Kachu, an important nutritious vegetable, is often overlooked in this country despite its rich vitamin A, BOC, calcium, iron, and other nutrient content. Below is a guide to cultivating Panikachu, one of the notable types of kachu in Bangladesh:
Suitable Land and Soil: Medium to high loam and clay loam soils with good water retention capabilities are ideal for Panikachu cultivation.
Variety Selection: Various varieties of watercress are cultivated in Bangladesh, with the Latiraj variety known for its abundant yield.
Planting Time: Panikachu seedlings are typically planted from Agrahayan to Phalgun month, although planting in Ashwin-Kartik month allows for early harvest.
Land Preparation: Prepare the land by plowing and leveling two-thirds of the area.
Fertilizer Application: Apply 10 tons of dung per hectare, along with urea, TSP, MOP, gypsum, and zinc fertilizers. Urea and MOP should be applied in two equal installments, mixed well with the soil.
Planting Method: Plant seedlings successively in rows 60 cm apart, with 45 cm spacing between plants. About 37,000 plants per hectare are required.
Aftercare: Keep the field weed-free by regular weeding. Maintain a shallow water level (2-5 cm) from planting to harvesting. Ensure proper drainage by manually removing excess water.
Pest and Disease Control: Control pests such as spider mites and mealybugs and diseases like leaf spot through Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices.
Harvesting: Panikachu is ready for harvest within 60 to 90 days after planting. Lati can be harvested after 10 to 15 days, while stems are ready for harvest within 140 to 180 days. Improved cultivation systems yield 25 to 30 tons of stems and 10 to 12 tons of leaves per hectare.