CONTEXT
· FIG
· BAJRA
· WALNUT
FIG (Ficus carica)
Introduction-
· Also known as ‘Anjeer’.
· Most salt and drought tolerant crop.
· Prevents cancer, heart disease and hypertension.
· Improves digestion.
Found in which areas of country?
· Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu.
Soil conditions needed and Soil preparation-
· Well drained loamy soil is preferred.
· pH of soil should lie in the range of 7-8.
Rainfall and Irrigation required-
· Moderate rainfall is required for its optimum growth.
· Flood irrigation is done after every 10-12 days in summer.
· Drip irrigation should be done with 15-20 liter of water per day per plant.
Sowing-
· Seeds are sown from Mid-january to first fortnight of February.
· Propagation method is used.
Seed rate is 150 plants/ acre.
Intercrop/ Standing crop practices-
· WEEDING- generally Physical weeding, that is, weeding is done manually or Chemical weeding, that is, with the use of 2,4-D as weedicide.
· Pesticide- spray of copper fungicide thrice a week.
Harvest and Yield-
· Produces fruits after 2 years of planting.
· Harvesting of crop is mainly done during February- march.
· Its yield increases with the increase in age of plants.
· From 8th year; Average yield= 18 kg/tree.Major pests-
i. FRUIT FLIES-
· Uses fruits and soft tissues of vegetative parts of plant as oviposition site.
· Larval feeding in fruits occurs.
· Causes breakdown of tissues and internal rotting.
MANAGEMENT-
· With the help of its natural enemies such as Rove beetles, spiders, bats, weaver ants.
· Cleanliness and hygiene should be maintained.
· Use a mixture of apple cidar vinegar and dish soap.
ii. FIG BLISTER MITES-
· Appearance of blisters on surface of leaves.
· Stunted twigs.
· Pre mature falling of leaves.
MANAGEMENT-
· Application of horticultural oils.
· Use sulfur sprays.
· By using their natural control such as ladybugs, lacewings, predator mites.
Some diseases are-
i. FIG MOSAIC-
· Yellow spots appears on foliage.
· Uniform distribution of spots on surface of leaves.
· Presence of irregular patches, mature lesions surrounded by a brown-red band.
MANAGEMENT-
· Avoid collection of any propagation material from infected trees.
· Control of fig mites.
ii. BOTRYTIS LIMB BLIGHT-
· Presence of cankers on fruits.
· Wilting of foliage, its color turns light green or brown.
· Caused by fungus.
MANAGEMENT-
· Pruning of infected areas.
· Use of Mycostop, a fungicide.
BAJRA (Pennisetum glaucum)
Introduction-
· Also known as Pearl millet.
· Cultivated for grain as well as fodder purpose.
Found in which areas of country?
· Cultivated in arid region of Africa and Asia.
· Grown in all over India except Assam and northern part of India.
Soil conditions needed and Soil preparation-
· Well drained soil with mild salinity.
· pH of sil= 6-7.5
Rainfall and Irrigation required-
· Requires low annual rainfall.
· Since bajra is grown in rainfed areas therefore it hardly needs any irrigation.
· Avoid irrigation during flowering or grain filling stage.
Sowing-
· In middle or last week of july.
Seed rate-
· 4-5 kg/ha for drilling method
· 2.5-3 kg/ha for dibbling method
Intercrop/ Standing crop practices-
· WEEDING- Hand weeding is done mainly (Physical weeding) or with the application of some weedicides such as Atrazine (Chemical weeding).
· Pesticides- Some insecticide such as Carbofuran, Dimethoate can be used.
Harvest and Yield-
· When grain becomes hard and have sufficient moisture, it is harvested.
· It can be done by cutting of standing crop.
· It has a yield of 30-35 quintals per hectare (for irrigated crop).Major pests-
i. PEARL MILLET WHITE GRUB-
· Leaves turns yellow and wilts.
· Crown dries.
· Roots and base of shoots gets severely damaged.
MANAGEMENT-
· By their natural enemies such as Ground beetles, ants.
· Through seed treatment.
ii. SHOOT FLY-
· Attacks crops in seedlings as well as leaf stage.
· Causes chaffy grains in mature crop.
· Causes dead hearts in young plants.
MANAGEMENT-
· By their natural enemies such as spiders.
· Spraying should be done after 6 days of emergence of crop.
Some diseases are-
i. DOWNY MILDEW-
· Complete ear becomes a leafy structure.
· Pale and chlorotic streaks.
· Fungal growth occurs on upper and lower surface of leaves.
MANAGEMENT-
· Timely spraying of appropriate amount of fungicides.
· By the application of Cymoxanil.
· Elimination of moisture and humidity from the surrounding of plant.
ii. ERGOT-
· Cream to pink droplets of honeydew are seen on infected florets.
· Irregularly shaped sclerotia.
MANAGEMENT-
· By using fungicide named Bavistin.
· Use clean seeds.
· Use long crop rotation technique.
WALNUT (Juglans regia)
Introduction-
· Popularly known as Akhrot.
· Prevents cancer.
· Controls diabetes.
· Improves heart and brain health.
Found in which area of country?
· Mainly found in Mexico, Ukraine, China, USA, Turkey and Iran.
· In India, it is mainly cultivated in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh.
Soil conditions needed and Soil preparation-
· Well drained loamy or clay loamy soil is preferred.
· Soil should be rich in humus and lime.
· pH of soil= 6-7.5
Rainfall and Irrigation required-
· It requires annual rainfall of 800mm for its better growth and yield.
· Irrigation is done after transplanting the crops from nursery.
· Regular irrigation should be given.
· Avoid irrigation during rainy season.
· Drip irrigation is mainly done for appropriate use of water.
Sowing-
· Black walnut seeds are planted 2 inches deep in the month of September, October and November
Intercrop/ Standing crop practices-
· WEEDING- Mulching can be done, manual weeding can also prevent weeds in the field. By the use of appropriate chemical weedicides.
· PESTICIDES- Kaolin can be used.
Harvest and Yield-
· It is mainly harvested after 10-12 years of planting.
· Whereas grafted plants are harvested after 4-5 years of planting since early fruit bearing starts in grafted plants.
· A mature tree of walnut produces 125-150kg of nuts.
· Average yield = 40-50kg of nuts/ tree.Major pests-
i. CODLING MOTH-
· Its larvae feeds on kernel of walnut.
· Those nuts which gets damaged early falls from the tree, whereas those nuts that get damaged later on, remain on trees with their inedible kernels.
MANAGEMENT-
· By the application of various insecticides.
· Cutting out of damaged portions.
· Sanitation and fruits bagging can be done.
ii. WOODBORING BEETLE-
· Appearance of wood is ruined by the formation of holes on its surface.
· Causes weakness in woods.
· Presence of frass (a powdery material).
· Larvae chews the wood causing audible rasping sounds.
MANAGEMENT-
· Keeping plants in healthy condition.
· Do proper care of trees and shrubs.
· Prepare a good planting site.
Some diseases are-
i. ARMILLARIA ROOT ROT-
· Small and discolored leaves.
· Pre mature falling of leaves.
· Death of branches and ultimately plants also dies.
MANAGEMENT-
· Uproot and destroy diseased plants from the field.
· Plant resistant rootstocks.
ii. BLACKLINE DISEASE-
· Yellowing of leaves occurs.
· Pre mature defoliation.
· Discoloring of underlying tissues.
MANAGEMENT-
· By the use of virus-free grafts.
· Infected trees should be removed immediately.
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