Arid regions are ideal for growing Indian jujube or Ber. However, it is also well-known as the name of poor man’s fruits. Ber contains protein, vitamin C, and minerals and is widely grown in India. MP, Bihar, UP, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh are the top ber producers in India. Ber is Punjab’s fourth most popular fruit crop, following Kinnow, Mango, and Guava.
Ber Farming Methods and Requirements
If you want to grow a healthy Ber yield, you should pay attention to some farming requirements.
Climate Prerequisite
Ber farming requires temperatures ranging from 15 to 40°C. It may provide you with better results. It can be sown when the temperature is between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius or 30 and 37 degrees Celsius. Ber farming requires 300 to 400 mm of rainfall. The harvesting takes place at temperatures ranging from 30°C to 40°C or 15°C to 20°C. Keep these things in mind if you want to grow in a healthy way.
Soil Prerequisites
Ber farming can be done in a variety of soils. Ber farming is best suited to gravelly and sandy to clay soils and shallow to deep soils. It can also grow in soil that is unsuitable for cultivation. It can also withstand saline, alkaline, and waterlogged soil. Deep sandy, loamy soils with good drainage, on the other hand, are ideal for farming. Tractors such as the Mahindra 575 DI XP Plus and others must be used to prepare the ground. It can assist you in producing a high yield.
Favourite Varieties
Ber comes in a variety of varieties in India. The following are some examples of Ber.
- Umran – The fruits are oval and golden yellow. Mature fruits have a chocolate brown colour. Each tree weighs between 150 and 200 kg.
- Kaithli – The fruits are oblong in shape and greenish-yellow in colour. 75 kilogrammes per tree
- ZG 2 – When ripe, the fruits are oblong and a bright green colour. 150 kilogrammes per tree
- Wallaiti – When mature, the fruits are oval and golden yellow. Each tree produces 114 kg of fruit.
- Sanaur 2 – The fruits are large and golden yellow in colour. 150 kilogrammes per tree
- Balvant is a variety that matures early. 121 kilogrammes per tree
- Neelam is a medium maturing variety. 121 kilogrammes per tree
- Gola – The fruits are round and greenish-yellow in colour. Early maturing and suitable for dry climates.
- Kadaka Banarasi
- Mehrun
- Sanam 5
- Parbhani
- Elaichi
Preparation of Land
You must thoroughly prepare the land for Ber farming. So you’ll need to do two or three ploughings followed by levelling. You should also use the best tractor model, such as the Powertrac euro 47 or others. It has the potential to save you money on these operations.
Propagation
Ber plants can be propagated by budding. You can also use Katha Ber to grow rootstock. Moreover, you must now dip the seeds in a 17 to 18% salt solution. After that, sow seeds in the nursery in April at a row distance of 15 cm. And keep a plant distance of 30 cm. The plants will be ready to bloom in August.
Sowing
Plants should be transplanted in February-March or August-September. Planting requires a 7.5 x 7.5 m area. So, before planting, dig pits 60 x 60 x 60 cm in size and leave them open in the sun for about 15 days. After that, apply a mixture of soil and cow dung.
Pruning and Instruction
Ber farming necessitates regular pruning and training. To begin, ensure that all plants in the nursery have a single stem. Then, once the crop has matured, you must keep it disease-free. Finally, when plants reach the dormant stage, it is time to prune.
Irrigation
It is not necessary to water established trees on a regular basis. There is no need for water during the dormant stage. However, irrigation is required during the fruit development stage. So, at this point, you must rinse the field once every 3 – 4 weeks.
Pests and Their Management
Both pests are detrimental to the Ber crop. So, let’s find out how they’re being treated.
- Fruit fly – Dimethoate spray @ 500ml/300ltr water
- Leaf Eating Caterpillar – Carbaryl spray @750gm/200Ltr water
Diseases and Their Management
The crop can be affected by three types of diseases. So we’ve arrived at their treatment.
- Powdery Mildew – Spray wettable Sulphur @ 250gm/100ltr of water during flowering.
- Leaf Mould – 300gm Copper Oxychloride spray in 100Ltr water
- Mancozeb 75WP spray @ 250gm per 100 Ltr of water for black fruit spot
Harvesting
After 2 to 3 years of planting, you can harvest the field for the first time. Ber should also be harvested at the appropriate maturity stage. Aside from that, avoid ripping too much. It has the potential to reduce the taste and quality of fruit. Check the colour and size to determine the exact harvesting time for each variety.
Ber cultivation is now simple in India. Stay with us for more farming-related information. We’ll be back soon with more exciting blogs.
