package of practices for peach fruit cultivation

package of practices for peach fruit cultivation

1. Welcome

2. INTRODUCTION Scientific classification Botanical name: Prunus persica Kingdom: Plantae Order: Rosales Family: Rosaceae Genus: Prunus Species: P. persica

3. Origin And Distribution China is the original home of peach and recorded to be grown as far back as 2000BC. Peach was introduced into India probably in the latter half of the 19 th century. In India peach is commercially cultivated in the hills of U.P, J&K, H.P and hilly tracts of Punjab and Tamilnadu ( Nilagiri ).

4. Cont…. In N.East India, the commercial cultivation of peach in a limited extent is confined to the lower hilly regions of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur and Nagaland.

5. IMPORTANCE Peach is an important stone fruit grown in warm temperate zones of the world The attractive colour of the fruit with excellent quality, taste and rich nutritive value make peach a most popular fruit in the world. The peach fruit is rich in proteins, sugar, minerals and vitamins.

6. CONT…… The peach kernel is a good source of fats, proteins, fibre and minerals. Botanically the fruit of peach is a drupe.

7. Various stages of peach fruit development

8. Climate: Peaches require humid climate with cold winter and dry summer Swelling buds are injured at - 6.5OC. The land with gentle slope is ideal. Deep valleys are not ideal sites

9. Soils : Deep sandy loam soil rich in organic matter is best for its successful cultivation. Peaches are highly susceptible for water logging and prefer perfect drainage

10. Varieties Table cultivars: Table cultivars should be yellow fleshed, free stone and with a regular bearing habit. Eg . Alexander, Elberta , J.H.Hale , Cardinal etc. Canning cultivars: Canning cultivars should be yellow fleshed, cling stone with a small non-splitting pit, uniform size, devoid of red colour at the pit and should mature uniformly. Eg.Certex , Halford , Fortuna, Crawfords early, Golden bush etc.

11. Planting: Propagation: Peach is commercially propagated by grafting and budding The planting in peach is carried out during winter season. In hilly areas, contour or terracing system of planting should be adopted depending upon the steepness of the slope.

12. Cont…. Pits of 1mX1mX1m size at a spacing of 6-7m in hills are dug during September-October. The pits should be refilled with fertile top soil mixed with 40 kg of well rotten farmyard manure.

13. Training and pruning If sun light exposure is a limiting factor (hills) vase or open centre system of training is usually followed Peaches require heavy and regular pruning because fruiting occurs laterally only on previous season‘s growth which bears only once in its life time.

14. Training and pruning of peach

15. Manures and fertilizers Peach requires a higher amount of nitrogen than other temperate fruits The bearing orchard should receive 1100g(2.5lb) each of Nitrogen and potash and double this quantity of phosphorous in inorganic form and 15-25 tonhnes of FYM per ha. given during December-January

16. Cont…… Half of N should be given in spring before flowering and the remaining half a month later, if irrigation facilities are available.

17. Irrigation: There should be sufficient moisture in soil before the emergence of leaves and flowers Frequent irrigations are needed during the fruit development

18. Cont….. At least two irrigations should be given during fruit development. Lack of irrigation, particularly during dry and hot summer result in fruit drop, reduced fruit size and quality.

19. Intercropping: short duration crops like cowpea, soybean, turmeric and pineapple are grown in peach orchard till the peaches come into commercial bearing.

20. Peach Fruit Diseases Brown Rot Twig blight phase of Brown Rot

21. Peach Scab Anthracnose

22. Bacterial Spot

23. Harvesting: All peach fruits won‘t mature simultaneously. Therefore, these may be harvested in 3-4 pickings at 4 days interval. The peak harvesting period for peach is mid-May to mid-July.

24. Yield: The peach comes to bearing after 2 years of planting. The plants bear for about 20 years. The average yield of fully grown trees of different varieties varies from 50 to 125 kg in hills.

25. Thank you