Season:

In North Indian Plains-

Summer crop- February-March

Rainy Season- June-July

In Riverbeds- October-November

In South India- October

Area & Production:

Sponge Gourd grown worldwide like Brazil, Mexico, Ghana and India. In India it is cultivated particularly in states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat etc.

Sponge Gourd are adapted to tropical and subtropical climates. They require a humid and warm growing season. A temperature of 25-27^oC is optimum for vegetative growth and fruit development. Too low temperature in beginning of the crop season delays germination and retards early growth. The Proportion of male flowers is increased naturally by long days and high temperature.

Sponge Gourd require well drained loamy soils with good water holding capacity and having pH between 6-7 are ideal. Sponge Gourd is more tolerant to waterlogged conditions.

Planting is done on 3m wide bed at a spacing of 60-90 cm between plants and 2-2.5m wide beds. If the vines are to be trained vertically, the row spacing is reduced to 1.5-2m. Sowing is done on one side of the beds. Three to four seeds are sown per hill and two seedlings per hill are retained when the plants attain 2-3 leaf stage. The seeds are then soaked in water at room temperature for 1-2 hours before sowing. Depending upon the soil temperature, the seedlings emerge 4-7 days after sowing.

Land Preparation and Manuring:

To bring the soil to the fine tilth and to make the field weed free ploughings are required, at the time of ploughing add Farm Yard Manure in the field for the good yield. FYM@84qtnl/acre is incorporated in the field for better quality crop.

Seed Rate:

Use seed rate of 2kg/acre.

Seed Treatment:

Treat the seeds with Thiram or Bavistin @2.5gm/kg of seeds to protect the young seedlings from seed borne diseases.

Generally irrigation should be given based on soil type and weather condition. First irrigation is given just after seed sowing. During summer month irrigation are given 7-10 days interval. In rainy season, irrigation may not be required if rains are well distributed.

• 15-20 tonnes FYM at the time of field preparation
• 50 kg each of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potash per hectare before bed making.
• Another dose of 50 kg Nitrogen per hectare is applied as top dressing one month after sowing.

Growth Regulators-

Foliar spray of these growth regulators at two and four leaf stage.

Weeds should be controlled in early stages of crop growth, manually. In Later stages, weeds remain suppressed due to dense coverage by the crop itself. Mulching is also useful in controlling weed population. Apply Pendimethalin @1L/acre or Fluchloralin @800ml/acre as pre-emergence herbicide.

Training & Pruning-

The yield and quality of fruits is improved if the veins are trained over the trellises, arbors or pandals at a height of 1.5-2m. The training starts when the seedlings are about 15cm tall. The early crop can be allowed to train on the bed itself.

1. Nitrogen Deficiency-

Symptoms- Plants appear pale and spindly. New leaves are small and remain green, whereas old leaves turn yellow and die. The yellowing spreads up the shoots to younger leaves. Yield is reduced and fruit are pale, thick and short.

Correction Measure- Side-dress deficient in ground crops with 20-   25kgN/acre or foliar spray of 2% Urea at higher volume.

2. Potassium Deficiency-

Symptoms- Yellowing and scorching on older leaves. These symptoms begin at margins of the leaves and spread between the veins towards its center. A brown scorch develops in the yellow areas and spread until the leaf is dry and papery.

Correction Measures- Foliar spray of KCl 1% at weekly interval.

3. Calcium Deficiency-

Symptoms- Emerging leaves appear scorched and distorted. Mature and older leaves are generally unaffected. With severe deficiency, flowers can abort and growing part may die. Fruits are tasteless and plants are small in size.

Correction Measures- Soil application of Gypsum based on soil test report or foliar spray of CaSO₄@2% solution in water.

4. Magnesium Deficiency-

Symptoms- Yellowing of older leaves. The symptoms begin between the major veins, which retain a narrow green border. A light tan burn develop in the yellow regions if the deficiency is severe. Fruits yield are reduced.

Correction Measure-Incorporate magnetite @300kg/acre or dolomite @800kg/acre into deficient soils before planting. Spray MgSO₄ @2kg/100 L of water.

5. Boron Deficiency-

Symptoms- Distortion of newer leaves, and the appearance of broad yellow border at the margins of the oldest leaves. Young fruit can die or abort, stunted growth of the plant.

Correction Measure- Foliar spray of 0.2% Borax at fortnightly interval. Application of 10 kg Borax per hectare to deficient soil before will prevent boron deficiency.

6. Iron Deficiency-

Symptoms- Uniform pale green chlorosis of the newest leaves all other leaves remain dark green. Initially, the veins remain green, which gives a net like pattern. If the deficiency is severe, the minor veins fade and the veins may eventually burn, especially if exposed to strong sunlight.

Correction Measure- Foliar spray of Iron Sulphate @150gm/100 L of water

7. Manganese Deficiency-

Symptoms- The veins of middle to upper leaves appear green against the mottled pale green to yellow of the blade.

Correction Measure- Spray of MnSO₄ @100gm/100L of water.

1. Atrazine Pesticide Injury-

Symptoms- Atrazine is a powerful broad leaf herbicide widely used in grain plantings but it residue may persist for several seasons limiting the broadleaf crops that can be planted afterward. Affected plants appear dwarfed and may develop severe leaf scorch. Plant vigor and yield is reduced.

Correction Measure-

Keep careful records of crop rotation, avoid sensitive crops in fields where persistent chemicals have been applied.

2. Chilling/Frost Injury-

Symptoms- Air temperature at or slightly below freezing can severely damage all cucurbits. Seedling stages may be severely stunted or killed by low temperature because they are frost sensitive crop. Affected plants show water soaked appearance of leaf tissue immediately after exposure, to a greyish green scorched appearance of leaves that eventually turn brown or papery within one or two days.

Correction Measure- Overhead irrigation applied during the low temperature exposure may provide partial protection against frost injury.

3. Salt Injury-

Symptoms- Excess salinity due to poor water quality or improper fertilization can stunt plants and in severe cases can kill them. Affected plants appear dark green in the early stages, later develop marginal yellowing and necrosis of older leaves.

Correction Measures-

• Careful attention to fertilizers application
• Proper Irrigation to the plants

1. Fruit Flies-

Symptoms of damage-

• Maggots feeds on the pulp of the fruits’
• Oozing of resinous fluid from the fruits
• Distorted and malformed fruits
• Premature dropping of fruits and is unfit for consumption

Management-

• Collect the infested plants and fruits and burn them in deep pots
• Ploughing and turning over of soil after harvest
• Apply Carbaryl @0.5% or Malathion @0.1%
• Use attractants like Citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, vinegar to trap insects.
• Use fly trap.

2. Pumpkin Beetles-

Symptoms of damage-

• Grubs feeds on roots, stems and fruits touching the soil.
• Adult feeds on leaf and fruits.
• Large feeding holes on leaves
• Deep holes on the roots and underground stems.
• Growth retardation.

Management-

• Plough the seeds and destroy the hibernating adults
• Spray Malathion 50EC @500ml/ha or dimethoate 30EC @500ml/ha

3. Stem Borer-

Symptoms of damage-

• Larva bore in to the stem and produce galls
• Plants leaves will appear to wilt
• The base of the plants will show holes and green to orange yellow saw dust like frass or droppings
• The stem will rot from the areas where stem borer feed

Management-

• Collect and destroy infected plants with larvae
• Spray any of the following insecticides-

Malathion 50EC @500ml/acre

Dimethoate 30EC @500ml/acre

4. Stem Gallfly-

Symptoms of damage-

Infestation result in formation of galls, which are abnormal growth on the stems. These galls can weaken the plant, disrupt nutrient flow and finally leads to stunted growth and reduced yield.

Management-

Spray any one of the following insecticides-

Malathion 50EC @500ml/acre

Dimethoate 30EC@500ml/acre

5. Snake Gourd Semilooper-

Symptoms of damage-

The caterpillar cut the edges of leaves lamina, fold it over the leaf and feeds from within the leaf roll. Symptoms include irregular holes or chewed edges on the leaves and in severe infestation defoliation also occur.

Management-

• Collect and destroy caterpillar
• Spray any one of the following insecticide-

Malathion 50EC @500ml/acre

Dimethoate 30EC @500ml/acre

6. Pumpkin Caterpillar-

Symptoms of damage-

• The young larvae scrapes the chlorophyll from the leaves.
• Later, it folds and web the leaves
• It also attacks the flowers and developing fruits
• They damage the skin, causing fruits to rot
• Leaves dry up at later stage
• Under severe infestation, holes can be observed in developing fruits.

Management-

• Apply bio pesticides such as Bacillus thuringiensis
• Collect and destroy young caterpillars
• Remove the rolled leaves and kill the caterpillars
• Spray Malathion 50EC @500ml/acre

7. Leaf Miner-

Symptoms of damage-

Drying and dropping of leaves due to severe infestation. Stunted growth and reduce yield. Irregular or pale grey lines appear on both sides of the leaf blades as the larvae feed.

Management-

• Collect and destroy mined leaves
• Spray neem products
• Set up insect trap @10-20/acre
• Application of Carbofuran 3% @3-5kg/acre

8. Hadda Beetle-

Symptoms of damage-

• Both adults and larvae feed on leaves and cause severe damage.
• Initial symptoms form as the feeding damage to the green tissue between the leaf veins.
• Shallow holes on the fruit surface.
• Stunted growth of the mature plant
• Scrapping of chlorophyll

Management-

• Plant resistant varieties
• Irrigate thoroughly to keep the plants healthy
• Collect and destroy the affected plants
• Spray Carbaryl 50WP @3gm/L of water

9. Aphids-

Symptoms of damage-

• Twisted and curled leaves
• Yellowing of leaves
• Stunted growth of the plants
• In some cases, fruits can be misshapen

Management-

• Spray Imidacloprid @0.5ml/L of water
• Plant resistant varieties
• Rotate crops to reduce aphid buildup
• Keep the field clear from weeds and debris , which can harbor aphids
• Introduce natural predator like ladybugs, parasitic wasp
• Prune heavily infested plant parts
• Apply neem oil

10. Mealy Bugs-

Symptoms of damage-

• White cotton like masses made of flocks appear on the underside of the leaves, stems, flowers and fruits
• Yellowing and curling of young leaves
• Stunted growth of plants and fruits drop at early stage

Management-

• Use healthy and disease resistant plants only
• Remove the infested plants from the field in order to maintain proper field sanitation.
• Clear weeds from the field
• Avoid flood irrigation
• Practice crop rotation with susceptible plants
• Use neem oil
• Foliar application of Monocrotophos 36% SL @200ml/acre
• Application of Dimethoate 30%SC @2ml/L of water

11. Thrips-

Symptoms of damage-

They suck the sap from the leaves resulting in yellowing and dropping of leaves. It also results in curling of leaves, leaves become cup shaped or curved upward.

Management-

Spray the crop with Thiamethoxam @5gm/15 L of water.

1. Leaf Spot-

Causal Organism- Xanthomonas cucurbitae

Symptoms –

• Leaves develop small, angular, brown or colored straw spots with a yellow halo. Leaf spots dry out and drops off, leaving irregularly shaped holes in the leaves.
• Spots are typically confined within the leaves.
• Water soaked tan, small circular spots on fruits
• Bacterial soft rot often develops after fruit spots and rot the entire fruit.

Management-

• Plant resistant varieties
• Use drip irrigation instead of overhead sprinklers
• Remove and destroy infected plants
• Application of Mancozeb 75% WP @2.5gm/L of water

2. Powdery Mildew-

Causal Organism- Erysiphe spp.

Symptoms-

• White powdery spots can form on both the surfaces of and expand into large blotches
• Fruits ripen prematurely
• Infected plants produce fewer and smaller fruits
• Pale yellow leaf spot

Management-

• Plant resistant varieties
• Application of Wettable Sulphur @0.2%
• Maintain field sanitation, collect and destroy infected plants from the field.
• Application of following fungicides-

Tebuconazole @250ml/acre

Tetraconazole 3.8% @2ml/L of water

Propiconazole 25%EC @2ml/L of water

Copper Sulphate 2gm/L of water

3. Anthracnose-

Causal Organism- Colletotrichum orbiculare

Symptoms-

• Leaf spots of different shapes and color
• The center of the leaf spots may drop out resulting in a ragged appearance.
• Leaves have yellow spots
• Spots may have fluffy white cotton like mycelia

Management-

• Plant resistant verities
• Remove and destroy infected plants from the field
• Use drip irrigation instead of overhead sprinklers
• Seed treatment with Carbendazim @2gm/kg of seed
• Spray Mancozeb @2gm/L of water

4. Downy Mildew-

Causal Organism- Peronospora parasitica

Symptoms-

• Yellow to pale green spots form on the upper side of the leaves and on the underside, there is a velvety fuzz.
• These spots later turns to brown in color
• The entire leaves dries up quickly
• The spots turn necrotic with age
• Diseased plants get stunted and die
• Fruits produce may not mature and have a poor taste

Management-

• Plant resistant varieties
• Application of Mancozeb @2gm/L of water

5. Bacterial Wilt-

Causal Organism- Erwina tracheiphila

Symptoms-

• Leaves eventually yellow and brown at the margins, then completely wither and dry out.
• Leaves first appear dull green, wilt during the day and recover at night.

Management-

• Plant resistant varieties
• Collect and destroy all the infected plants in the field.
• Foliar application of Trichoderma viride 1.5%WP @1ml/L of water
• Spray Tetracylin hydrochloride 10%SP + Streptomycin sulphate 90% @6gm/50 L of water
• Spray Pseudomonas fluorescens @100gm/10L of water

6. Cercospora Leaf Spot-

Causal Organism- Cercospora spp.

Symptoms-

• Occurs on the lower surface of the leaves as irregular tan spots.
• Severe infection causes excessive leaf drop and stunting of the plant.
• Leaf spots have a brown center and yellow halo
• Fruit development is restricted and growth is stunted

Management-

• Use disease free seedlings
• Collect and remove all the debris from the field
• Application of Pseudomonas fluorescens @250ml/50L of water

7. Fusarium Wilt-

Causal Organism- Fusarium oxysporum

Symptoms-

• The first symptom is the clearing of the veinlets and chlorosis of the leaves.
• The younger leaves may die in succession and the entire may wilt and die in a course of few days.
• Soon the petiole and the leaves droop and may wilt
• At later stages, browning of vascular system occurs.

Management-

• Rotate crops with non-host plants such as cereals and legumes to reduce soil inoculum levels.
• Remove and destroy infected plant debris from the field
• Avoid water logging, as excessive moisture can promote fungal growth. Use drip irrigation to minimize leaf wetness and soil compaction.
• Plant resistant varieties
• Use of bio control agents such as Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluorescens
• Application of Carbendazim @300gm/acre

Crops are ready for harvesting after 70-80 days of sowing. Carry out picking at the interval of 3-4 days. Harvest the fruits when they are young, tender and green usually around 6-8 inches long. Use a sharp knife or pruning shears to cut the fruits from the vine, leaving a small portion of the stem attached. Handle the fruits gently to avoid bruising.

Post-Harvest Handling of sponge gourd is also called Loofah, is crucial for maintaining its quality and extending its shelf life. The process involves several key steps-

1. Harvesting of Sponge gourd
2. Cleaning
3. Sorting and Grading
4. Curing
5. Storage
6. Packaging
7. Transportation
8. Processing for loofah sponges

The average yield of sponge gourd is about 70-80 qntl/acre but yield depends on variety and cultivation methods.