GUAVA

Common but important commercial fruit crop of India. It is native of Central America. It is grown in tropical and sub-tropical areas. It is rich source of Vitamin C and Pectin along with Calcium and Phosphorus. Fourth Most important crop after Mango, Banana and Citrus. It can be grown all over India. Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Orissa, WB, AP and Tamilnadu are major guava producing states. Uttar Pradesh is major guava producing state in term of Area and Production.

It is a hardy crop. And grows wells in all type of soil from poor, alkaline and ill drained soil. It can be grown in soil having pH ranging from 6.5 to 7.5. It gives best results when grown under deep, well drained, sandy loam to clay loam soil.

Unnat varieties:

Pant Prabhat: New variety. It has medium sized plant. It has excessive long and wide leaves. The fruits are round in shape, shiny surface and become yellow at maturity, white flesh and fruit is sweet and good in taste. It has small seeds which are smooth. The variety gives an average yield of 100-135kg/tree. The variety is suitable for Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh state.

Sardar (Lucknow-49): It has spreading tree which are medium in height. Fruits are big, rough surface, and is yellow at maturity. Fruit has white flesh, smooth, and sweet taking light sour taste. The variety gives an average yield of 100-135kg/tree. The variety is suitable for Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh state.

Allahabad Safeda: The plant is medium in height. Fruits are round in shape, smooth surface, peel is yellow when matures, and white flesh, soft and is sweet in taste. The variety gives an average yield of 80-100kg/tree.

Chittidaar: The variety is similar to Allahabad Safeda but on its fruit red color spots are seen. Fruits are round, shiny and peel is spotted light yellow in color. Fruit has white flesh which is soft and sweet in taste. The variety gives an average yield of 60-75kg/tree.

Other varieties:

Arka Kiran: It has medium sized trees and it bears fruits. It has round fruits, shiny peel, when matures turn into light yellow color and it has red color flesh. The variety gives an average yield of 100kg/tree.

Dhawal: It has medium and good fruit. The variety gives an average yield of 100kg/tree.

Lalit: It has medium height variety. The fruits have red color flesh. The variety gives an average yield of 100kg/tree.

 Plough land deeply and then levelled soil for proper growth and yield.

Time of sowing
July- September is optimum time for planting. In irrigated areas the plantation can be done in March-April month.

Spacing
For planting use spacing of 6 x 5 m. If for planting distance of 6-8 m is used, then in square system, 132 plants can be accommodating in one acre.  

Plants are propagated by budding or Air layering. Sardar variety seeds are tolerant to wilt and can be used for raising rootstock. Extract seed from ripen fruit and sow them in raise bed in August-March. Make raised beds of “2 m x 1 m”. When seedling become six months old they are ready for transplantation. Transplanted seedling when attain diameter of 1-1.2 cm and height of 15 cm they are ready for budding process. May and June months are best for budding process. Freshly cut, angular bud wood from current season’s growth is used for budding purpose.  

Training and Pruning is necessary to provide strong frame work to guava tree. Stronger framework help to support high yield. To maintain the productivity of trees, light pruning at time of first harvesting is necessary. Regularly remove dead and disease infected branches. Modified leader system of training is followed. Flowers in guava are borne on current seasons growth so carry out light annual pruning and remove upto 10 cm tip, it will encourage new shoots after harvesting.     

Fertilizer Requirement (gm/plant)

Amount of fertilizers should be added from 1-1.5m away from the tree. Nitrogen dose is added in two equal splits, i.e. first dose is added in October month and then in June and full dose of Cow dung, Phosphorus and Potash is added in December-January month. For summer season crop add full dose of phosphorus and potash and half dose of nitrogen is added in June-July month.

After planting, irrigate crop immediately, then irrigate on third day, afterwards irrigate weekly or bi-weekly during first few months after planting. Irrigation is not required to establish the orchards. Young plantation required irrigation at weekly interval in summer month and 2-3 irrigation during winter month. Avoid flood irrigation during flowering stage as it leads to excessive flower drop.

• Insect Pest and their control

Fruit Fly: It is serious pest of Guava. Females lay eggs below epidermis of young fruits. Later on maggots feed on pulp afterward fruits starts rotting and get drop. 

Mealy Bug: They suck sap from different plant parts and thus weaken plant. If infestations of sucking pests like Mealy bug is observed then to control spray with Chlorpyriphos 50EC @300ml/100Ltr of water.

Guava Shoot Borer: It is a serious pest of nursery. Infested shoots get dry up. 

Aphid: Serious and common pest of Guava. Adult and nymphs, both suck the sap thus weaken the plant. In severe infestation, they cause curling and deformation of young leaves. They secrete honey dew like substance and sooty, black mould is developed on affected parts.

• Disease and their control

Anthracnose or Dieback: Dark brown or black spots are observed on shoots. On fruits also small, raise, dark spots are observed. Fruits rot completely within 2 to 3days after infection. 

Within 2-3 years after planting, plants comes to bearing. Harvesting to be done when fruits get mature. On maturity, fruits changes color from dark green to greenish yellow. Do harvesting at proper time and avoid over-ripening of fruits as it deteriorate quality and test.

After harvesting, carry out cleaning, grading and packing operations. As guava is perishable fruits, it should be marketed immediately after harvest. For packing use CFB, corrugated fibre boxes or bamboo baskets of different size. Use dry grass, guava leaves, paddy straw or rough paper as cushioning material.