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Sugar Apple/Seetha

Annona squamosa


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Description

General Information :

  • It is a small, semi-deciduous tree, 3-7 m in height.
  • Bark light brown with visible leaf scars.
  • Leaves pale green in color.
  • Flowers greenish-yellow in color.

Distribution :

  • Exotic species and naturalized in India.
  •  
  • It is scattered widely in all parts of India 

Habitat : It is distributed throughout the tropics and is a desert fruit.

Soil : Tolerates a wide variety of soils. It grows in rich, well-drained, deep rocky soils but prefers loose, sandy loams.

Altitude :Up to 2000 m(MSL)

Rainfall :Above 700 mm

Temperature : Up to 41°C

Terrain : Plans/hilly and rocky patches.

Tree Characteristics :
  •  It is drought-resistant crop.

Habit : Evergreen tree

Planting Guidelines

Natural Regeneration :

  • Regenerates under favorable conditions.

Artificial Regeneration :

  • Seedlings can be easily propagated by seed and vegetative stem cuttings.

Seed collection and Storage :

  • The fruits are depulped and seeds collected.
  • It is shade dried and stored in air tight container
  • seeds have a long viability
  • Seeds of 1000 to 1500 / kg
  • Germination percentage is 90-95%

Seed Treatment :

  • Seed treatment is not advisable

Nursery Technique :

  • It can be regenerate by seed or Vegetative propagation.
  • Seeds are dibbled in the nursery bags and water regularly
  • Germination occurs  in 20-30 days after sowing
  • Six month old seedlings are fit for planting
  • It can also be propagated by stem cuttings using healthy branches of matured wood during the dormant period.
 

Plantation technique :

  • Nursery raised seedlings are planted during the onset of monsoon.
  • The pit of 60 cm3 at a spacing of 4 m x 4 m, 5 m x 5 m , 6 m x 6 m depending on soil type are dug prior to monsoon and filled with FYM, SSP and Neem cake

Care & Disease Control :

  • Uniform soil moisture throughout the fruit set and fruit development ensures high yields and helps prevent fruit splitting.

Irrigation :

  • For proper growth and survival it is necessary to give one or two waterings after planting.
  • This is specifically required in arid regions.
  • Irrigation after planting is not a prerequisite in areas having sufficient soil moisture and precipitation.
  • Higher survival rate and better rate of growth is reported when soil and water conservation measures are also adopted.

Recommended Harvest :

  • Harvest can be done from 3rd year.
  • Single crop 4-5 picking are done in August to October

Yield :

  • Normal Plantation yield is 7 tonnes /ha
  • In high density plantation yield is 10-15 tonnes/ha

Agro Forestory :

  • Trees are grown with mango, banana and coffee trees

Major uses :

Food: 

  • The pulp can be used as a flavoring in ice cream.
  • Between 50-80% of the fruit is edible.
  • The vitamin C content is appreciable (35-42mg/100g).
  • The nutrient value of thiamine, potassium and dietary fiber is also significant.
Fuel:
  • The tree is a good source of firewood.
Medicine:   
  • Leaves, shoots, bark and roots have been reported to have medicinal properties. The unripe fruit is astringent, and the root is a drastic purgative
   

Other uses :

Fuel: The tree is a good source of firewood. Medicine:  Leaves, shoots, bark and roots have been reported to have medicinal properties. The unripe fruit is astringent, and the root is a drastic purgative

Market details :

  • Approximately Rs.12000 to 13000 / tonne of fruits.
*Subject to change according to market demands