Enhancing the fruit yield and quality of pomegranate in a new niche area: Insights into site specific agronomic practices

Authors

  • Akath SINGH ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur- 342003; ICAR-Central Institute of Sub-tropical Horticulture, Rehmankheda, Lucknow (IN)
  • Pradeep KUMAR ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur- 342003 (IN)
  • P.R. MEGHWAL ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur- 342003 (IN)
  • Priyabrata SANTRA ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur- 342003 (IN)
  • Anand NAOREM ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur- 342003 (IN)
  • Pratapsingh S. Khapte ICAR—National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Baramati 413115, Maharashtra (IN)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha52313754

Keywords:

fruit load, organo mineral fertilizers, Punica granatum, yield, quality

Abstract

The sustained higher profitability of a pomegranate orchard relies heavily on the production of a greater proportion of high-quality fruits, a goal achievable through the implementation of effective management practices. The objective of this study is to provide site-specific supplementary knowledge regarding the response of pomegranate plants to various management practices under arid conditions. With the aim of enhancing both marketable fruit yield and quality of pomegranate in arid regions, four separate and simultaneous experiments were conducted in the same orchard to evaluate (i) the response of planting materials derived from tissue culture, air layering, and cutting; (ii) the impact of crop (fruit) load; (iii) the response of crop regulation; and (iv) the application response of organo-mineral fertilizers containing potassium (OMF-K) and phosphorus (OMF-P). The results obtained for plant growth, fruit yield, and fruit quality did not exhibit significant differences among pomegranate plants raised through the three different methods of vegetative propagation. Striking results in terms of producing superior-grade fruits, higher marketable yield, and overall fruit quality were achieved with crop loads of 80 fruits per plant. Staggering the crop regulation from June to September effectively extended the harvesting season to four months, from the last week of November to March, with eventual benefit of reduced fruit cracking compared to the standard two-month harvesting period obtained from normal regulation. Soil application of the indigenously developed OMF-K in two equal splits, along with the recommended N and P through inorganic sources, significantly reduced fruit cracking (only 6.23%) compared to the recommended NPK through inorganic sources (26.9%), while maintaining similar physicochemical quality attributes.

References

Anonymous (2020). Exports from India Pomegranate Fresh. Available online: https://agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

Babu KD, Singh NV, Chandra R, Sharma R, Maity A, Pal RK (2015). Improvement in keeping quality of pomegranate fruits during storage. Research on Crops 16(2):281-287. https://doi.org/10.5958/2348-7542.2015.00041.8

Borochov-Neori H, Judeinstein S, Harari M, Bar-Ya’Akov I, Patil BS, Lurie S, Holland D (2011). Climate effects on anthocyanin accumulation and composition in the pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit arils. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 59:5325-5334. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf2003688

Chandra R, Jadhav VT, Sharma J (2010). Global scenario of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) culture with special reference to India. Fruits Vegetable Cereals Science and Biotechnology 4:7-18.

Directorate of Horticulture, Government of Rajasthan, District Wise Area and Production of Fruits for the Year 2021-22 Available online: https:// https://agriculture.rajasthan.gov.in/horticulture/

Elham F, Jafari A, Fallahi E (2020). Hand thinning influence on fruit quality attributes of pomegranate (Punica granatum L. cv. ‘MalaseYazdi’). International Journal of Fruit Science 20(2):377-386 https://doi.org/10.1080/15538362.2020.1735602

Filho ACDAC, Crusciol CAC, Nascente AS, Mauad M, Garcia RA (2017). Influence of potassium levels on root growth and nutrient uptake of upland rice cultivars. Review Caatinga 30:32-44. https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252017v30n104rc

Gaikwad NN, Pal RK, Suryvanshi S, Babu KD, Maity A, Sarkar S (2017). Effect of extraction methods and thermal processing on retention of bioactive compound of pomegranate (Punica granatum) cv. Bhagwa Juice. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 87(11):1445-1452. https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v87i11.75679

Galindo A, Rodríguez P, Collado-González J, Cruz Z, Torrecillas E, Ondoño S, Corell M, Moriana A, Torrecillas A (2014). Rainfall intensifies fruit peel cracking in water stressed pomegranate trees. Agriculture for Meteorology 194:29-35.

Hepaksoi S, Aksoy U, Can HZ, Ui MA (2000). Determination of relationship between fruit cracking and some physiological responses, leaf characteristics, and nutritional status of some pomegranate varieties. CIHEAM - Options Mediterraneennes 42:87-92.

Ibrahim K, Serhat U, Turgut A (2018). Effects of fruit thinning on the quality and size of ‘Wonderful’ pomegranate fruits. Advances in Food Science 40(4):114-119.

Jafari A, Arzani K, Fallahi E, Barzegar M (2014). Optimizing fruit yield, size, and quality attributes in 'malasetorshesaveh' pomegranate through hand thinning. Journal of the American Pomological Society 68(2):89-96.

Kahramanoglu I, Usanmaz S, Alas T (2018). Effects of fruit thinning on the quality and size of Wonderful pomegranate fruits. Advances in Food Science 40(4):114-119.

Khadivi-Khub A (2015). Physiological and genetic factors influencing fruit cracking. Acta Physiology Plantarum 37:1-14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-014-1718-2

Lee J, Durst RW, Wrolstad RE, Eisele T, Giusti MM, Hach J, … Wightman JD (2005). Determination of total monomeric anthocyanin pigment content of fruit juices, beverages, natural colorants, and wines by the pH differential method: collaborative study. Journal of AOAC International 88(5):1269-1278.

Meena NK, Ram A, Baghe M (2018). Pomegranate cultivation is promising in arid region of Rajasthan. Indian Farming 68(6):30-33.

Mohsen FS, Osman A (2015). Improving physico–chemical aspects of wonderful pomegranate fruits through fruit thinning. International Journal of Current Research on Bioscience Plant Biology 2(9):95-103.

Mulaei S, Jafari A, Shirmadri M, Kamali K (2020). Micropropagation of arid zone fruit tree, pomegranate cv Malase Yazdi and Shirin Shahvar. International Journal of Fruit Science 20(4):825-836. https://doi.org/10.1080/15538362.2019.1680334

Nuncio-Jauregui N, Munera-Picazo S, Calin-Sanchez A, Wojdylo A, Hernandez F, Carbonell-Barrachina AA (2015). Bioactive compound composition of pomegranate fruits removed during thinning Journal of Food Composition Analysis 37:11-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2014.06.015

Oren-Shamir M (2009). Does anthocyanin degradation plays a significant role in determining pigment concentration in plants. Plant Science 177:310-316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2009.06.015

Pawar YD, Singh P (2020). Advances in propagation techniques of pomegranate. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Science 9(6):2122-2137. https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2020.906.260

Ram C, Suroshe S, Sharma J, Marathe RA, Meshram DT (2011). Pomegranate growing manual. Technical Bulletin National Research Centre on Pomegranate, Solapur, India, pp 1-58

Ranganna S (2001). Handbook of analysis and quality control for fruit and vegetable products. Tata McGraw-Hill Education Publication, New Delhi, pp 625.

Rodrigues J, Inze D, Nelissen H, Saibo NJM (2019) Source–sink regulation in crops under water deficit. Trends in Plant Science 24(7):652-663. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2019.04.005

Saritha M, Praveen-Kumar, Panwar NR, Burman U (2021). Plant response to novel organo-mineral fertilizers based on selective enrichment of P- and K-solubilizing microorganisms in soil. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 21(3):2392-2402. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-021-00530-z

Sarkhosh A, Yavari AM, Zamani Z (2021). The Pomegranate Botany, Production and Uses. CAB International: Wallingford, UK, pp 559.

Schwartz E, Zulker R, Glazer I, Bar-Ya’Akov I, Wiesman Z, Tripler E, … Amir R (2009). Environmental conditions affect the color, taste and antioxidant capacity of 11 pomegranate accessions fruits. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57:9197-9209. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf901466c

Sharma J, Chandra R, Babu KD, Meshram TD, Maity A, Singh NV, Gaikwad N (2014). Pomegranate: cultivation, marketing and utilization. Technical bulletin No. NRCP/2014/1. ICAR National Research Centre on Pomegranate Solapur Maharastra.

Sharma KK, Singh NP (2000). Effect of mechanical de-blossoming on yield and quality of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.). Journal Research of Punjab Agriculture University 37(3/4):203-205.

Singh Akath, Burman U, Santra P, Saxena A, Meghwal PR (2019). Relationship of plant water status and leaf gas exchange with fruit cracking of pomegranate. Indian Journal of Horticulture 76(2):289-293. https://doi.org/10.5958/0974-0112.2019.00044.6

Singh Akath, Shukla AK, Meghwal PR (2020). Fruit cracking in pomegranate: extent, cause, and management–A review. International Journal of Fruit Science 20(3):1234-1253. https://doi.org/10.1080/15538362.2020.1784074

Singh NV, Babu KD, Maity A, Sharma J, Pal RK (2017). Elite planting material of pomegranate: a key to productive orchard. In: Souvenir, 2nd Seminar cum farmers fare on Pomegranate for health growth and prosperity. ICAR- NRCP and Society for Advancement of Research on Pomegranate (SARP) Solapur Maharastra. April 28-30 pp 84-93.

Supe VS, Saitwal YS (2016). Morphological, biochemical and qualitative changes associated with growth and development of pomegranate fruit (Punica granatum L.). Indian Journal of Agricultural Research 50(1):80-83. https://doi.org/10.18805/ijare.v0iOF.7106

Tehranifer A, Zarie M, Nemati Z, Esfandiyari B, Vazifeshnas MR (2010) Investigation of physico-chemical properties and antioxidant activity of twenty Iranian pomegranate cultivars. Scientia Horticulturae 126:180-185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2010.07.001

Downloads

Published

2024-09-23

How to Cite

SINGH, A., KUMAR, P., MEGHWAL, P., SANTRA, P., NAOREM, A., & KHAPTE, P. S. (2024). Enhancing the fruit yield and quality of pomegranate in a new niche area: Insights into site specific agronomic practices . Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, 52(3), 13754. https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha52313754

Issue

Section

Research Articles
CITATION
DOI: 10.15835/nbha52313754

Most read articles by the same author(s)