourd, snake gourd,

pointed gourd, muskmelon, oriental pickling melon,

watermelon, tinda and pumpkin.

Adult fly has reddish brown body with

transparent and shiny wings, bearing yellow-

brown streaks. It lays eggs singly or in clusters

of 4-12 in flower or developing fruits or

ripening fruits with the help of sharp ovipositor

of females. Eggs hatch in 2-9 days and

maggots feed on internal contents of fruits causing rotting. Pupation is in ground at a

depth of 1.5-15.0 cm. Infestation is more during rainy season.

Adopt following package for manage of fruit fly:

1. Cover developing fruits with paper cover or polythene cover immediately after anthesis

and pollination.

2. Collect and destroy affected fruits by dipping in hot water or insecticide solution. Do not

leave infested fruits on gourd.

3. Use light trap and poison baits during night. Spray a bait solution containing 200 g gur or

sugar and 20 ml Malathion 50 EC in 20 1 of water as coarse droplets on lower surface of

leaves.

4. Spraying on under surface of leaves of maize plants grown in rows at a distance of 8-10 m

in cucurbit field is also effective as flies rest on such tall plants.

5. Hang baits containing sex attractants like pheromones or protein hydrolysate with Furadan

granules. Hanging coconut shells with pieces of fully ripened fruits of “Mysore poovan”

banana or toddy or molasses along with Furadan granules also attract and kill fruit flies.

2. Red Pumpkin Beetle (Aulacophora foveicollis)

Beetle attacks most of cucurbits especially melons, bottle gourd, pumpkin, cucumber,

water melon etc. Bitter gourd is not seen attacked by beetle. Beetles eat the leaf lamina

causing defoliation particularly at cotyledon stage of crop. Grubs feed on underground stem

and root portion of plants causing holes / galleries and result in drying up of plants. As insects

pupate in the soil, deep ploughing soon after the crop exposes and kills grubs and pupae.

Application of Furadan 3G granules 3-4 cm deep in soil near base of just germinated

seedlings will take care of young seedlings from attack of beetle.

3. Red spider mites (Tetranychus sp.)

Larvae, nymphs and adults of mites lacerate leaves from under surface and suck sap

resulting in production of white patches between veins in Cucurmis melo. Infested leaves turn

yellow and fall of prematurely. In severe cases, intense webbing occurs giving a dusty

appearance to under surface of leaves.

Management: Mites can be controlled by spray of neem oil garlic mixture or Kelthane or

Dicofol on under surface of the leaves.

4. Leaf miner (Lyriomyza trifolii)

This polyphagous pest causes characteristic white twisting lines in ash gourd, Cucurmis

sativus and Cucurmis melo. Severe leaf mining accelerates leaf drop and retards growth and

yield of plants. Yellow larvae can be seen at the end of mines. Larval duration is 4-6 days.

When larva is ready to pupate, it cuts a semi-circular slit on leaf surface and fall down on

ground. Larvae emerge from leaves during early morning before 8.00 a.m.

Management: For control of miner, trap adults to yellow cards applied with adhesives.

Burning infested dried leaves will help in reduction of population. Spraying neem oil garlic

mixture early in morning before sunrise will be an effective control.

7.2 Diseases

1. Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum)

Fusarium wilt is a serious disease water melon, musk melon, bottle gourd etc. In

young seedlings, cotyledons drop and wither. Older plants wilt suddenly and vascular bundles

at the collar region show brown discolouration. Being a soil borne disease, chemical control

is very difficult.

Management: Cultivation of resistant varieties and crop rotation with resistant crops are

viable methods for overcoming the disease. To some extent, the disease can be checked by

hot water treatment of seeds at 55oC for 15 minutes and by drenching soil with carbendazim.

2. Powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca fuliginea)

This disease is more destructive in pumpkin, squashes, bottle gourd, melon and

cucumber, that too, during rain free periods. Symptoms appear as white to dirty grey spots or

patches on leaves which become white powdery as they enlarge. Powdery coating covers

entire plant parts and causes defoliation.

Management: Fortnightly spray of Karathane (0.5%) or Calixin (0.05%) or Carbendazim

(0.1%) are recommended for control of powdery mildew.

3. Downy mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis)

Disease is prevalent in areas of high humidity, especially during rainy season, on crops

like bitter gourd, snake gourd, melon, bottle gourd and ridge gourd. Symptoms appear as

water soaked lesions on under surface of leaf lamina and angular spots on upper surface

corresponding to the water-soaked lesions on under surface. Disease spreads very fast.

Management: Plucking and destruction of affected leaves and spraying Dithane M-45

(0.2%) on under surface of leaves give effective control.

4. Anthracnose (Colletotrichum lagenarium)

This disease is endemic in warm and humid conditions where rainfall and humidity are

high. Cucurbits like watermelon, bottle gourd, cucumber and snake gourd are more

susceptible to disease. Different types of symptoms are observed on leaves, petioles, stem and

fruits. Symptoms on young fruits appear in the form of numerous water soaked depressed

oval spots, which coalesce covering large areas. Under humid conditions, pink masses of

spores can be seen in centre of these spots. Pink gummy exudation may also be seen on

lesions due to exudation of spores. Symptoms on vines occur as brownish specks which grow

into angular to circular spots.

Management: Girdling of affected portion leads to general blight symptoms. Clean

cultivation and crop rotation minimize disease incidence. Treating seeds with Carbendazim

@ 25 g/kg of seed and spraying crop at 10 days intervals with Indofil M-45 (0.35%).

Benomyl or Carbendazim (0.1%) gives effective control.

5. Alternaria blight and fruit rot (Alternaria cucumerina)

This is a serious disease under warm and humid conditions in crops like musk melon,

water melon, bottle gourd, snake gourd, cucumber and pumpkin. Severely affected vines look

like burnt charcoal.

Management: Use of disease free seeds, clean cultivation and crop rotation are effective for

control of disease. Spray of 0.25% Indofil M-45 at 10-15 days interval is effective for disease

control.

6. Mosaic

Viral disease are causing extensive damage to different cucurbits like pumpkin and squashes,

water melon, ridge gourd, bitter gourd, ash gourd, melon, cucumber and coccinia. Viral

diseases are becoming serious due to intensive and continuous cultivation of a crop with

indiscriminate use of plant protection chemicals. Several viruses like aphid transmitted

cucumber mosaic virus, watermelon mosaic viruses like aphid transmitted cucumber mosaic

virus, watermelon mosaic virus, mechanically transmissible tobacco virus group, non-sap

transmissible but white fly transmissible yellow vein mosaic virus etc. cause malformation

and damage to plants. Symptoms expressed by host plant vary with virus and crop. Mosaic

mottling, curling and twisting of leaves, shortening of internodes, stunted growth are

common symptoms and vegetative growth, flowering and productivity are adversely affected

once crop is infected.

Management: Complete control of the diseases is not possible. Adoption of practices like

collection of seeds from healthy virus free plants, seed treatment with hot air (70oC for 2

days) or hot water (55oC for 60 minutes), clean cultivation and removal of alternate hosts

particularly weeds, avoiding relay cropping of susceptible crops, prophylactic spray of

organic pesticides, control of vectors by spraying insecticides, use of biocontrol agents,

cultivation of tolerant / resistant varieties, avoiding cropping during mosaic prone season and

areas, either alone or in combination have to be tried for raising a mosaic free crop. Selection

of methods for control of viral diseases should be based on intensity of infection, mode of

transmission, etc.

8. Weed management:

Removal of weeds and earthing up of soil to the plants to be carried out before

application of fertilisers. Application of Fluchloralin @ 2.5 kg per acre or Bensulide @ 15 Kg

per acre to the filed 15 days before sowing helps control weeds.

9. Cultural practices:

9.1 Staking and Trellising

Ridge gourd grows very fast and vines elongate rapidly within four weeks after seed

germination. Thereafter, the plant sends out lateral stems. Staking and trellising increase the

ridge gourd yield and size reduce fruit rot and make spraying and harvesting easier.

9.2 Pruning

Ridge gourd develops many side branches that are not productive. To improve yield,

remove lateral branches until the runner reaches the top of the trellis. Leave 4-6

laterals and cut the top of the main runner to induce early cropping.

We can trellise the ridge gourd crop with bamboo poles, wood stakes, PVC pipes or

other sturdy material. These are used to provide support and keep the fruit and foliage

off the ground. The trellis is arranged either in a lean to or in tunnel structure.

Horizontal stakes are installed at the top joining all other beds. The stakes support the

climbing vines and lateral stems. Strings are used to secure adjoining stakes. Plantings

are easier to manage and more productive when 2 m high rather than 1 m high. String

trellises are used for the tunnel type; plants are grown inside an arch shape structure

made of either PVC or galvanized iron pipe.

10. Harvesting:

Crop is ready for harvest in about 60 days after sowing. Both crops are picked at

immature tender stage. Fruits attain marketable maturity 5-7 days after anthesis. Over-

mature fruits will be fibrous and are unfit for consumption. To avoid over-maturity,

picking is done at 3-4 days interval. Harvested fruits are packed in baskets to avoid

injury and can be kept for 3-4 days in a cool atmosphere.