Production Technology of Tuber Crops
Course Overview
Official detailed syllabus from the ICAR Sixth Deans’ Committee curriculum.
Course Objectives
To impart knowledge and skill for production of tuber crops and their management
Theory Syllabus
Origin, area, production, economic importance and export potential of tropical, sub-tropical and temperate tuber crops; description of varieties and hybrids. Climate and soil requirement, season; seed rate; preparation of field; planting practices; spacing; water, nutrient and weed management; nutrient deficiencies. Use of chemicals and growth regulators; cropping systems. Harvesting practices yield; economic of cultivation. Postharvest handling and storage, marketing. Crops to be covered- potato, sweet potato, arrow root, cassava, colocasia, xanthosoma, amorphophallus, dioscorea, Jerusalem artichoke, horse radish, coleus and yam bean and other under exploited tuber crops.
Practical Syllabus
Identification and description of potato and tropical, sub-tropical and temperate tuber crops; planting systems and practices; field preparation and sowing/planting. Top dressing of fertilizers and interculture and use of herbicides and growth regulators; identification of nutrient deficiencies, physiological disorders; harvest indices and maturity standards, postharvest handling and storage, marketing. Seed collection, working out cost of cultivation.
Suggested Readings
1. Dhaliwal M S. 2008. Handbook of Vegetable Crops. Kalyani Publishers. Ludhiana
2. ICAR. 2002. Hand Book of Horticulture. ICAR.
3. Thamburaj S. 2014. Text Book of Vegetable, Tuber Crops and Spices. ICAR, New Delhi.
4. Umashankar. 2008. Indian Vegetables. Anmol Publications. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.