Carrots are grown for consumption in raw form. Carrot is a very popular vegetable crop. Its root part is used by people for food. The upper part of the root is used to feed animals. Its raw leaves are also used to prepare vegetables. Various types of properties are present in carrots, due to which it is used in large quantities to make juice, salad, pickle, jam, vegetable, and carrot halwa.
It is very beneficial in increasing appetite and also for kidneys. The highest amount of Vitamin A is present in it. Along with this, an adequate amount of Vitamin B, D, C, E, and G is also present in it. Carrots contain an element called beta-carotene, which is very beneficial in the prevention of cancer. Earlier carrots were only red in color. But at present there are various improved varieties of carrots, in which yellow and light black colored carrots are also found. Carrots are grown in almost all areas of India.
Before producing carrots, the field is deeply plowed in the best possible manner. Due to this, the old crops that remain present in the field are completely destroyed. After plowing, the field is plowed with water, which makes the soil moist. In moist soil, oblique plowing is done two to three times by using a rotavator. Due to this, the clods of soil present in the field soil get broken and the soil becomes brittle. The field is leveled by compacting the loose soil.
As we all know for the best yield of any crop, it is necessary to give an appropriate amount of fertilizer in the field. For this, after the first plowing of the field, up to 30 cartloads of old cow-dung manure has to be applied per hectare. Apart from this, at the time of final plowing of the field, 30 KG potash and 30 KG nitrogen have to be sprayed per hectare based on chemical fertilizer. Due to this, production is achieved in large quantities.
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Carrot seeds are sown in seed form. For this, seeds are sprayed evenly on the ground. About 6 to 8 KG seeds are required in one-hectare field. Treat these seeds before planting them in the field. After sprinkling the seeds in the field, the field is lightly plowed. Due to this, the seed goes deeper into the field. After this, ridges are prepared in the form of beds using plow. After this, the crop is watered. Asian varieties of carrots are planted between August and October. Also, the sowing of European varieties is done between October to November.
The first irrigation of the carrot crop is done soon after seed transplantation. After this, initially, irrigation is done twice a week to keep the moisture in the field stable. At the same time, when the seeds come out of the ground, water them once a week. After one month, when the seeds start becoming plants, the plants have to be given less water. After this, when the roots of the plant become completely long, the amount of water has to be increased.
It is very important to control weeds in carrot crops. For this, weed control medicines are used only at the time of plowing the field. Even after this, if weeds are seen in the field, remove them from the field by weeding. During this time, if the roots of the plants become visible, the soil is covered over them.
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Based on good varieties of carrots, a high yield can be achieved, due to which farmers can get a production of about 300 to 350 quintals from one hectare field. There are some species which can yield only 100 quintals per hectare. By getting the produce in a short period, farmers also earn excellent profits. The market price of carrots is quite good in the beginning. If a farmer gets more production and sells carrots at a reasonable price, he can earn an income of up to Rs 3 lakh from one crop. Carrot cultivation is very beneficial for the farmers.