Commercial Fruit Production
Course Overview
Official detailed syllabus from the ICAR Sixth Deans’ Committee curriculum.
Course Objectives
To acquaint the students with the cultivation techniques for commercially important tropical, sub-tropical and temperate fruit crops
Theory Syllabus
Area, production and export potential, varieties, soil and climate requirements, propagation techniques, planting density and systems, training and pruning, high density planting, ultra-high density planting, mechanization, management of water, nutrient and weeds, Physiological disorders, Special production problems, insect-pests, diseases and their control measures. Post-harvest technology, harvest indices, harvesting methods, grading, packaging and storage of the following crops: mango, banana, citrus, guava, litchi, grapes, papaya, pineapple, ber, aonla, pomegranate, sapota, jamun, date palm, apple, pear, peach, plum, cherry, almond, apricot, walnut, kiwifruit, hazelnut, chestnut, pecan nut, plantation crops (coconut, cashew nut, tea, coffee, cocoa, arecanut, palmyrah palm and strawberry.
Practical Syllabus
Description and identification of varieties of horticultural crops. Training and pruning, application of manure, fertilizer and irrigation, weed control, maturity standards, harvesting, handling, grading and packaging of fruits. Visit to commercial orchards.
Suggested Readings
1. Bal J S. 2014. Fruit Growing. Kalyani Publishers.
2. Chattopadhyay T K. 2012. A Textbook on Pomology Vol I-IV. Kalyani Publishers
3. George Acquaah. 2002. Horticulture Principles and Practices. Prentice Hall.
4. ICAR Handbook of Horticulture Vol I-II. ICAR Publication.
5. Singh Ranjit. 1992. Fruits. New Book Trust. New Delhi. 303p.