Abstract
The study comprised a series of experiments carried out in order to develop a package of technology for the production of radish seed. The research was conducted at the farm of Horticulture Research Centre, BARI, Joydebpur and Agricultural Research Station, Burirhat, Rangpur during October 2001 to June 2004. The study considered finding out optimum date of seed sowing, age of root for uprooting, extent of root cutting, spacing for planting of stecklings, dose of boron and irrigation interval for the production of radish seed. Date of seed sowing and spacing experiments demonstrated superiority of 16 October seed sowing to 01 October, 01 and 16 November and 01 December sowings, and 40 cm x 30 cm spacing for planting of stecklings over 60 cm x 45 cm, 60 cm x 30 cm and 40 cm x 45 cm. Age of root for uprooting and extent of root cutting experiments revealed that 45-day old roots were better than 35, 40 and 50 day old roots, and cutting of lower 1/3rd part of root was better than cutting of 1⁄4, 1⁄2 and 3⁄4 parts of roots. Boron and irrigation interval experiments demonstrated that application of 1.5 kg or 2.0 kg B/ha and irrigation at 5 or 10 days interval were optimal for the production of radish seed. Other doses of boron were 0, 1.0 and 2.5 kg/ha and irrigation interval was 15 days. Considering the findings of the experiments, a package of technology was developed for the production of radish seed. The package consisted of sowing seed in mid October, uprooting of roots 45 days after seed sowing, cutting of 1/3rd part of root, planting of stecklings at 40 cm x 30 cm spacing, application of 1.5 kg B/ha and irrigation at 10 day's interval. The package was tested on radish varieties Tasakisan Mula-1, Pinky and Rocky- 45 at Joydebpur and Burirhat (Rangpur). Burirhat appeared to be better location for radish seed production. The yields of radish cv. Tasakisan Mula-1, Pinky and Rocky-45 seeds at Burirhat using the developed package of technology were 2.48, 1.23 and 1.97 t/ha, respectively and at Joydebpur these were 1.84, 1.01 and 1.22 t/ha, respectively.