BATHUA (CHENOPODIUM ALBUM L) PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING FOR PARAMPARIC VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS
- 1. BATHUA (CHENOPODIUM ALBUM L) PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING FOR PARAMPARIC VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS Dr Jai Singh (ARS) Retd Director ICAR ¨C CIPHET Mob:8958463808 R Mail:jsingh.sre@gmail.com INTRODUCTION Bathua - Chenopodium (Chenopodium album L.), paramparic bhaji crop, is a fast growing broad leaves annual winter weed plant. It belongs to family Chenopodiaceae. Its fresh and dried leaves, stem and seed are consumed for the ancient time by human and animals in many ways. The seed contains 16.1% protein, 6.9% fat, 48.9% carbohydrate, and 5.8% ash and used for bread or gruel. Seeds are popped or mixed with wheat flour. This underutilized crop does not require high inputs and can be easily grown on agriculturally marginal lands. In India, this plant is known by many names such as Vastukah (Sanskrit), Bathus (Hindi, Oriya) Pappukura (Telugu), Chandan bathua (Marathi), Vastuccira (Malayalam), Beto Sag (Bengali), Parupukkirai (Tamil), Sakothina soppu (Kannada), Chilni bhaji (Gujrati), Kaduoma ( Kannada), Chakvit (Konkani) and so on. Health Benefits: Bathua leaves are filled with several wonder nutritional qualities. Leaves are power house of Vitamin A, C , B complex, amino acids, minerals (iron, potassium, phosphorous, calcium, etc) and antioxidents. According to book, ¡°Indian Medicinal Plants,¡± bathua acts as a laxative, anthelmintic for hookworms and roundworms, and as a blood purifier. It manages hepatic disorders, spleen enlargement, biliousness, burns, and ulcers, treat rheumatism and arthritis. Buthua food products are not recommended for pregnant women. Important Varieties Developed in ICAR: Pusa Bathua-1, Pusa Bathua ¨C 2, Kashi¨CBathua-2 (IC 06 19019) or VRCHE-2). Black seeds, white seeds,
- 2. Soil: Bathua can be grown on a variety of soils but sandy loam or loam soils are best suited. It is a moderately salt tolerant and can be grown in saline-sodic soils. Seed rate :1.5-2.0 kg seed is required for direct sowing and 450 gram seed for raising nursery for a ha area. Sowing: Land is well prepared adding 25-30 tonnes of farm yard manure (FYM) and N: P: K @ 20:50:50 kg/ha. Also apply 50-60 kg urea / ha as top- dressing in three split doses after first, second and third cuttings of the leaves. Apply 1% urea and 0.5% micronutrients solution (multiplex) after each cutting for quick growth of leaves. Seeds are sown in 30 cm apart rows at 3 mm depth. 35 days old seedlings are transplanted at 30 row to row and 20 cm plant to plant. For seed production seedlings are planted at 60 x 45 cm. Harvesting and Yield : Leaves are plucked by hand and kept in baskets. First harvest after 40-45 days, thereafter at 20 days interval. 4-6 cuttings are possible giving 35 ¨C 39 tonnes / ha fresh yield having 15.2 % DM. Seed crop is ready for harvest after 150-180. For seed harvest, the plant is bent in basket and shaken. Matured seeds fall in the basket. Whole crop is threshed by beating with sticks or by mechanical thresher. Seeds are cleaned and dried to 8% moisture. A good crop may yield up to 6-7 quintal seed / ha. Preparation Methods: Before any preparation, thorough wash and cleaning is required to remove the dirt and soil / sand and damaged herbal part.. BATHUA PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY Field preparation - plain Field preparation ¨C broad bed Bathua seed Pusa Green - 2 Bathua seeds
- 3. Bathua Seed Bathua Seed Seeding in rows Mini seed master for Bathua seed sowing in rows Mini seed master for Bathua seed sowing in rows Manual bathua seeder Manual bathua seeder ICAR - Drum seeder Broadcast sowing of bathua Plain ring cultipacker adjusts seeds in firm and shallow furrows Firm and shallow furrows made by cultipacker Nursery plot Nursery beds Protective straw cover on seeds Nursey Bathua seedlings from nrsery Seedling planting Bathua vegetative porpagation Kashi ¨C 2 Bathua Crop Pusa ¨C 2 Bathua Crop BATHUA SEED HARVEST AND PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY
- 4. Seed production encompasses activities like harvesting, threshing, dehusking, cleaning, grading, destining, drying and packaging. Bathua seed crop Seed harvest by ear head shaking. Notional pic. Seed harvest by sweeping panicle . Notional pic Reaper harvester Field drying of harvested bathua seed crop Threshing by stick beating Threshing machine Threshing machine Winnower grader Cleaner grader Destoner Final bathua seed lot Bathua Food Products: Bathua sabji, Bathua dal, Saag, Roti, Stuffed paratha, Kachori,Ttikki, Raita, Chatney, Juice, Soup, Kadhi, Bathua ke Gatte, Bathua thepla, Bathua Kadha, Bathua Idli, Bathua Mathri, and many more. Selected Special Bathua Food Products
- 5. Bathua cheese Bathua raita masala Kadhi, Bathua ke Gatte Bathua tikki Bathua kadhi Bathua thepla Bathua Panchang Swaras Ghan Bathua cookies Bathua papadi Bathua digestive biscuits Bathua instant soup mix Bathua Dehydrated / Dried Products Open sun drying Solar drier Solar tunnel drier Bathua powder Bathua Commercial Products: Bathua Swaras Bathua edible seeds
- 6. Bathua juice Dried bathua saag Note: The compilation presented here is based on literature available at various sources .