Package of Practices on Ridge Gourd

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
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 Urea contains 46%
coloured leaves (first evident in Nitrogen.
older leaves) - some plants Top dressing with
Nitrogen deficiency symptoms inorganic nitrogen
begin as pale green leaves, fertilizer @10-20 Kg
often smaller than normal; and N/ha.
stunted, weak shoot growth Foliar spray of nitrogen
fertilizers @ 0.5% N.

P Phosphorus deficiency Correct soil pH by

symptoms begin with reduced adding adjuvants.
growth with short, thin shoots. Apply p 205 @ 40-50
Leaves are small, and kg/ha as single or tripl (
defoliation follows starting phosphate.
with the lower leaves. Spray with 1-2%
solutiol) of triple super
phosph;

K Potassium deficiencies are first Normally, about 50 kg

characterized by reduced K2O/ha will be
growth, weak stems, and shoot adequate for the soil
die-back. Early symptoms may deficient in potassium.
be difficult to distinguish. Leaf Potassium may be
symptoms include dull bluish- supplied regularly in
green discolorations, the form of potassium
particularly in the interveinal sulphate.
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
Ca Calcium deficiency symptoms Calcium deficiency can
appear initially on the young be corrected by liming
leaves and the shoot apex. New the soil in the
leaves are distorted with appropriate quantity.
hooked tips and curled Apply calcium
margins, which are irregular containing fertilizers
and may show brown like gypsum or chelates
scorching or spotting. Calcium etc.
deficiency can also cause roots Calcium Chelate 1 - 4%
of the plants to become
stunted, translucent, and
bulbous with dead tips.
Mg Magnesium deficiency Spray of foliage with
symptoms begin with 1% MgSO4 solution to
chlorosis, sometimes with red correct the deficiency.
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.
S Symptoms of Sulfur deficiency Sulphur deficiency can
are much like those caused by be corrected by
Nitrogen: reduced leaf size, applying fertilizers
stunted growth, chlorosis, containing sulphur like
orange to purplish Ammonium sulphate,
pigmentation and delayed Sulphate of Potash.
maturity Ammonium Sulphate
24%
Single Super Phosphate
12%
Paramphos 15%

Fe A deficiency of Iron causes a Apply 10 kg/ha iron

decrease in the size of sulphate through soil;
chloroplasts, reduced spray 0.5% FeSO4 +
chlorophyll and reduced 0.1%citric acid; add
photosynthesis. Symptoms 0.2% urea in the spray
include yellow or white solution for better
chlorosis between green veins results
on younger leaves and poor
vigor leading to death of the
shoot tips. These symptoms are
most serious in poorly drained,
alkaline soils.
Mn Symptoms of Manganese Apply 10 kg/ha
deficiency start as interveinal manganese sulphate
mottled chlorosis, the leaves through soil; foliar
become yellow and then application @ 0.12 kg
develop small necrotic lesions Mn/ha is useful
in the most chlorotic areas.
Reduced leave size and
crimping of leaf margins are
also possible symptoms
Zn Zinc deficiency symptoms Apply 15 kg/ha or more
begin with interveinal Zn through soil; spray
chlorosis. The first leaves in 10 kg/ha ZnSO4
the spring on trees remain
small, the stems fail to elongate
and the leaves appear to be in
whorls or rosettes.

Mo Symptoms of Molybdenum Apply 1 kg/ha

deficiency start with the older ammonium molybdate
leaves and progress towards with NPK fertilizers
the tip. The first symptom is through soil; spray 200
yellow-green or pale orange ppm ammonium
interveinal mottling distributed molybdate before
uniformly over the leaf. flowering
Marginal wilting, inrolling and
cupping follow the chlorosis
and flower formation is
suppressed
Bo Boron deficiency symptoms Spray 10 kg/ha borax or
vary between plants but some 0.2% borax through
general symptoms are injury to soil; foliar application
plants meristem and actively of 0.1 ppm B
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

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.