Excess water may affect marketing quality of citrus fruits: D O Garg

Nagpur, Oct 13

The lemon acreage in India is highest in the world and stands first amongst all the lemon producing countries in the world. In terms of area the Akola district is holding highest acreage and production and the yield is around 25 to 30 tones per hectare.

However, various pests and diseases affect the marketing quality of the fruit and the grower looses about 25 to 30 percent of the profit, said eminent entomologist and former subject matter specialist at ICAR-Central Citrus Research Institute, D O Garg here. In order to take the October November flowering the lemon trees have to be given stress of about one month during September.

The irrigation water of the tree has to stopped, but, as the monsoon rains are received till end of September, stress or cutting off water supply to lemon trees is highly impossible. This year also the rains have not receded

Hence, spray Lihocin 2 ml. per hactre water at 15 days interval should be sprayed. Spraying of Lihocin stops the new growth on trees. Besides the soil below the trees should be loosened and water should not be applied to the lemon tree. After one month Farm Yard Manire (FYM) at the rate of 10 kg per tree to one year old plant per year while the quantity is 20,30,40 and 50 kg. for 2,3,4 and 5 year old plants.

For trees which are 5 years old above, application of 600 grams of nitrogen, 200 gms of phosphorus and 300 gms of potash should be done in double ring method. Micronutrients in the form of zinc sulphate, manganese sulphate and feorous sulphate at 100 grams per tree along with urea at the rate of 250 grams per tree should be done. Soil application of Neem cake at 2 kg. per tree should be done followed by light irrigation to the lemon trees.

After a week a medium to heavy irrigation should be applied. The dried branches and other branches should be pruned to give the tree canopy a circular ball shape.

The lemon growers in Akola, Yeotmal and Amravati districts which have the highest area under lemon. A healthy tree of 8 to 10 years will bear about 1.5 lakh flowers which will shed till about 4000 to 5000 flowers remain which should be protected from insect pest and diseases so that further shedding of flowers does not occur, informs D O Garg.