LOQUAT

In India mainly it is known as Lukat or Lugath. It is an evergreen and subtropical fruit tree. It attains the height of 5-6m and is spreading in nature. The fruit is native to central-eastern China and is mainly grown in Taiwan, Korea, China and Japan countries. In India loquat farming is done in Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Assam and Uttar Pradesh states. It also has health benefits such as it helps to improve skin health and eye vision, helps in weight loss, maintains blood pressure and increases blood. It also helps in strengthening of teeth and bones.

Loquat requires sandy loam soil which is rich in organic matter and has a good drainage system.

Golden Yellow: Medium sized fruits, yellow color flesh, 4-5 seeds, variety matures in Mid-March.

Improved Golden Yellow: Medium sized fruits which are oval to pyriform in shape. Pulp is medium thick which is pale orange in color and is smooth and soft. The fruit is mild in taste having few seeds and contains 10.5% TSS content.

Thames Pride: Fruits are medium in size which are pyriform in shape and is marble in color. The pulp is pale orange in color which is slightly granular and mild in taste. The fruits are moderately seeded.

Pale Yellow: Large sized fruits, white flesh, sour in taste, 3-4 large seeds, ripens in end-March.

California Advance: Medium sized fruits, cream color flesh, sour in taste, 2-3 large seeds, ripens in mid-April.
 
Large Agra: Medium sized fruits, which are oblong to ovate in shape. The pulp is medium thick and pale orange in color. The fruits are smooth and firm and are pleasant in taste.

Improved Pale Yellow: Flesh is pale-orange to cream in color which is soft and smooth. It has a pleasant flavor and the seeds are medium in number. It is a mid-season sowing variety.

Golden Red: The flesh is pale orange in color. The fruit is medium thick and soft. The fruits contain medium sized seeds.

Matchless: Pulp is medium in size which is orange in color. It has pleasant taste and the fruits contain few seeds.

California Advance: Fruits are medium in size, oblong to pyriform in shape and is pale yellow in color. Pulp is thick and creamy white in color, smooth and is excellent in taste.

Tanaka: Fruits are small in size which is orange in color. Pulp is medium yellow in color and has pleasant taste.

Other state varieties:

Early varieties: Large Round.

Mid-season varieties: Mammoth, Safeda, Fire Ball.
 

For loquat farming, the well prepared land is required. To bring the soil to a fine tilth, leveling is required followed by 2-3 deep ploughing.

Time of sowing:
February-March and June-July month is an optimum time for sowing.

Spacing:
Use plant to plant spacing of 10m x 10m.

Sowing depth:
1m deep planting is done.

Method of sowing:
Propagation method is used.

Seed rate:
Use 95-96 plants per acre.

Seed treatment:
Treatment of smooth and old-ringed shoots is done with NAA@3% and IBA 250ppm is done.
 

Air-layering method is used for propagation. Budded or grafted plants are preferred for planting as they are early fruit bearers.
 

Fertilizer Requirement (gm/acre)

Apply cow dung manure in December month and rest manure is added in two equal splits, the first dose is added in September-October month and rest of the half dose is added in February-March month. Along with the fertilizer dose add calcium oxide@377gm/tree.

Irrigation is given depending upon soil and weather conditions. Mainly 3-4 irrigations are required at the time of harvesting.

• Pest and their control:
  

Leaf roller caterpillar: The leaf roller will affect the crop by rolling the leaves. 

Treatment: To control leaf roller caterpillar spray with quinalphos@400ml in 150 ltr water per acre.

Aphids: 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.

Treatment: To control aphids spray with Dimethoate@300ml in 150 ltr water per acre.

• Disease and their control:

Black spot: It is a disease caused by fungus. The symptoms are black color sunken spots seen on leaves.

Treatment: If infection of disease is observed spray with Carbendazim@4gm/Ltr or Copper Oxychloride@3gm/Ltr or Mancozeb@3gm/Ltr of water.

Mainly plant starts bearing fruits in the third year of the plantation and maximum yield starts from 15th year. Harvesting is done when fruits get fully matured with the help of a sharp instrument. After harvesting, grading is done. It gives an average yield of 6-8qtl/acre.