Know about the cultivation of green leafy vegetables Bathua, in what climate and soil this crop grows in less time?
This crop is ready in very less time and gives good profit to the farmers.
Green vegetables, especially green leafy vegetables, are very beneficial for health. With the arrival of winter season, green vegetables come out in the market – spinach, fenugreek, radish, mustard, besides bathua are also sold well. Some people eat bathua in lentils, while some eat it by making green veggie. Along with increasing immunity, it is considered helpful in relieving constipation and gas problems. In view of its medicinal properties, its demand increases in the market in winters. Farmers can earn a profit of 35-40 thousand rupees in a season from the cultivation of Bathua.
Soil and Climate for Bathua Cultivation
The botanical name of Bathua is ‘Chinopodium album’ and it has about 250 species. In India also about 8 varieties of Bathua are found. It is a herbaceous plant which does not have any kind of smell. Its specialty is that sometimes it grows as a weed in the fields and it is also cultivated. Bathua is cultivated only in the cold season. Therefore, sowing in October is suitable. Although Bathua grows in any type of soil, but sandy loam and loam soil are most suitable for its cultivation. Bathua plants need support when they grow up, otherwise the plants start falling due to the weight of flowers and seeds. The length of plant is up to 30-80 cm.
ICAR developed a new variety of Bathua
Bathua plant grows easily in cold areas, so people of western Himalayan region grow it around their home and also in the fields. Three varieties of Bathua are found here – Chenopodium album, Viridi and Chenopodium giganteum purpureum. In addition, ICAR, New Delhi has developed an improved variety of Bathua, Pusa Bathua No.1. The length of its plants is up to 2.25 meters. Its leaves are green and purple in colour. The crop is ready for harvesting 40-45 days after sowing and the crop continues for about 150 days.
How to sow ?
Plough the field 2-3 times before sowing and add 5-6 tonnes of cow dung per hectare before last ploughing. Bathua seeds are very small, so you can mix them with cow dung and sow them at a depth of 5-10 mm. Bathua can be sown from last week of September to the first week of March. One to 1.5 kg of seed is required for one hectare of land. Bathua nursery can also be raised and then planted in the field when the plants are 7-8 cm tall.
How to do irrigation and harvesting in Bathua farming?
Apply light irrigation immediately after sowing the seeds or planting nursery plants. Bathua requires very little water. Irrigation is required only 3-4 times during the period from sowing to harvesting. Bathua crop is ready for first harvesting 40-45 days after sowing of seeds. Then after every 12 to 15 days you can cut its leaves, but do not harvest when it starts flowering, because then it starts forming seeds.
Seeds are also beneficial with leaves
Vegetables, green vegetables, lentils, raita, parathas, etc. are made from Bathua leaves, as well as consuming its seeds is also very beneficial. Its seeds are boiled and eaten like rice and are is rich in vitamin A, protein, calcium, phosphorus, potassium etc.
Bathua is in great demand in the country as well as in the foreign market, so its scientific cultivation can become a source of good income for the farmers.
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