All Year Round Vegetable Cultivation in Trenches in Cold Arid trans-Himalayan Ladakh

Stanzin Angmo; Phunchok Angmo; Diskit Dolkar; Tsewang Norbu,; Eli Paljor; Bhuvnesh Kumar; Tsering Stobdan

doi:10.14429/dlsj.2.11001

Stanzin Angmo Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh-Ladakh
Phunchok Angmo Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh-Ladakh
Diskit Dolkar Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh-Ladakh
Tsewang Norbu, Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh-Ladakh
Eli Paljor Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh-Ladakh
Bhuvnesh Kumar Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh-Ladakh
Tsering Stobdan Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh-Ladakh http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7859-3868

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dlsj.2.11001

Keywords: Food security, Greenhouse, High altitude, Mulching, Solar energy, Trench

Abstract

Trench greenhouse is a low cost underground rectangular structure (30’×10’×3’; L×W×D) in north-south orientation with stone wall on four sides. It is covered with polyethylene sheet at ground level during winter months. The air temperature inside the trench was found to be 20.7±2.8 °C warmer during day and 7.0±1.2 °C at night that support growing of leafy vegetables during winter (mid October to early March). Three cycles of crops were grown in a year in the greenhouses as against single crop in open field condition in cold trans-Himalayan Ladakh region. Spinach production was 64 kg -70 kg per trench during mid October to early March. Black plastic mulch significantly increased spinach production during winter months. Vegetable seedlings (13,000 to 39,000 numbers per trench) were raised during late March to early May, which is not possible in open field condition otherwise. A variety of warm-season vegetables were harvested (6 kg - 210 kg per trench) from the trenches during summer months.

Author Biographies

Stanzin Angmo, Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh-Ladakh

Ms Stanzin Angmo is senior research fellow at DIHAR, Leh. She is working on enhancing vegetable crop productivity in trans-Himalayan Ladakh.

Phunchok Angmo, Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh-Ladakh

Ms Phunchok Angmo is senior research fellow at DIHAR, Leh. She is working on greenhouse technology for cold arid region.

Diskit Dolkar, Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh-Ladakh

Ms Diskit Dolkar is senior research fellow at DIHAR, Leh. She is working on biofertilizer for cold arid region.

Tsewang Norbu,, Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh-Ladakh

Mr Tsewang Norbu is Senior Technical Assistant in Plant Science Division at DIHAR, Leh. He received his B.Sc degree from Jammu University.

Eli Paljor, Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh-Ladakh

Mr Eli Paljor is Technical Officer ‘D’ in Plant Science Division at DIHAR, Leh. He has vast experience in greenhouse and vegetable cultivation in Ladakh.

Bhuvnesh Kumar, Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh-Ladakh

Dr Bhuvnesh Kumar is Director, Defence Institute of High Altitude Research. He obtained his graduate degree in Veterinary Sciences (BVSc and AH), MVSc and PhD in Veterinary Medicine from G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (Uttarakhand) in the year 1982, 1984 and 1999, respectively. He has been a member of G-FAST from Life Science cluster, Project Director of LIC Programme and Director, PM (LS). He has vast experience of working in mountainous regions covering western, central and north east Himalayas.

Tsering Stobdan, Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh-Ladakh

Dr Tsering Stobdan is Scientist ‘E’ and Head, Plant Science Division at DIHAR, Leh. He received his PhD in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. He has 5 patents including one in USA, over 40 publications in reputed national and international journals, two monogram and 20 book chapters to his credit. Two technologies developed by him have been successfully transferred to Industries. He is the executive member of Seabuckthorn Association of India.