Page 554 - e-Book

in soil quality, if any in polyhouses as compared to that of open field. Accordingly water

quality was also tested in the present work.
Materials and Methods
The present research work on polyhouse technology was undertaken at Post Graduate

Department of Botany, K.T.H.M. College Nashik during 2006 to 2008.

The investigations on various aspects of studies were based on data collection and it’s
analysis. Some aspects were based on collection of biological material and identification. It

was done by arranging scheduled field visits, survey and use of appropriate methods of
collection of biological material. To initiate the work, first general survey was conducted to

find the villages, at which polyhouses have been constructed and the farmers, who have
adopted polyhouse technology for vegetable, flower and horticultural crops. From various

localities five polyhouses used to cultivate each crop like capsicum and rose were selected for

further studies. There was single polyhouse for each crop like grapes and gerbera used. In
study area these polyhouses were also selected for further studies. The survey types of work

was also undertaken to know crop pattern in polyhouses. Accordingly taking into
consideration the various crop under polyhouses, the sites of studies were selected. The sites

for studies and localities from study area are given in Table.

The fields under same crops near by the polyhouses were also selected. The
observations on open field crops were used to compare the performance of crops in terms of

yield and economic benefits with that from polyhouse.

RESULTS

The Cost : Benefit ratio was evaluated for polyhouse as well as open field crops which were
studied under present research work.

The cost of crop management including plantation cost, watering system ,cost of mannuring
and fertigation, cost of plant protection and labour charges were the parameters referred to

calculate total expense. Income in terms of Rupees was calculated taking into consideration
yield per acre per year and average market value. Table shows details of cropwise cost and

income. The C:B ratio of polyhouse grown capsicum and shadenet house cultivated capsicum

was found 1:3.02 and 1:4.66, respectively. It was observed 1:2.12 for open field crop of
capsicum. For polyhouse grapes the ratio appeared 1:8.57 while it was seen 1:1.46 for grapes

cultivated on open field. In case of rose it was 1:1.83 as compared to open field (1:0.64).
These results prove the polyhouse technology is remarkably beneficial as compared to open

field farming of the crops under studies.

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