Package of practices on Pomegranate

1. Introduction:

The pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub in the family

Lythraceae that grows between 5 and 10 m (16 and 33 ft) tall. The fruit is typically in season

in the Northern Hemisphere from September to February, and in the Southern Hemisphere

from March to May. As intact arils or juice, pomegranates are used in baking, cooking, juice

blends, meal garnishes, smoothies, and alcoholic beverages, such as cocktails and wine.

The pomegranate originated in the region extending from modern-day Iran to northern India,

and has been cultivated since ancient times throughout the Mediterranean region.

Pomegranate is indigenous to the Middle East and was first introduced in India from Persia or

Afghanistan in the first century. Pomegranate fruit is very nutritious and refreshing. The total

area under Pomegranate in Andhra Pradesh is about 4.9 thousand hectares with estimated

annual production of 44 thousand tons.

2. Land selection and Preparation:

➢ The selection of land for pomegranate is important because the plants require at least

six hours of direct sunlight to grow and produce properly.

➢ The soil pH is adjusted to 6.5 by adding dolomite limestone and phosphorus to the

soil. Ripping the soil to a depth of 1 m helps remove unwanted substances and

provides good drainage. The plants grow and survive for 30 years, so it is important to

add a sufficient amount of nutrients and manure to the soil prior to planting.

➢ Proper ploughing and establishing the nutrients will help in the better root system and

water management. The land has to be prepared 4 to 5 months before planting.

➢ The spacing between plants is 5 m x 5 m. In square plot pits of dimensions, 60 x 60 x

60 cm is dug one month before planting. The pits are dusted with 5% BHC to protect

the plants from termites.

➢ 20 kg of FYM and 1 kg of superphosphate, 1kg of DNP-G and 500gms of PH-50 are

mixed in the soil and fill in the pits.

➢ The planting material is planted and light irrigation is given. The cutting or air layers

are planted during early spring or late winter in the nurseries and the transplantation to

the main area is done in the early summer season around March.

3. Season and climate:

Pomegranate prefers a dry climate. During fruit development, prolonged hot and dry

climate is required. Optimum temperature congenial for fruit development is 38°C. In a

humid climate, the fruits are severely damaged by pomegranate butterfly and do not develop

sweetness. It is winter hardy and very drought tolerant. It can grow up to an elevation of 1850

meters.

Pomegranate grows well under semi-arid conditions and can be grown up to an altitude of

500 m. above MSL. It thrives well under hot, dry summer and cold winter provided irrigation

facilities are available. The tree requires hot and dry climate especially during the fruit

development and ripening. The Pomegranate tree is deciduous in areas of low winter

temperature and evergreen or partially deciduous in tropical and sub-tropical conditions. It

can tolerate frost to a considerable extent in the dormant stage but is injured at a temperature

below -110C.

4. Selection of Variety/Planting material:

Varieties: 1. Bhaguva

It is a selection from Arakta cultivar. Rind and arils are dark red, softer arils. Fruits

weight about 250–300g.

2. Mridula

Fruits are medium sized (230–270 g) with thick smooth dark red rind colour with blood

red colour soft arils. Arils are juicy having TSS of 18 °Brix.

3. Ganesh

Rind colour is yellow with pink spots. Aril colour pinkish, with soft seed. Average fruit

weight 174g, TSS 13.1%, acidity 0.37% yields about 12 kg per plant.

4. Jyothi

Aril colour pinkish white with red patches, soft seed. Average fruit weight 22g, TSS 15%,

acidity 0.50%.

5. Jalore Seedless

Rind colour yellow with red patches. Aril colour pinkish with soft seed. Average fruit

weight 155g, TSS 15%, acidity 0.30%, yield 16kg per plant.

6. Jodhpur Red

Aril color dark pink, Rind colour light green with red patches. Most prone to fruit

cracking. Average fruit weight 140g, TSS 15%, acidity 0.30%, yield 15kg per plant.

Propagation Pomegranate plants are mainly propagated by air layering and cuttings, ground

suckers can be used for cuttings. 15-20 cm long hardwood cuttings taken from 1-2 years old

plant, should be treated with Seradex ‘B’ rooting hormone or given a quick dip in 500 ppm

Indole butyric acid. The nursery should be maintained with proper care from initial stages,

spraying mancozeb (0.25%) or Chlorothalonil (0.25%) at 15 days interval. Before planting in

the main field, spray the plants with Copper Oxychloride (0.25%) and Streptocyclin (250

ppm). Ideal age of air-layered plant should be minimum 4 months after cutting from the

mother plant.

5. Water management:

Pomegranate is a drought tolerant fruit crop, which can sustain under water scarcity to some

extent. Regular irrigation is also essential to reduce fruit splitting which is the major disorder

of fruits. During winter irrigation should be applied at 10 to 12 days of interval whereas

during summer at 4 to 5 days interval. Most of the farmers supplied water through drip

irrigation which helps in saving of water and convenient to apply fertilizers. Generally, Ambe

Bahar is suggested where irrigation facility is available. Otherwise, Mrig Bahar is preferred.

Cropping Season Month Month Water Requirement

Ambe

Jan 17

Feb 18

Mar 30

Apr 41

May 44

Mrig

June 30

July 22

August 20

Hasta

Sept 20

Oct 19

Nov 17

Dec 16

6. Integrated Nutrient management:

A) Introduction: Integrated Nutrient Management refers to the maintenance of soil

fertility and of plant nutrient supply at an optimum level for sustaining the desired

productivity through optimization of the benefits from all possible sources of organic,

inorganic and biological components in an integrated manner.

6.1) Organic fertilizers: ✓ 15-20kg FYM per pit,

✓ 1Kg Neem cake

6.2) Bio fertilizers: • Bio fertilizers not only played an important role in maintaining good health of the

plants, but also served as a natural source of plant nutrient to increase productivity.

• Some of the bio fertilizers are Pseudomonas, Trichoderma, Phosphate solubilizing

bacteria (PSB)

6.3) Chemical fertilizers: The requirement of manure and fertilizer varies with varieties, age of trees, fertility

status of soil and management practices. The fruit of guava are borne on current season

growth, therefore, manures and fertilizers encourage vegetative growth and fruiting. The

manuring schedule per tree as follows-

Age of the

tree

FYM

(Kg)

Vermicompost

(Kg)

Urea(g)

SSP(Kg)

MOP(Kg)

Speaciality fertilizers

DNP-G(g) PH-50 Amino-G

1-3 10-20 1 150-200 0.5-1.5 100-400 300 50 50

4-6 25-40 2 300-600 1.5-2.0 600-1000 500 100 100

7-10 40-50 2.3-3 750-

1000

2.0-2.5 1100-1500 1000 150 150

10 and

Above

50 3 -4 1000 2.5 1500 1200 200 200

6.3) Foliar application: a) Bio- Max: Dissolve 3 ml of “Bio Max and 5gms of 19:19:19 in 1 liter of water. First

spray after 20days o planting and remaining sprays at 15-20 days interval.

b) Total: Dissolve 5 g of “Total” in every litre of water or 1kg in 200 litres of water and

spray on both surfaces of leaves. Repeat spray at monthly interval.

c) Drip application: Zen Bio Fertilizer, Bumper crop kit, Bio NPK kit whenever

required as per the suggestion of expert.

6.4 Nutrient deficiency Symptoms:

Nitrogen deficiency Phosphorous deficiency

Calcium deficiency Zinc deficiency

Iron deficiency Manganese deficiency

7. Integrated Pest Management:

1. Fruit borer or Pomegranate Butterfly (Deudorix isocrates)

Adults lay eggs at the time of fruit setting in flowers. Larvae develop inside the fruit and

these larvae bore out of the fruits. Black excreta of caterpillars are commonly seen on

fruits

Management

Remove infested fruits and destroy. Spray Phosphamidon (0.03%) or Carbaryl (0.4%)

repeat the sprays with Fenvalerate (0.01%). The first spray should be given at the time of

fruit setting

2. Thrips (Rhipiphorothrips cruentatus/Scirtothrips dorsalis)

Feed by sucking sap from leaves, flower stalks, petals

and result in leaf curl, drying of young shoots and

shedding of flowers. On fruits, discolored areas are

seen which later show rusty scars

Management

Affected plant parts should be removed and destroyed

on observing the insect infestation. Spray chloropyriphos (0.02%) or imidacloprid

(0.04%) or deltamethrin (0.15) or dichlorovos (0.05%) as prophylactic or on observing

the symptoms.

3. Aphid (Aphis punicae)

Usually, affects new flush and suck cell sap. The

affected parts get discolored and disfigured. These

insects secrete copious amounts of honeydew, on

which sooty mould develops.

Management

Affected plant parts should be Sprayed with chlorpyriphos (2ml) or imidacloprid (0.4ml) or

deltamethrin (0.5ml) or dichlorovos (0.5ml) as prophylactic or on observing the symptoms.

4. Mites (Aceria granati/Oligonychus punicae/Tenuipalus punicae)

Adults and nymphs feed on the lower leaf surface resulting in shiny white/brown patches and

leaves may curl and dry.

Management

Affected plant parts should be removed and destroyed on observing the insect infestation.

Spray chloropyriphos (2ml) or imidacloprid (0.5ml) or deltamethrin (0.15ml) or dichlorovos

(0.5ml) as prophylactic or on observing the symptoms.

5. White fly (Siphoninus phillyreae)

They severely infest on dorsal sides of leaves resulting into curling, yellowing, and drying.

Management

Affected plant parts should be removed and destroyed on observing the insect infestation.

Spray chloropyriphos (2ml) or imidacloprid (0.4ml) or deltamethrin (1.5ml) or dichlorovos

(0.5ml) as prophylactic or on observing the symptoms.

6. Mealy Bugs (Planococcus sp., Ferissia sp.)

Adults bugs and nymphs are seen on all parts. The

cottony appearance of mealy bug and sooty molds are

the visible symptoms of mealy bug infestation.

Management

Spray chloropyriphos (2ml) or imidacloprid (0.4ml) or

deltamethrin (1.5ml) or dichlorovos (0.5ml) as

prophylactic or on observing the symptoms.

7. Bark eating caterpillar (Indarabeal tetraonis, I.

quadrinotata)

Its larvae feed on bark under webbed galleries of silk and excreta. The attacked plants show

the presence of such galleries on the bark surface.

Control

Orchard should be kept clean and overcrowding of trees should be avoided. Whenever larvae

holes are observed, inject larvae holes with quinalphos (1ml) or fenvalerate (0.5ml). Give a

prophylactic spray or on observing the symptoms spray with dischlorovos (0.8ml)

8. Stem Borer (Coelosterna spinator)

Grubs make holes and bore through the bark of main stems and branches, feed internally.

Excreta and dry powdered material are usually seen near the base of plants.

Control

Treat the holes produced by borer with dicholrovos (0.25%) and seal holes with clay. Spray

quinolphos (0.05%) or chlorphyriphos (0.05%).

9. Leaf eating caterpillar (Achaea janata)

Caterpillars feed voraciously on leaves and adults suck juice from fruits.

Control

Spray crop with chlorpyriphos (0.1%) as a prophylactic spray or on initiation of insect

infestation.

10. Fruit sucking moths (Othreis ancilla, O.cajecta, O.fullonica, O.materna, Achaea

janata)

It punchers mature fruits at dusk by inserting proboscis and suck juice. Through feeding

punctures, secondary pathogens enter and cause fruit rotting. They lay eggs on weeds.

Control

• Destroy weeds and keep the orchard clean.

• Collect and destroy infested fallen fruits.

• Harvest mature fruits little early.

• Put poison bait containing malathion 1 ml + 100g jaggery + 5ml vinegar in small tins

during night. Generate smoke in orchards during the dusk time.

Diseases:

1. Bacterial Blight (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. Punicae)

Water soaked lesions are formed on leaves, twigs, branches, flowers, calyx and fruits. The

lesions coalesce to form big spots, as a result, the infected leaves and flowers drop, twigs and

branches break at the point of infection. ‘Y’ or ‘L’ shaped cracks are formed on lesions and in

severe cases, entire fruit

Control

• Plant orchard with disease-free planting material

• Keep proper row to row and plant to plant spacing and follow proper pruning and

training to avoid plant to plant contact. This will also help in proper aeration and

distribution of solar light, which help to reduce diseases.

• Do not leave infected plant material (leaves, flowers, fruits & twigs) in orchards nor

dump near orchard or throw in irrigation channels. The orchard should be swept clean

to collect all fallen plant parts and burnt.

• Drenching of bleaching powder @ 150g/5-7L of water per plant or dusting of copper

dust (4%) @ 20 kg/ha on the soil below canopy at the time of bahar treatment reduces

the bacterial inoculum due to leftover plant debris in orchards.

• Prune twigs and branches 2 inches below the canker followed by 1% Bordeaux

mixture spray. Cut ends should be applied with Bordeaux paste (10%) immediately

after pruning.

• During pruning, secateurs should be sterilized with Dettol (1%) or Sodium

hypochlorite (1%).

• People handling diseased plants/orchards should avoid entering/touching disease free

orchards/plants without changing clothes and washing.

• Educate neighbouring growers about the significance of sanitation and clean

cultivation and to follow recommended spray schedules as well as doses strictly and

in all the orchards effectively checking the spread of the pathogen.

Adopt the following spray schedule

• The first spray be given with 1% Bordeaux mixture immediately after pruning.

Second spray at foliage initiation with Streptocycline (250ppm) + Copper oxychloride

(0.25%)

• Third spray at 15 days interval with Bordeaux mixture (0.5%) Under favorable

weather conditions of overcast sky and rains and high disease pressure, higher

concentrations of Streptocycline (500ppm) should be used. Also, spray interval can be

reduced to 8 –10 days.

• The rest period of 3 – 4 months should be practiced and during this period Bordeaux

mixture (1%) should be sprayed at a 1-month interval. Streptocycline (250ppm)

should be sprayed once during the rest period.

2. Leaf and fruit spots

Colletotrichum and Sphaceloma spots

On leaves, the spots are brown-black spots with a light centre and purplish-brown borders.

On fruits initially, spots are small with dark purplish brown borders with light centers which

later enlarge to form larger spots with a light center and dark edge.

Control

At flower initiation or disease appearance spray the crop with carbendazim (0.1%) or

mancozeb (1gm), or copper oxychloride (1gm) or Thiophanate methyl (0.15%)

8. Cultural practices:

Intercropping

Intercropping in the first 2-3 years after planting may be practiced. During this

period, pulses, vegetables or green manuring crops can be grown.

Training and pruning

Initially the side shoots up to 10-15 cm are removed at the time of planting. After

planting, the trees are allowed to grow vigorously for the initial period of 18 months.

During this period, these trees are trained leaving 4-5 well-distributed shoots all

around forming main structure of the plant. All the sprouts arising on these shoots are

removed up to 30, 60 and 100 cm during the first 6, 12 and 18 months respectively.

The pomegranate has a tendency to produce water shoots and suckers from the base.

These suckers arise as multiple stems, which grow vigorously without branching and

reach the top. They bear very little crop. Hence, the suckers should be removed as

soon as they arise.

The fruits are borne terminally on short branches known as spurs. These spurs arise

on the mature shoots. The spurs may bear fruits for 3-4 years but with advance in age

they lose capacity to bear and are therefore pruned. These older spurs are to be cut

down and new spurs encouraged. Also, those inward growing shoots are removed. It

is most desirable to encourage the growth of new shoots on 1-3 year old main

branches.

❖ PRUNING:

Pruning is an art of cutting away a portion of plant to improve vegetative growth of the

plant and the quality of the product; the parts commonly removed are branches. Pruning

is very essential in crop like pomegranate that does not have a tendency to produce

branches at specific internodes. Pruning help to reduce water shoots, maintain a low tree

profile (dwarf), properly trained and pruned trees yields high quality fruit much earlier in

their life cycle and live significantly longer. Pruning is essential in both young and old

tress.

A. PRUNING YOUNG TREES: Newly planted young trees require pruning at right

stage and regular intervals to develop desired size and shape of canopy. First pruning

must be taken place after 30-60 days after planting while rest of the pruning must be

carried out after every 2-3 months interval. There must be 5-7 pruning carried out from

the date of planting to the maturity of the plant i.e. plant ready for switching over to

reproductive phase. Ideal stem size for pruning is refill thickness (2-3 mm) while ideal

length of prune stem is around 12’’-15’’ long. Pictorial presentation is given below for

understanding the pruning techniques easily.

Stage-wise growth: 0- First day after plantation, 1- One month after plantation, 2- First Pruning two months

after plantation,4- Second pruning four months after plantation, 6- Third pruning six months after plantation, 8-

Fourth pruning eight months after plantation, 10- Fifth pruning ten months after plantation, 12- Sixth pruning

twelve months after plantation, 14- Seventh pruning 14 months after plantation, 16- Stress sixteen months after

plantation, 17- Initiation of flower bud one month after stress, 18- Profuse flowering two months after stress, 19-

Fruit setting three months after stress, 20- Fruit development four months after stress, 20- Fruit maturity eight

months after stress.

❖ Along with the pruning, training the tree is also important. Training is a practice in

which tree growth is directed into a desired shape and form. Training young fruit trees

is essential for proper tree development. It is better to direct tree growth with training

than to correct it with pruning.

❖ In pomegranate there are three types of canopy patterns can be developed for

better productivity and ease for cultural operations. These patterns are decided on

the basis of crop geometry.

i. Round: When plant to plant and row to row distance is same and wide

ii. Oval: When plant to plant distance is lesser than row to row distance or even at high

density population

iii. Wall: When plant to plant distance is too less

8.2 Bahar Treatment:

• Pomegranate flowers continuously when watered regularly. The plants under

such conditions may continue bearing flowers and bear small crop irregularly at

different period of the year, which may not be desirable commercially. To avoid

this trees are given bahar treatment.

• In this treatment, the irrigation is withheld two months prior to the bahar

followed by light earthing up in the basin. This facilitates the shedding of leaves.

• The trees are then medium pruned 40-45 days after withholding irrigation.

• The recommended doses of fertilizers are applied immediately after pruning and

irrigation is resumed. This leads to profuse flowering and fruiting.

• The fruits are ready for harvest 4-5 months after flowering. In tropical condition,

there are three flowering seasons, viz., January-February (ambe bahar) June-July

(mrig bahar) and September-October (hasta bahar).

• The choice of flowering/fruiting is regulated taking into consideration the

availability of irrigation water, market demand and pest/disease incidence in a

given locality.

• The fruits of ambe bahar are ready for harvest in the month of June to

September. As the fruit development takes place during dry months, they

develop an attractive colour and quality thus suitable for exports. Similarly due

to dry weather, the incidences of pest and disease attack are limited. However,

ambe bahar can be taken only areas having assured irrigation facilities.

• The mrig bahar crop is harvested in the month of December to February.

Usually this bahar is favoured as the flowering and fruiting period coincides with

rainy season or immediately after rains, and the crop is taken without much

irrigation. As the fruits develop during the rainy season and mature during

winter, the colour and sweetness of the fruit is affected.

• The fruits from hasta bahar are harvested during the month of March to April.

They have very attractive rind with dark coloured arils. Since the availability of

the fruits during this season is limited, they fetch high value. Optimum water

stress cannot be developed during this period as withholding of irrigation

coincides with the rainy season. This leads to poor flowering and thus affects the

yield.

10. Harvesting

10.1 Maturity Indices:

• The fruit requires 130-140 days after set for proper maturity.

• Colour changes from yellowish to dark red.

• Fruit is harvested when it gives cracking sound on pressing the fruit.

• The calyx at the distal end of the fruit gets closed at the time of maturity.

• Properly matured fruits can be easily scratched with finger nails.

10.2 Method and time of harvesting

• Either early in the morning or in the evening hours.

• Use clippers and bags for harvesting.

• Do not pull the fruits.

• Cut the stem close to the base.

• Do not keep longer stem end, as it cause danger to the other fruits.

• Do not keep fruits on the ground, so those should keep in plastic crates.

10.3 Quality requirement of importing countries

• Smooth cutting at the stem end

• Shining dark rose pink colour of the fruit

• Fruit weight around 200-400 g

• It should be round with dark rose pink arils

• Seed should be soft

• TSS should be 16 -17Brix

• Bracts of calyx having freshness and without any damage

• Pleasant flavours and aroma

• Without blackening of arils

YIELD

• 200 to 250 fruits per plant (15 to 20 t/ha.)

11. Post-harvest handling:

After harvesting, fruits can be cured in shade for about a week so that the skin becomes

hard and fruits can stand transportation better. Thereafter, the fruits can be graded

according to weight

‘A’ grade – 350 g & above

‘B’ grade – 200 to 350 g & above

‘C’ grade – Less than 200 g.

Cured fruits have good keeping quality which can further be prolonged through cold

storage. When stored at 00C to 4.50C with 80% Relative Humidity fruit remains safe

even for seven months.

a) Grading and Storage:

Fruits are graded based on their weight, size, and colour. The various grades are super,

king, queen and prince-sized.

Fruits can be stored in cold storage up to 2 months or 10 weeks at a temperature of 50 C.

Longer storage should be at 100 C and 95% RH to avoid chilling injury and weight loss.

b) Packing:

The size of packages varies according to the grade of the fruits. Corrugated fibreboard

boxes are mostly used. In a single box, 4-5 queen sized fruits, 12 prince sized and

some of 12-A and 12-B grades may be packed. The white colored boxes having 5

plies are generally used for an export purpose, whereas red colored ones having 3

plies are used for domestic markets. The red colored boxes are cheaper than white

colored ones. The cut pieces of waste paper are generally used as cushioning material.