Commercial Fruit Production and Orchard Management Book PDF Download [Grade-11]

 

Table of Contents

Introduction to Commercial Fruit Production and Orchard Management 1

Importance and Scope of commercial fruit production and orchard management 1

Potentiality of fruit production 2

Classification of fruit on the basis of agro climatic region 4

Cultivation Practices of Mango

MANGO (Mangifera indica) 5

Cultivation Practices of Banana

BANANA (Musa paradisiaca) 15

Cultivation Practices of Litchi

Litchi (Litchi chinensis) 26

Cultivation Practices of Pineapple

PINEAPPLE (Ananas comosus) 39

Cultivation Practices of Citrus

Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) 48

Sweet Oragnge (Citrus sinensis) 49

LIME (Citrus aurantifolia) 50

LEMON (Citrus limon) 51

PUMMELO (Citrus maxima) 52

Cultivation practices of Pomegranates 62

Pomegranate (Punica granatum)

Cultivation Practices of Grape 73

Grape (Vitis vinifera)

Cultivation Practices of Guava 76

Guava (Psidium guajava)

Cultivation Practices of Papaya 86

Papaya (Carica papaya)

Cultivation Practices of Apple 94

APPLE (Malus domestica)

Cultivation Practices of Plum, Peach, Pear and Apricot 103

Plum, Peach, Pear and Apricot

Cultivation Practices of Walnut, Pecanut and Chestnut 110

WALNUT (Juglans regia L.)

PECANUT (Carya illinoensis) 119

CHEST NUT(Castanea spp.) 121

Cultivation Practices of Kiwi fruit 122

KIWI (Actinidia deliciosa)

Cultivation Practices of Strawberry 128

STRAWBERRY (Fragaria ananassa)

Cultivation practices of Lapsi 142

LAPSI (Choerospondias axillaris)

Commercial Fruit Production and Orchard Management 1

Unit - 1

Introduction to Commercial Fruit

Production and Orchard Management

1.1 Importance and Scope of commercial fruit production and orchard

management

Importance

i. Economic importance

Fruit crops are cultivated by adopting high technology which produces high

quality fruit that always gets high price in the market. The price of fruits is

always higher than cereals and other agronomic crops.

ii. Nutritional importance

It provides all human nutrition like protein, vitamins, carbohydrates, fats, and

minerals.

iii. Industrial importance

Various processed products like jam, jelly, cold drinks etc. are prepared from

different types of fruits and plantation crops; for this purpose, industries are

needed.

iv. Environmental importance

Fruit trees absorb CO2 and other harmful gases and dust from environment. It

also helps to prevent soil from erosion and landslide and conserve soil.

v. Medicinal importance

Many fruits and plantation crops have got medicinal value. They are used to

manufacture medicines. E.g. Papaya, Amala, Guava

Scope of commercial fruit production and orchard management

i) Increasing urbanization and change in food habits

2 Commercial Fruit Production and Orchard Management

Increasing urbanization due to industrial growth has increased demands for

fruits. Change in food habits is also being noticed due to education and assured

income which has also helped in increasing demands for fruits.

ii) Increased transport facilities

At present, quick transport facilities by road are available enabling growers to transport

fruits, to long distance markers in good condition in a short period of time.

iii) Development of new techniques

Use of growth regulators, drip irrigation for water economy, tissue culture,

special horticultural practices like high density planting have helped to increase

productivity and also to bring more lands under cultivation.

iv) Scope for export of fruits

There is a good scope for export of grapes, mango, banana, pomegranate, citrus

to foreign markets.

Other scopes

 Availability of cheap labour

 Very high production of fruits

 Suitability of climate for fruits is the other factor indicating scope for fruits

1.2 Potentiality of fruit production

1. Due to the wide range of climatic conditions, Nepal has a unique

opportunity to develop many fruit crops.

2. Demand for fruits is also growing at a fast rate due to the awareness of

balanced diet and changing dietary habits of the people.

3. It is quite evident that fruit farming is far more profitable than cereals,

where marketing and other essential facilities exist.

4. Fruit farming is moderately employment intensive and contributes

considerably to farmer’s income.

5. Based on the successful apple production in some pocket areas, the

Agricultural Perspective Plan had identified apple as one of the high value

priority commodities in the high hills.

Commercial Fruit Production and Orchard Management 3

Constraints of commercial fruit production and possible remedies

Almost all types of fruits are being grown in various parts of Nepal but it has not been

demonstrated as an economic enterprise. This is because they are constrained by a

number of factors which can be broadly categorized as

Infrastructural constraints

Deciduous fruit growing areas are situated in remote places in the mid and high

mountains. These areas are not yet accessible to motorable roads and large markets, so

farmers are facing big problems in selling their produce. Essential inputs such as

fertilizers, plant protection chemicals and horticulture tools etc. are not regularly

available and on time. Organized marketing channels, transportation, storage and

processing facilities have not yet been developed in all fruit growing areas of the

country.

Physical and Environmental constraints

Physically, Nepal is situated in a very difficult region of the world. More than 80% of

its geographical area comes under hilly and difficult terrain with very steep slopes,

loose soil and rocky structure. In the dry spring months (March to May) when

temperatures are high with little rain and no irrigation, fruit trees are seriously stressed

due to which productivity is reduced. Some important fruit growing areas like Mustang

and Jumla experience strong wind in the spring that causes severe flower and fruit

drop.

Technical constraints

 Low priority for fruit research.

 Poor allocation of financial resources

 Lack of trained manpower

 Weak extension system in horticulture

 Inadequate technical information

Possible Remedies

 Agriculture roads should be constructed.

 Inputs like fertilizers, horticultural tools should be readily available in time.

4 Commercial Fruit Production and Orchard Management

 Research should be conducted in all fruits in potential areas.

 Storage and processing facilities should be provided.

 Loans should be provided for the cultivation of fruits.

 Skilled man power should be entertained.

1.3 Classification of fruit on the basis of agro climatic region

Tropical fruit production region

This zone comprises terai and inner terai. The altitude ranges from 70-650 masl

(metres above sea level). Large numbers of fruit crops are produced in this zone.

Mango, litchi, pineapple, jackfruit, banana, papaya, guava are common in this Zone.

Similarly, bayer, amala, pomegranate etc are produced in semi-commercial scale.

Sub-tropical fruit production region

This zone mainly covers the mid hills of the country. The altitude ranges from 650 to

1450 masl. This zone is suitable for citrus species i.e. sweet orange, mandarin orange,

lemon etc. and other fruits like pomegranate, guava, etc.

Warm-temperate fruit production zone

This zone covers upper part of mid-hills. The altitude ranges from 1450-2100 masl.

Peach, plum etc are major corps for this region. Pear has been selected as commercial

fruit in this region.

Temperate fruit production zone

This zone covers from the high hills to mountains. The altitude ranges from 2100-3000

masl. Apple and nuts (i.e. walnuts, apricot) are grown for commercial purpose.