Chiku, or Sapota, is a horticultural crop cultivated for its delicious fruit. Central America and Mexico are called the place of origin of chiku. But in today’s time, a lot of chiku has started being produced in India as well. Once its plant is planted, it gives yield for many years. Its fruit is delicious in taste as well as rich in nutrients. Many nutrients like protein, carbohydrates, fibre, calcium, vitamin A, and glucose are found in chiku. Because of this, its consumption is beneficial for the human body. Chiku has a special sweet quality, and it is beneficial to consume it for any disease. Consuming it provides benefits in stress, anaemia, piles and stomach-related diseases, removes phlegm and mucus accumulated in the respiratory system and provides relief from chronic cough.
Chiku Farming In India
Soil Requirement
Chiku can be cultivated in any fertile soil, but sandy loam soil with proper drainage is considered good for chiku farming. It can also be grown easily in light saline and alkaline land. In Chiku cultivation, the soil should be of 5.8 to 8 pH value.
Chiku Farming Climate & Temperature
Sapota plant is of tropical climate, which needs a moist and dry climate to grow. Its crop can be easily grown even at an altitude of 1000 metres above sea level. Chiku plants develop well in the summer season. Moreover, it should not be cultivated in cold climates where it gets cold for a long time. Chiku farming requires an average of 150 to 200 CM of rainfall annually.
Chiku Field Preparation
Before growing the Chiku crop, the residues of the old crop in the field must be destroyed. After this, soil-turning ploughs are used to plough the field. After this rotavator is run in the area with a Mahindra Tractor to make the soil loose. Then, level the land by placing the planks. So that there is no problem with water logging in the field during the rainy season.
Saplings of Chiku are planted in the pits prepared in the field. For this, pits are made in the field. A one-metre wide and two feet deep pit is ready in the flat land to make the pit. These pits are prepared in a row, where a distance of 5 to 6 metres is kept from row to row. Appropriate quantities of organic and chemical fertilisers are mixed in the prepared pits and filled with soil. After filling the fertiliser in the pits, deep irrigation is done for chiku farming, and then they are covered with planks. These pits have to be prepared one month before planting saplings.
Fertiliser Needs In Chiku Farming
Common fertiliser is required in the Chiku farming field. Initially, 15 KG of rotten cow dung and 100 GM NPK are applied by mixing it well to give fertiliser. This quantity of fertiliser has to be provided for the initial two years, and with the development of the plant, the proportion of the amount of fertiliser is increased. After this, when the plant is fully developed for 15 years, 25 KG organic fertilisers along with 3 KG super phosphate, 1 KG urea and 2 KG potash are given twice a year.
Preparation Of Seedling
Chiku plants are prepared in the nursery through cuttings and seeds. To prepare the plant through saplings, the grafting method is used. To prepare the plants through seeds, the treated seeds are planted in the beds by adding suitable fertilisers in the nursery. In these beds, seeds are sown in a row at a distance of one foot. Apart from this, it can also be kept in polythene. Plants raised from seed take a longer time to yield. That’s why the grafting method is appropriate for plant preparation in chiku farming.
Chiku Transplanting
Chiku plants are transplanted in the form of seedlings prepared in the nursery. The plants are planted in the pits prepared a month before in the field, a small pit is made in the middle of these pits, and the plants are grown in it. Before planting the plants, the pits are treated with cow urine or Bavistin. So that the plants can develop properly. After planting the plants in the pits, the stem of the plants is covered by adding soil by any New Holland Tractor. It is best to plant its plants during the rainy season because the plants get the proper environment to grow. During this, the transplanting of plants should be done from June to July. Apart from this, plants can be planted in places with proper irrigation systems even after March.
Irrigation In Chiku Plants
Chiku trees do not require much water. Fully prepared Chiku plants must be irrigated 7 to 8 times a year. A pond is made to give water to its tree. This basin is made by preparing a circle around the plant’s stem two feet away. Its width should be up to two feet.
Irrigation is done in 10 to 15 days in the winter season, and water should be given once a week in the summer season. More water is required if plants have been transplanted in sandy loam soil. During this time, it is advisable to water the plants twice a week in summer. Water the plants only when there is no rain in the rainy season.
Plants Weed Control
Natural methods are used for weed control in Chiku plants. About 20 to 25 days after transplanting, do light hoeing in the field. Fully formed plants require only three to four weedings per year. Apart from this, to prevent weeds in the vacant land in the field, ploughing should be done with a power tiller when the soil dries up after the rainfall.
Fruit Pruning In Chiku
Chiku plants yield throughout the year, but in November and December, flowers appear on the plants as the main crop, which gets ready for harvesting from May itself. About 7 months after the flowers bloom, the fruits begin to ripen. When its fruits ripen from green to brown, they harvest and are sent to the market for sale.
Chiku Harvesting And Yield
Average annual production of 130 KG is available from one tree of improved varieties of Chiku. More than 300 plants can be planted in a one-hectare field. From which product is available around 20 tonnes. The wholesale price of chiku is Rs. 30 to 40 per kg. Accordingly, farmers can easily earn up to 6 lakhs from a one-time crop of chiku in a one-hectare field.
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