Write short notes on cultivation of following fruit crops : Ber
Answers
1. INTRODUCTION
Ber or Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana) is one of the hardy minor fruit crops suitable for cultivation in arid conditions. It is native to India.
2. OBJECTIVE
The main objective of this report is to present a one acre bankable model for high quality commercial cultivation of the crop.
3. BACKGROUND
3.1 Area & Production
The major ber-growing states are Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
3.2 Economic Importance
Fruits are rich in Vitamin C, A and B complex. About 5.6% digestible crude protein and 49.7% total digestible nutrients are present in the leaves making it a nutritive fodder for animals. Ber can be processed to prepare murabba, candy, dehydrated ber, pulp, jam and beverage.
4. PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
4.1 Agro-climatic requirements
Ber grows under varying climatic conditions at elevations upto 1,000 m. above m.s.l. It can withstand extremely hot conditions but is susceptible to frost. High atmospheric humidity is not suitable for its cultivation.
Ber grows on a wide variety of soils-sandy, clayey, saline and alkaline soils.
4.2 Growing and Potential Belts
The state-wise growing belts are given in the following :
State
Growing belts
Haryana
Hisar, Rohtak, Jind, Panipat, Mahindergarh, Gurgaon,
Rajasthan
Bharatpur, Jaipur, Jodhpur
Punjab
Sangrur, Patiala
Gujarat
Banaskantha, Sabarmati
Karnataka
Bijapur, Bellary, Gulbarga, Belagaum, Raichur, Bidar
Tamil Nadu
Tirunelveli, Ramanathapuram, Dharmapuri, Salem
4.3 Varieties Cultivated
Important ber varieties cultivated in India are Gola, Umran, Banarasi Karka, Mundia, Kaithli, Umran, Mehrun, Parbani, Elaichi and Sanam 5.
4.4 Land Preparation
Land is prepared by ploughing, harrowing, leveling and removing weeds.
4.5 Planting
4.5.1 Planting Material
Ber is vegetatively propagated by ‘I’ or ‘T’ (shield) budding method.
Seeds are sown in well-prepared nursery bed at 30x30cm. spacing and at 2cm. depth during March-April. These seedlings are either transplanted in the field during July-August for in-situ budding or can be budded in the nursery beds. In irrigated conditions, transplanting can be done in bare rooted stage during January-March after treatment with 12% Waxol or after defoliation.
In rainfed areas, seeds are sown in 300 gauge polythene tubes of 25 cm. length and 10 cm. diameter, filled with a 1: 1: 1 mixture of farmyard manure, sand and clay. In northern India, sowing is done during April in north India so that the seedlings become buddable during July. The budlings become ready for transplanting 1-2 months after budding. The budlings raised by this technique retain their deep rooting tendency and prove to be suitable under low rainfall drylands. In drylands, ber orchard can also be raised by transplanting tube-raised ber seedlings with the onset of monsoon, leaving them to grow in the field until the forthcoming summer for budding in-situ.
4.5.2 Planting season
Planting is usually done at the beginning of monsoon.
4.5.3 Spacing
Planting is done at a spacing of 6 m. in low rainfall areas and 8m.in the irrigated condition or in areas receiving high rainfall. In irrigated areas, ber plants can also be transplanted during January-March.