Nimbus cultivation
Dear Sri Nashvind
Nimbus cultivation aspects are furnished here beow for your guidance :
CITRUS
(CITRUS Spp)
Acidlime is one of the commercial citrus fruits growth in Punjab.
CLIMATE
Tropical climate with moderate rainfall i.e. 750mm and absence of strong winds are ideally suited for the cultivation. They can be grown successfully even upto an elevation of 900m above mean sea level.
SOILS
Awell drained loamy soils of uniform texture upto a depth of 2-3m having good fertility is considered ideal for it's cultivation. The plant is highly sensitive for water logged condition. pH 6.5 to 7.5 ideal. The water table should not rise within one metre from ground level.
VARIETIES
Acid Lime : kagzi lime.
Lemons : Malta, Nepali oblang, 9/3 lemon Hybrid.
Preparation :
Acid Lime is propagated by seed and sweet orange by budding.
Acid Lime :
For raising seedlings freshly extracted seeds should be sown 2.5 cm X 7.5 cm apart on raised seed beds prepared from well pulverised and heavely manured soil with decayedleaf mold or well rotted cow dung. The seeds are sown in may-June or september-October and the seedlings will be ready for transplanting after 6-8 months of sowing in case of acid lime.
Manures are applied in 2 to 3 equal doses, first dose in Dec-Jan, 2nd dose in June-July and third dose in September-October.
Inter Cropping :
During prebearing period short growing crops like groundnut, ragi, bajra, wheat and vegetables (except solanaceous crops) can be profitably grown in the interspaces.
Mulching
Application of dry leaf mulch or paddy husk to a thickness of 8 cm in the basin keeps down the weed growth and decreases the number of irrigations and improves fruit quality.
Irrigation
Young trees have to be regularly watered throughout the year during the dry season. Double ring system of irrigation and drip irrigation should be copted for advantage. A composit nutrient spray prepared and sprayed twice or thrice at 20-25 Days intervel commencing from the appearance of new flush will correct deficiences and increases the yield and quality of fruits. It is prepared as follows.
Zinc Sulphate 500 g
Copper Sulphate 280 g
Magnesium Sulphate 200 g
Ferrous Sulphate 200 g
Borax 100 g
Manganese Sulphate(Amorphouse)
200 g
Lime 900 g
Urea 1000 g
Water 100 lit.
Spacing
6 X 6m - Acidlime
Mannur and Fertilizers :
Age of Plant Sathgudi & Pummelo Acid Lime & Lemon
N P205
gms K20 N P205
gms K20
1 Year 300 70 80 375 150 200
2 Year 600 140 160 750 300 400
3 Year 900 210 240 1125 450 600
4th Year 1200 280 320 1500 600 800
5th Year & above 1500 350 400 1500 600 800
PLANT PROTECTION
Leaf Manor
the caterpillar mines into the leaves of young flush, showing glistening and zig zag mines on them. The affected leaves curl, deform and the plant appears sickly.
Control
Spraying of malathion 0.03% or dimethoate 0.03% or phosphomidan 0.03% twice at weekly intervals beginning with the production of flush.
Bark and Stem Borer
The caterpillar bores into stem and branches and forms long galleries of silk overlaid with small fragments of wood and frass. The larva comes out from this gallery and feeds on the bark.
Control
By pouring petrol in the holes and plugging with mud or injecting endusulphan 0.05% or dichlorvas 0.02% or Malathion 0.1%.
Fruit Sucking Moths
The moths pierce the ripening fruits and suck juice. The affected fruits rot and drop.
Control
Spraying dimethioate 0.03% Removal of alternate host and clean cultivation is important.
Aphids
The pests attacks the tender shoots as a result of which the shoots get curled and growth is reduced. They also transmit Tristeza virus which causes decline of citrus.
Control
Dimethoate or dimercron at 0.05% concentration will control the pest.
DISEASES
Quick decline or Dieback
decay of roots, die back of twigs, diminished fruit-set vein clearing in leaves and stem pittings are the symptoms of the tristeza virus.
Control
Tolerant rootstocks such as sweet orange, trifoliate orange, Rangapur lime have to be employed.
Greening Diseases
Leaf patterns include chlorosis resembling zinc deficiency and yellowing of veins. reduction in fruit size and die-back of twigs are also noticed.
Control
The insect vector should be controlled by spraying dimethoate. 0.03% The tree may be injected with 6-10ml of tetracycline hydrochloride.
Gummosis or Root Rot
The bark at the cellar region peels off allowing gum exudation.
Control
Well drained soils must be choosen for planting. Care must be taken to prevent irrigation water from coming in direct contact with the trunk. Boredeaux paste has to be painted upto 65 cms above the ground level at least once in a a year.
Ganoderma Root
numerous bracket like objects are produced at the base of the stem and also in the trunkto some height. The roots become weak and pliable. The entire plant wilts and dies in extreme cases.
Control
periodical collection and destruction of brackets of the fungus is advocated. The infected roots should be cut and protected by applying Bordeaux paste.
Leaf fall & Fruit rot
water soaked lesions develop on leaves and fruit resulting in their drop.
Control
Spraying of 0.1% Bordeaux mixture once before the beginning of monsoon and the other at the end of monsoon are suggested.
Canker
Corky out growths develop on the leaves, fruits and twigs. The disease is serious in acid lime.
Control
Severely infected twigs are to be pruned spraying neem cake(1 Kg. in 20 lit. of water) or Bordeaux mixture 1% controls the disease. Streptoacline sulphate is also effective in controlling the disease in combination with copper fungicides.
Powderly Mildew
White powdery growth is formed on the surface of the leaves
Control
2 to 3 spraying of 0.3% wettable sulphar or dusting with finely powdered sulphur at an interval of 20 days will control the diseases.
Control of fruit Drop: 2,4-D 10 ppm or NAA 20 ppm/(20 mg/lit) one at the time of flowering, the 2nd one month after fruit set and 3rd one month before harvest.
Yield : Bearing starts from 3rd year in acid lime and 5th year in sathgudi.
Sathgudi yields 1000 to 2000 fruits/tree/year.Whereas acid lime 3000 to 6000 fruits/tree/year.Sweet oranges are harvested from December to February (main harvest) Second from June to September and third one, if three is in March toJune.Acid limes are harvested throughout the year but mainly May to August (80%) January to August (14%) and Sept./Dec.(6%).
Storage : Sweet oranges can be preserved for longer period in cold storage at 0 to 2oC and acid limes at 7 to 9oC with a relative humidity of 85% to 90%.
USES
The Citrus Fruits are valued for the Vitamin ,C, and phosphorus content.Several delicious fruit products like refreshing drinks, pickles etc. are prepared. They are the main source of peel oil, citric acid, citrate of lime and cosmetics which have international market value.
For further details please contact the under signed G.Ananda Rao, B.Sc (Ag)
Vijaya Agro consultants, 9703128495
