Exploring underutilized chow-chow in Mizoram

B K Singh, K A Pathak and S V Ngachan

Indian Horticulture 57 (5): 3-5, 2012

E-mail: bksinghkushinagar@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

The chow-chow, a member of Cucurbitaceous family, is most popular vegetables in Mizoram. It is cultivated for its fruits, tender shoots, young leaves and tuberous roots. These economic parts are widely available in markets for almost 10 months in a year. The high nutritional and low-calorific value of chow-chow fruits make it suitable for hospital diets where the fruits can be used to supplement potatoes for diabetic patients. Mostly it is being cultivated on hilly terrain and vines are trained on permanent bower system, and even the hills having >100 % slope, where cultivation is not possible, is also under chow-chow cultivation. Its cultivation promotes permanent agriculture, reduces runoff and soil erosion, and conserves the natural resources. Chow-chow is a promising vegetable crop. It has good potential in Mizoram. The attractive fruits of chow-chow are waiting for their commercial exploitation for socio-economic upliftment of the people.

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Effect of transplanting dates on plant growth, yield and quality traits of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) cultivars

B K Singh, K A Pathak, K A Sharma and Manju Thapa

Indian Journal of Hill Farming 23 (2): 1-5, 2010

E-mail: bksinghkushinagar@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

A field experiment was under taken with objective to examine the effects of different transplanting time on growth, yield and quality of various cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) varieties and hybrids in mild-tropical climate of Mizoram. All the parameters under study were significantly affected by both cultivars and transplanting dates. Maximum yield potential of various cultivars was realised by transplanting of cabbage seedlings on 1^st December. The most compact head was observed for INDAM-1299 followed by Golden Acre, NS-160, KGMR-1 and lowest in Ryozeki. The head compactness is very important parameter which is directly associated with the transportability, marketability, shelf-life and consumers’ preference. The cultivars KGMR-1 and Golden Acre (both bred by IARI Regional Station, Katrain, Himachal Pradesh) showed better head yield potential, while KGMR-1 and Ryozeki produced higher plant biomass which could be use during summer and rainy seasons especially for leaf production.

Key words: Cabbage, cultivars, date of transplanting, yield, Mizoram