Experts share tips on monsoon fruit management

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Ludhiana, July 27

Fruit cultivation plays an important role in ensuring nutritional security as well as enhancing economic returns of the farmers.

In Punjab, the monsoon, from July to September, is believed to be the best time for planting evergreen fruit trees. Dimpy Raina of the Department of Fruit Science, Punjab Agricultural University, said, however, rainwater standing for an extended period led to poor aeration, causing plants to suffocate, resulting in reduced growth and yield.

“Fruit, especially kinnow, orchards are stressed under waterlogging. This condition mainly occurs in those fields which are excessively irrigated and are ill-drained,” added Indira Devi of the Department of Fruit Science, PAU.

Following are some important points for management of new as well as old orchards to avoid loss during the monsoon:

• Avoid mortality due to waterlogging: Waterlogging is dangerous for plants like mango and papaya during the early stages of plantation. The tree should be planted in marked spaces in such a way that bud union remains about 9 inches above the ground level.

• Selective pruning: It is done only to remove dead and diseased portions of plants so as to avoid further spread of disease. After pruning apply Bordeaux mixture 2:2:250.

• Weed management: Weed incidence in orchards increases during the monsoon. Integrated weed management including manual removal of large weeds, mowing and mulching can be adopted. It is not advised to cultivate orchards during the rains.

• Prevention of fruit cracking: It is generally found in fruits such as pomegranate, citrus and litchi. Mulching maintains the soil moisture, reducing the incidence of cracking. Application of light and frequent irrigation is important to avoid cracking. Fruit bagging done at maturity stage also helps save the crop from cracking.

• Prevention of excess water-related diseases: Citrus trees show symptoms of foot rot with profuse gumming, trunk girdling, pale green foliage, stunted growth flushes and twig die-back. These diseases can be effectively controlled by spraying Bordeaux mixture (2:2:250) starting from the end of June to August at 20 days interval.

• Management of fruit fly: During the monsoon, the incidence of fruit fly infestation increases in fruit crops such as citrus and guava. Fix PAU fruit fly traps at 16 traps per acre in the first week of July for guava and second week of August for kinnow. Cover mature guava on the tree with white non-woven bags at the end of June through mid-July.