Chatori Chicory

Chatori (Kern 697) is a perennial chicory for green fodder, suited to moderate climates and the North Indian plains. Once established it gives repeated cuts over a long period.

Land and sowing window

• Soil: well-drained loam, pH 5.5–6.5. It does not like waterlogging — choose a plot that drains freely
• Sowing: late summer to early autumn (August–September), or early spring (February–March)
• Seedbed: chicory seed is very small, so prepare a fine, firm, weed-free seedbed and level it well

How to sow

• Spacing: 30 cm between rows × 15 cm between plants
• Depth: sow shallow — just cover the seed and firm the soil; deep sowing cuts emergence. Keep the surface moist until the seedlings are up
• Thinning: thin to about 15 cm between plants once seedlings are established, so each plant forms a strong crown
• Pack size: 100 g

Manure and fertiliser (per acre)

• Before sowing: nitrogen (N) 8–16 kg, phosphorus (P) 8–16 kg, potash (K) 16–24 kg
• After every cut: nitrogen 8–12 kg to push regrowth, given with an irrigation
• Micronutrients: a foliar spray of boron and zinc helps

Water, weeds and pests

• Irrigation: moderate. Keep the soil moist until the crop establishes, then irrigate as needed in dry spells, especially in hot months. Irrigate soon after each cut
• Weeds: start with a clean field and weed regularly; use any herbicide only as per label. In a fodder crop, prefer hoeing to spraying
• Pests and disease: watch for aphids, caterpillars and nematodes, and for downy mildew and root rot. Crop rotation helps; spray only as per label and your state advisory, and observe the waiting period before feeding

Harvest

• First cut: 8–10 weeks after sowing
• Later cuts: about every 25 days
• Cut height: cut above the crown, not at ground level, so the plant regrows quickly; do not let it run to flower stalks

Fodder chicory has no state agricultural university package of practices in North India yet; the practice above is Kern's field guidance — confirm with your Kern dealer or KVK.

Please quote product code KERN-697 when ordering.

Agronomy helpline: 9107062062