Shoots also arise from the nodes, forming roots and new plants. Thus, within a month or so, the entire water area gets covered with the luxurious growth of brownish-green leaves. Fertilizing the pond with urea is a common practice. Insect pests are controlled by shaking the plants vigorously under water, by hand-picking, and by dusting or spraying exposed parts of the plants. Snails are another destructive pest, particularly during the later stage of growth.
Growers remove the snails by hand.
Rats also eat nuts and vegetative parts of the plant. The entire crop is harvested in four installments at intervals of 8-10 days because the fruits ripen in batches. At the time of harvesting, the size, softness of the pulp, greenness of color, and easy separation of the outer hard cover are the most important characteristics taken into consideration. Each fruit is plucked by hand after lifting the plants from the surface of the water. The plant is then put back in position for the next batch of fruits to ripen during the 8 day interval.