Turnip is a widely available vegetable in the markets, and it is frequently used after pickling, boiling, or salting.
Turnips rejuvenate the body's activity and are disinfectants.
It is also a diuretic, stone breaker, moisturizer, laxative, soothing and decongestant, helpful for colds and coughs, and anti-obesity.
Turnips have a rich history, with evidence of their cultivation dating back thousands of years. They were first domesticated in the eastern Mediterranean region and have since spread across Europe and the rest of the world. This historical journey of turnips connects us to the tradition and heritage of turnip cultivation.
* Benefits and uses of Turnip:
- Turnips are famous for their therapeutic functions in cases of stomach and intestinal diseases. It has been used for treatment since ancient times were treated with it). Its role has also been preserved in modern medicine, as it, like members of the Cruciferae family, contains substances that increase the secretion of enzymes, contributing to the removal of toxic substances from the body, reducing the formation of cancerous substances, and protecting against cancer of the digestive system and intestines in particular.
- Turnips are diuretics, and their potassium maintains blood pressure balance. The vitamin C found in turnips strengthens the immune system and counteracts the effects of oxidation on the body’s cells.
- Turnip is rich in fiber and contains few calories, so it can be included in the diet during weight loss.
- It should be noted that turnips and other cruciferous vegetables, to a lesser extent, contain goitrogen, which is believed to reduce the ability of the thyroid gland to deal with iodine. Since this theory did not discover the details of the danger in this area, those who suffer from an underactive thyroid are advised to avoid eating turnips and eat a lot of foods rich in iodine, such as seafood, seaweed, fish, iodine-rich salt, and others.
- *Contents of Turnip :
* The most important types of Turnip:
1. The local variety.
2: The Japanese variety is a modern variety with large roots.
3: Hoyt Milan.
4: Iraqi turnip. The root weighs approximately 5 kg and has begun to spread among farmers in recent years.
Suitable Soil:
Its cultivation succeeds in most lands but thrives in light, heavy yellow, well-drained lands with an appropriate agricultural cycle.Suitable planting time:
Turnips are grown in September and October and may be cultivated into November.Quantity of seeds:
A hectare requires 5-8 kilograms of seed.Preparing the soil for planting Turnip:
Agricultural operations that take place in agriculture:
At least three weeks before planting, the sprinkler is run continuously until the weed seeds germinate. Then, spraying is stopped for four days. The land is plowed to eliminate a large percentage of the weeds on the land so that they do not affect the crop later. They are left to dry in the sun; then, the soil is plowed twice perpendicularly with the addition of 25 m3/ha of old decomposed organic fertilizers and 150 kg/ha of agricultural sulfur.
Then the soil surface is leveled, the seeds are scattered, then covered with palm fronds, or the seeds are planted in lines far from each other, 20 cm apart, provided that the seeds are light.
It is recommended to mix it with the soil to facilitate its distribution, or the seeds must be planted using a seeder or digger to sow fine seeds after placing them or place the seeds on a bed of chemical fertilizers to narrow the seed opening and cover the seeds with light plowing with a backhoe to cover the seeds, then sprinkle dung fertilizer after the planting process at a rate of 3 bags per hectare one, then irrigation by operation. The first cycle of the sprinkler is at 50 degrees, and then the sprinkler speed is adjusted to 65 degrees.
Agricultural operations that take place after planting:
- Determine the number of plants:
When the plants reach 5 cm in length, some plants in crowded places are removed so that the distance between the plants becomes 10 cm after 3 weeks of planting.
- Remove weeds
Remove weeds using only acceptable herbicides at the rates recommended on the herbicide package per hectare, taking into account the age at which the herbicide is applied. According to the farm supervisor's vision and experience, it is preferable to spray pesticides only on lands infested with weeds (mechanical resistance is preferred).
Fertilize of Turnip plants:
Nitrogen fertilizers are added in two batches:
1. Dosage one:
At a rate of 100 kg/ha of ammonia nitrate immediately after adjusting the spacing between the plants and two weeks after planting and 25 kg/ha of soluble potassium sulfate through fertilizer, setting the spray speed at 100 degrees while running the fertilizer and stopping irrigation for a day before fertilizing, then after completing Fertilization process The spray speed is reset. At 65 degrees
2. Dosage two:
Two weeks after the first batch, 100 kg/ha ammonium nitrate + 25 soluble potassium sulfate/ha + 1.25 kg mixed microelements, setting the spray speed at 100 degrees until fertilization is complete, then setting the spray speed at 65 degrees.
Irrigation of turnip plants:
Irrigation must be regular so that the crop does not decrease and the plant does not become thirsty because thirst makes it taste bitter.
Pest resistance:
First, Like aphids, borers, and powdery mildew, fungal mold is controlled with micronized sulfur at a rate of 1 kg/ha.
Aphids are controlled with Ictylc at a rate of 2.5 liters/ha.
Pesticides are sprayed using fertilizers through pivot irrigation after setting it and setting the spray speed to 100 degrees while spraying pesticides. Irrigation is stopped after spraying pesticides for no less than 6 hours to ensure absorption of the pesticide. Inside the plant so as not to wash the plant.
Then, set the sprinkler speed to 65 degrees and turn it on. The borer is controlled with poisonous bait, which is spread on the ground before sunset. Watering is stopped that day.
Maturity and harvest:
Turnips mature, and the roots are the right size about 50-70 days after planting. Harvest is done before the roots are damaged. The leaves are harvested by hand, cleaned, and trimmed. They are bagged or tied into bundles of 4-5 plants and marketed.