Apricot
Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) is an important fruit crop of midhill and dry temperate regions of the country. Cultivated apricot has its origin in North-Eastern China, whereas wild apricot, popularly known as zardalu, appears to be indigenous to India. It grows wild in hills of Shimla and Kinnaur districts of Himachal Pradesh. Fruit is delicious. It is rich in vitamin A and contains more carbohydrates, proteins, phosphorus and niacin than many other common fruits. Besides its use as dessert, it is also canned and dried. Fruit is processed into jam, nectar and squash. The kernel, which is either sweet or bitter depending upon the variety, is a valuable byproduct. Since sweet kernels taste like almond, they are used as its substitute in pastries and confectionery, while bitter ones are used for oil extraction.
Apricot is grown commercially in the hills of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and to a limited extent in north-eastern hills. Some drying type apricots are being grown in the dry temperate areas of Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti in Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir.
Climate and Soil
Apricots can be successfully grown at an altitude between 900 and 2,000m above mean sea-level. White-fleshed, sweet kernelled apricots require cooler climate and are grown in dry temperate region up to 3,000m above mean sea-level, whereas yellow-fleshed, bitter-kernelled ones thrive better under the warmer climate of midhills (900–1,500m). The long cool winter (300–900 chilling hours below 7°C), and frost-free and warm spring are favourable for fruiting. Average summer temperature (16.6°–32.2°C) is suitable for better growth and quality fruit production. The sites located in north-eastern India at lower elevations and on South-Western at higher elevations are suitable for its cultivation. Spring frost causes extensive damage to the blossoms which are killed when temperature falls below 4°C. Apricots thrive better under low humidity as high humid conditions in summer increase the incidence of brown rot. An annual rainfall of about 100cm well-distributed throughout the season is good for its normal growth and fruiting.
Being hardy, it can grow in most of the soils, but deep fertile and well-drained loamy soils are more suitable for its growth and development. The pH of the soil should be 6.0–6.8. However, in Ladakh and Kinnaur, large wild apricots grow in sandy, well-drained and less fertile soils.
Varieties
In India, apricot is grown in midhills to high hills having variable climatic conditions. Varieties which are suitable for midhills are not suitable for high hills or dry temperate region. About 100 varieties of cultivated apricot are available in India. Most of them are of exotic origin. The promising varieties recommended for different regions are given in Table 1.
Table 1. Apricot varieties recommended for cultivation in different states
Himachal Pradesh
Midhills New Castle, Early Shipley and Shakarpara
High hills Kaisha, Nugget, Royal, Suffaida, Charmagz and Nari
Dry temperate Charmagz, Suffaida, Shakarpara and Kaisha
Uttar Pradesh
Charmagz, Kaisha, Moorpark, Turkey, St. Ambroise, Early Shipley's, Chaubattia Alankar, Chaubattia Madhu, Chaubattia Kesri and Bebeco
Jammu and Kashmir
Ladakh Halman, Rakchakarpa, Tokpopa, Margulam, Narmu and Khante
Kashmir Turkey, Australian, Charmagz, Rogan and Shakarpara
New promising varieties for midhills
Early-maturing Baiti, Beladi
Late-maturing Farmingdale, Alfred
Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) is an important fruit crop of midhill and dry temperate regions of the country. Cultivated apricot has its origin in North-Eastern China, whereas wild apricot, popularly known as zardalu, appears to be indigenous to India. It grows wild in hills of Shimla and Kinnaur districts of Himachal Pradesh. Fruit is delicious. It is rich in vitamin A and contains more carbohydrates, proteins, phosphorus and niacin than many other common fruits. Besides its use as dessert, it is also canned and dried. Fruit is processed into jam, nectar and squash. The kernel, which is either sweet or bitter depending upon the variety, is a valuable byproduct. Since sweet kernels taste like almond, they are used as its substitute in pastries and confectionery, while bitter ones are used for oil extraction.
Apricot is grown commercially in the hills of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and to a limited extent in north-eastern hills. Some drying type apricots are being grown in the dry temperate areas of Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti in Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir.
Climate and Soil
Apricots can be successfully grown at an altitude between 900 and 2,000m above mean sea-level. White-fleshed, sweet kernelled apricots require cooler climate and are grown in dry temperate region up to 3,000m above mean sea-level, whereas yellow-fleshed, bitter-kernelled ones thrive better under the warmer climate of midhills (900–1,500m). The long cool winter (300–900 chilling hours below 7°C), and frost-free and warm spring are favourable for fruiting. Average summer temperature (16.6°–32.2°C) is suitable for better growth and quality fruit production. The sites located in north-eastern India at lower elevations and on South-Western at higher elevations are suitable for its cultivation. Spring frost causes extensive damage to the blossoms which are killed when temperature falls below 4°C. Apricots thrive better under low humidity as high humid conditions in summer increase the incidence of brown rot. An annual rainfall of about 100cm well-distributed throughout the season is good for its normal growth and fruiting.
Being hardy, it can grow in most of the soils, but deep fertile and well-drained loamy soils are more suitable for its growth and development. The pH of the soil should be 6.0–6.8. However, in Ladakh and Kinnaur, large wild apricots grow in sandy, well-drained and less fertile soils.
Varieties
In India, apricot is grown in midhills to high hills having variable climatic conditions. Varieties which are suitable for midhills are not suitable for high hills or dry temperate region. About 100 varieties of cultivated apricot are available in India. Most of them are of exotic origin. The promising varieties recommended for different regions are given in Table 1.
Table 1. Apricot varieties recommended for cultivation in different states
Himachal Pradesh
Midhills New Castle, Early Shipley and Shakarpara
High hills Kaisha, Nugget, Royal, Suffaida, Charmagz and Nari
Dry temperate Charmagz, Suffaida, Shakarpara and Kaisha
Uttar Pradesh
Charmagz, Kaisha, Moorpark, Turkey, St. Ambroise, Early Shipley's, Chaubattia Alankar, Chaubattia Madhu, Chaubattia Kesri and Bebeco
Jammu and Kashmir
Ladakh Halman, Rakchakarpa, Tokpopa, Margulam, Narmu and Khante
Kashmir Turkey, Australian, Charmagz, Rogan and Shakarpara
New promising varieties for midhills
Early-maturing Baiti, Beladi
Late-maturing Farmingdale, Alfred
Good..... Informative.....
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