Arka Basant
An ICAR-IIHR release bred for the open-field and shade-net segment, with vigorous plants and good fruit quality — a public-sector option outside the costlier private hybrids.
Quick facts
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Rabi
- Maturity period
- ~150–160 days full cycle
- Seed rate
- 400–500 g/ha for nursery sowing (about 160–200 g/acre)
- Expected yield
- 15–18 t/ha
- Suitable soil
- Loam
- Release
- Released by ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru
About this variety
Arka Basant is a capsicum variety from ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru, bred for the open-field and shade-net growing segment in southern conditions. The vigorous plant gives good fruit quality and dependable field tolerance of common leaf diseases, and — alongside Arka Mohini and Arka Gaurav — offers growers a public-sector alternative to the costlier private F1 hybrids where budget or seed cost is a real constraint.
Key characteristics
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing timeNursery sown September; transplanted October–November in southern plains
- Seed rate400–500 g/ha for nursery sowing (about 160–200 g/acre)
- Spacing60–75 cm between rows, 45–60 cm between plants
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
~150–160 days full cycle
Expected yield
15–18 t/ha
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
- Field-tolerant of common leaf diseases
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- A budget-friendly public-sector alternative to costlier F1 hybrids
- Good field tolerance of common leaf diseases
- Suits both open-field and shade-net cultivation
Things to consider
- Lower yield ceiling than the top private hybrids under intensive polyhouse management
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Karnataka