1. Module VII: Cropping Systems for Chili Pepper Cultivation
Lesson 3: Ratoon Cropping
After completing this lesson, you have learned to answer:
Define ratoon cropping?
What are the advantages of ratoon cropping?
What are the disadvantages of ratoon cropping?
Describe the good practices for ratooning of chili pepper?
List useful varieties for chili pepper ratoon cropping?

2. Module VII: Cropping Systems for Chili Pepper Cultivation
Lesson 3: Ratoon Cropping
Ratoon cropping is the technique of allowing a crop to produce two crops of yield from one planting.
The principles involved in ratoon cropping are that the ratoon crop has well developed root system, earlier maturity, and the perennial nature.

3. Module VII: Cropping Systems for Chili Pepper Cultivation
Lesson 3: Ratoon Cropping
The advantages of ratoon cropping are:
Reduced cost of production through savings in land preparation and care for the plant;  
Reduced crop cycle: crop planted less often, so replanting cycle is longer;  
Better use of growing season;

4. Module VII: Cropping Systems for Chili Pepper Cultivation
Lesson 3: Ratoon Cropping
The advantages of ratoon cropping are:
Higher yield per unit area in a given period of time;
Less use of irrigation water and fertilizer than main (original) crop because of a shorter growing period.

5. Module VII: Cropping Systems for Chili Pepper Cultivation
Lesson 3: Ratoon Cropping
Recently, the ratooning of kharif chili pepper is becoming popular.
Ratooning of kharif chili pepper becomes successful if little care is taken at the time of harvest of original crop of chili pepper.
With adequate rainfall, a second crop of grain (usually 40 to 50 percent less than the yield potential of the planted crop) may be produced. It is likely that insect pressure will be heavy on this second crop.

6. Module VII: Cropping Systems for Chili Pepper Cultivation
Lesson 3: Ratoon Cropping
For taking ratoon crop of chili pepper:
Main crop should not be cut above the ground level after its maturity. Harvest all fruits and left the plant for next crop.
The field need to be cleaned by removing diseased and damaged plants, weeds and dried leaves etc. This should be completed within 4-5 days after harvest of the main crop.

7. Module VII: Cropping Systems for Chili Pepper Cultivation
Lesson 3: Ratoon Cropping
Mix in the soil 25 Ib N and Ib P2O5/acre using a blade hoe in between two lines.
The crop should be irrigated immediately after the application of fertilizers, if there are no rains.
Spray 0.04% Endosulphan 35 EC seven days after the harvest of main crop to control shoot fly.

8. Module VII: Cropping Systems for Chili Pepper Cultivation
Lesson 3: Ratoon Cropping
The varieties recommended for ratoon crop are Singapore, Sport and Sunflame F1.

9. Module VII: Cropping Systems for Chili Pepper Cultivation
Lesson 3: Ratoon Cropping
Harvest the crop when the grains turn yellow.
The duration of the ratoon crop is about 15 days less than the main crop.
The yield of ratoon chili pepper could be about Ib/acre depending upon the variety, soil type and management of the crop.