Guava Farming/Cultivation
in Pakistan, Care, Pests, Diseases and Treatment
Introduction
to Guava: The scientific name of Guava is Psidium
guajava L. It belongs to the family Myrtaceae. It is a tropical fruit. Guava
ranks third in the world in terms of fruit production, meaning that guava is
grown on one-third of the total area under fruit cultivation in the world. The
ripe fruit on the plant and freshly picked guava is sweet and fragrant.
Nutritional
Benefits of Guava: Guava is mostly eaten fresh but it
is also used to make jams and jellies. It contains 82% water, 7% protein, 11%
carbohydrates, starch, vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, soluble fiber, fiber,
phosphorus, nicotinic acid and calcium. It contains 3 to 6 times more vitamin C
than malt, 10 to 30 times more than bananas, and 10 times more than papaya. An
average size guava has 25 calories. Guava is very beneficial for the body's
immune system and lowers cholesterol to prevent heart disease.
Guava
Cultivation/Farming Areas in Pakistan: Pakistan is the
second largest producer of guava in the world. Guava is an important and
popular fruit of Pakistan. It is grown in many parts of Pakistan. In Sindh
province, it is cultivated in Larkana and Hyderabad. In Punjab, it is mostly
grown in Lahore, Sharqpur Sharif, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala and Sangla
Hill. High quality guava is widely grown in Kohat district of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa province. Guava is also grown in Haripur and Bannu.
Guava
Fruit Season in Pakistan: Guava plants in Pakistan bear
fruit twice a year, once in winter and the second time in summer.
Climate
Suitable for Guava Cultivation: Guava can be grown in hot,
semi-hot and cold climates. In areas where the weather is cold, the production
of guava is higher and the quality is better. The young guava plants cannot
tolerate dehydration and cold. Dry weather is better during flowering and
fruiting. When the fruit is ripe, the fruit falls off due to high temperature.
Soil Suitable
for Guava Cultivation: Guava grows equally well in heavy
sandy loam to light sandy loam. The soil pH for cultivation can be 4.5 to 9.4.
It is somewhat salt resistant. Although well-drained soil is recommended for
growing guava yet it can be grown in very moist soil.
Reproduction
of Guava: Guava reproduction is usually done from seed
but it can also be reproduced from cuttings, air laying, grafting and springs.
Although guava roots are difficult to germinate, they can be grown successfully
in humid climates with pens. In the current season, 10 to 12 cm long leafy
branches, which have been inoculated with indole butyric acid in the sand in
the greenhouse in July-August in a humid atmosphere in the sand, after 6 weeks,
compared to normal pens. 80% more roots come out. Guava seeds begin to
germinate in 2 to 3 weeks after sowing, but this process can take up to 8
weeks. If the seeds are soaked in water for 2 weeks before sowing, it speeds up
the germination process. After the seeds have germinated, when the height of
the cheese plants reaches 2 to 30 inches (5 to 75 cm), they are transferred to
pots or beds, and when these plants are 1 or 2 years old, they are planted in
the garden. Is given. Since seed-bearing plants are not of high breed, the
plants are transplanted with high breed variety before planting in the garden
or plants are prepared from the roots of high breed variety plants. This
process is exactly like putting pens. The only difference is that the cuttings
of other plants like roses are cut from the branches of the plant while the
cuttings of guava are cut from the roots of the plant. To obtain cuttings from
the roots, the roots are selected which are neither too small nor too thick.
These pens should be 5 to 10 inches (12.5 to 20 cm) long and half an inch (12.5
mm) thick. These cuttings are pressed 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) deep parallel
to the ground surface in prefabricated beds and watered 2 to 3 times a day to
keep the soil moist. Goes Routing hormone is applied to these pens before they
are pressed into the ground. The second method is to cut the desired root at a
distance of 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 0.9 m) from the stem of a high breed variety.
From this cut root grows a new plant which is transferred to a pot or bed.
Commercial Varieties of Guava: The
following are the commercial varieties of guava.
1.
White: The fruit of this variety is a medium sized white pulp
with few seeds.
2.
Seedless: The fruit of this variety is medium to large
in size with white pulp and is shaped like a pear.
3. Red
Flashed: The fruit of this variety is of medium size,
with red pulp and many soft seeds. As it contains Pectin, so it is good for
making jelly.
Distance
between Plants in the Garden: The distance between the guava
plants in the garden is 5 to 6 meters.
Height of
Guava Plants: The height of guava planst is up to 33 feet.
Age and
Productivity of Guava Plants: Guava plants grow rapidly. Plants grown
from seeds begin to bear fruit in 2 to 4 years. ۔ Although the physical
age of the guava plant is 30 to 40 years yet their productivity begins to
decline after the age of 15 years.
Requirement
of Fertilizers and Nutrients for Guava Plants: Fertilizers
and nutrients improve plant growth and increase fruit yield. A balanced supply
of NPK increases fruit production as well as improves fruit quality. Apply the
first dose of NPK to the guava plants in the month of January and the second
dose in the month of August. Use 2: 1: 1 amount in each diet i.e. use nitrogen
fertilizer (urea 2 parts), phosphate 1 part and potash 1 part. The amount of
these nutrients depends on the age of the plants and the condition of the soil.
Guava plants are sometimes deficient in zinc and iron. To make up for this
deficiency, mix 7 grams of Zinc Sulphate (ZnSo4) and 46.5 grams of Ferrous Sulphate
(FeSo4) per liter of water and spray on the plants. This increases the yield as
well as the quality of the fruit.
Pruning
of Guava Plants: Pruning of guava plants has a good effect on
yield as guava fruit grows on new branches every year. That is why it is necessary
to prune the plants to produce new branches every time the fruit is taken from
the plants.
Flowering
and Fruit Season: Guava plants flower twice a year. The first
time is for summer fruits from March to April and the second time for winter
fruits from August to September. The flowering period may vary from 25 to 45
days in different areas. Guava plants ripen in 90 to 150 days after flowering.
Winter crop is preferred as it has higher yield and better fruit quality.
Fruits ripening in late summer are small in size while fruits ripening in late
winter and early spring are large in size. It takes about 4 months to ripen
after flowering. In this regard, summer fruits are produced in July, August and
winter fruits in December, January.
Getting a
Good Crop of Guava in Winter: The way to get a good crop of
guava in winter is that the flowers coming in March, April should be discarded
before they become fruits. For this purpose, mix 30 grams of 2,4-D per liter of
water and spray on the flowers. Guava gardeners stop watering the plants after
December or January to eliminate the late summer crop, which results in the
plant dropping more leaves and flowers, thus not producing fruit for this
season's crop. ۔
Guava Fruit
Picking and Packing: When the guava fruit is ripe, it
is picked 2 to 3 times a week. Since guava fruit spoils very quickly, it should
be packed immediately after picking and sent to the market as soon as possible.
Fruit Refreshment
Period: After removing the fruit from the plants, it
can be kept at room temperature (24 to 44 degrees Celsius or 76 to 87 degrees
Fahrenheit) for 6 days and kept in cold storage for 12 days. Can Cold storage
temperatures should be 8.33 to 10 degrees Celsius (47 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit)
and humidity 85 to 95 per cent.
Preservation
of Guavas in Cans: If guavas are preserved in cans, 0.06%
citric acid and 0.125% ascorbic acid should be added to the sugar syrup, it
does not change the color of the fruit.
Guava
Diseases and Pests: In addition to other insect
infestations during the rainy season, the fungus Phytophthora parasitica causes
fruit rot. Wilt, a plant disease caused by the fungi Fusarium Solani and
Macrophomina Phaseoli, can cause great damage to 1- to 5-year-old guava plants.
This causes the plants to wither and die. Wilt, caused by the fungi Fusarium
Oxysporum and Fusarium Psidii, attacks stems and roots.
High
Density Farming of Guava in Pakistan
Introduction:
In a
traditionally planted guava garden, the spacing between plants is 18 to 22 feet
and about 108 to 135 plants per acre. The annual income per acre from a
traditionally planted garden is about 80,000 to 120,000. In contrast, in
high-density guava farming, the distance between plants is 5 to 7 feet and
1,000 to 1,500 plants are planted per acre. The annual income per acre from a
garden planted in this way is 300,000 to 500,000.
Care of
High Density Garden: Planting in this way requires
pruning of plants, timely and proper application of fertilizers and prevention
of pests.
Cost and
Profit Per Acre for Planting Guava High Density Garden: The cost
per acre for planting Guava High Density Garden is Rs.50,000 and profit is Rs.400,000.
Compiled By: Ikram Saeed
WhatsApp : +923024226053
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