Mr.James Muthuraj Papankulam village Dindigul District

Iam James Muthuraj  residing   at Papankulam village at Dindigul district. I have got 30 years experience in Agriculture. I own 4 acres of land and two wells. For 20 years I am cultivating Radish. For 10 years I have cultivated Radish through Direct Sowing and for 10 years through seed. 

Cultivation Method:
Plough the field twice using 5 tine plough at 10 days interval, then using hook type plough the field is ploughed twice. Later the Radish seeds are sown directly. The seed requirement for one acre is 3 kg. For one acre of land apply one bag of Phaftomphos or DAP. After application of fertilizer again the field is ploughed using 5 tine plough, simultaneously the  lines for sowing are formed. Form pathway for the purpose of irrigation. Till the harvest irrigate the field for 5 days( based on the rain fall irrigate the field). Similarly weeding should be done once in 15 days, then apply fertilizers. Within Twenty days of planting apply the fertilizers. Five bags of  fertilizer mixture (NPK) is required for 1 acre of land. Otherwise apply Potassium (50 kg)+ Urea (20gram).

Later if there is predominance of aphids apply the same chemical again. On the 35th harvest the radish tubers. Big radish tubers can be harvested from the 35th till 60th day. On the 60th day stop the harvest. From one acre of land 8000 kg (8 ton) radish can be obtained as the yield.
Expenditure:
The total expenditure of Rs.20,000 for seeds, sowing, application of chemicals, weeding, fertilizer application. Later, if the radish is sold for ten Rupees. If sold more than 10 Rupees the commission only varies. Of the total selling cost 10% will be the commission cost.

Benefits:
In the normal sowing method the cost of sowing will be Rs.2000. In direct sowing the seeds are sown with closer spacing, hence it is better than normal sowing and the yield obtained is also high.

Direct Sown Radish