Custard Apple Farming.

Custard apple farming, also known as sugar apple farming, is a profitable venture because of the fruit’s high market demand due to its sweet taste and numerous health benefits. Here’s a comprehensive guide to custard apple cultivation:

1. Climate Requirements

• Temperature:
  • Best grown in warm and dry climates.
  • Optimal temperature: 20–35°C. Avoid regions with heavy frost or prolonged cold.
• Rainfall:
  • Requires 50–80 cm of annual rainfall.
  • Rain during flowering can reduce yield.

2. Soil Requirements

• Type:
  • Grows well in sandy loam, red soil, or black soils with good drainage.
• pH:
  • Prefers a pH range of 6.5–8.0.
• Drainage:
  • Waterlogging must be avoided as it can damage the roots.

3. Varieties of Custard Apple

• Common Indian Varieties:
  • Balanagar
  • Arka Sahan (high-yielding hybrid)
  • Purandhar (disease-resistant variety)
  • Red Sitaphal (unique red-colored variety)

4. Propagation

• Methods:
  • Seeds (commonly used but slow and non-uniform growth).
  • Vegetative propagation (grafting or budding): Faster and produces uniform plants.
• Planting Material:
  • Use healthy, disease-free seedlings or grafts for better yield.

5. Planting

• Spacing:
  • 5 × 5 m or 6 × 6 m (accommodating about 400 plants per hectare).
• Planting Season:
  • Monsoon season (June–August) is ideal for planting.
• Pit Preparation:
  • Dig pits of 60 × 60 × 60 cm size.
  • Fill pits with a mixture of topsoil, compost, and 1 kg of superphosphate.

6. Care and Management

Irrigation:

• Custard apple is drought-tolerant but benefits from irrigation during critical stages like flowering and fruiting.
• Drip irrigation is recommended for water efficiency.

Fertilization:

• First Year:
  • 10 kg of farmyard manure (FYM) per plant annually.
  • 100–200 g of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) mixture.
• Mature Plants:
  • 20–25 kg of FYM and 500 g NPK per tree annually.
  • Split application during pre-flowering and fruiting stages.

Pruning:

• Prune during the dormant season to remove dead or weak branches and shape the tree.
• Regular pruning encourages better flowering and fruiting.

Weed Control:

• Mulching with straw or black polythene reduces weeds and retains soil moisture.

7. Pest and Disease Management

Common Pests:

• Fruit Borer:
  • Damages developing fruits. Control by spraying neem oil or Bacillus thuringiensis.
• Mealybugs:
  • Can be controlled with a combination of neem oil and soap solution.

Diseases:

• Anthracnose:
  • Causes dark spots on leaves and fruits. Use copper-based fungicides.
• Root Rot:
  • Avoid waterlogging and ensure good drainage.

8. Harvesting

• Maturity Period:
  • Custard apples are ready for harvesting 4–5 months after flowering.
• Signs of Ripeness:
  • Fruits turn pale green or yellowish, and segments become more prominent.
• Harvesting Method:
  • Handpick the fruits with stalks to avoid damage.

9. Yield

• First Yield:
  • Begins in the 3rd year for grafted plants.
• Average Yield:
  • Mature orchards produce 8–10 tons per hectare annually.

10. Post-Harvest Management

• Storage:
  • Custard apples have a short shelf life (2–3 days at room temperature).
  • Store at 8–12°C to extend shelf life to 7–10 days.
• Packaging:
  • Use ventilated crates or boxes with cushioning to prevent bruising.

11. Economic Aspects

• Initial Investment:
  • Includes planting material, pit preparation, fertilizers, and labor.
• Returns:
  • High market demand makes it profitable, with prices ranging from ₹50–₹300 per kg depending on the region and quality.

12. Benefits of Custard Apple Farming

• Low maintenance and drought tolerance.
• High market value and demand for fresh and processed products.
• Can be intercropped with legumes or short-duration vegetables for additional income.

By following these guidelines, custard apple farming can become a sustainable and profitable agricultural practice.