1. Introduction
Plum is a juicy and delicious fruit which contains antioxidant properties which help in preventing the damage caused by oxygen radicals, and it also acts as a protection to the essential fats which are present in the cell membrane. The consumption of plum extract helps to decrease osteoporosis as well as helps in reduction of blood sugar level in the body.
2. Climate and soil
This fruit grows in abundance in warm, coastal climate as it requires the sunset climatic zone ranges in between 2 to 22. Plum trees grow best in acidic to neutral soil, with a pH ranges in between 5.0 and 6.5. This fruit is damaged if the alkaline soil is provided for its appropriate growth.
3. Land preparation
The land preparations in case of plum trees are done by usage of methods such as ploughing, cross ploughing of land and then leveling the land. The land preparation is done in such a way that the process of water stagnation should not occur in the field during plantation of Plum.
4. Varieties
The varieties of plum which are available in the market are Alubukhara, Satluj Purple as well as Kala Amritsari. The variety of titron is also available in abundance as the fruits are produced at about 30 to 35 kg per tree.
5. Sowing
Plum is sowed during the first fortnight of January as the direct seedlings method is followed in the plantation of this fruit. The proper spacing of plum plant is to be done in the distance of 15cm x 30cm. The tree of Plum is to be planted from the distance of 6m x 6m apart from the row and between the two plants.
6. Application of Manures and Fertilizers
Plum requires 6 to 12 kg of FYM, 60 to 120 gm of Urea, 95 to 120 gm of SSP and 60 to 120 gm of MOP during the first year of the plantation of plum trees. During its five years of the plantation, it requires 30 to 36 kg of FYM, 300 to 360 gm of Urea, 475 to 570 gm of SSP and 300 to 360 gm of MOP.
7. Intercultural
The intercultural process in case of plum is vital to the process of removing the weeds is crucial for the growth of the fruit. The process of intercropping, as well as weeding, should be done on a regular basis to improve the quality of the plant as well as to maintain the level of a nutrient in the yield. The herbicides used in plum are Fluchloralin as well as Alachlorin.
8. Irrigation
The irrigation is done in the months of April, May, and June. The process of scheduling irrigation is followed on the plantation of plum trees if the irrigation process is not followed properly low rainfall can be supplemented by the rain.
Figure: Fully grown plum tree
9. Plant protection Measures
The plants are protected from whitefly and leaf-eating caterpillar which cause great damage to the tree. The whitefly can be controlled by using sanitary condition under the tree as well as dug the soil so that the maggots in the affected fruits and pupae hibernating in the soil are destroyed. The pesticides in case of plum trees are Fludioxonil and Iprodione.
10. Harvesting
The harvesting is usually done during the month of June as well as in July when the average yield of the fruit has fully grown to about 80 kg to 100 kg. The maturity of plum fruit varies depending on the different types of fruits which are available in the market as the nutrient content has to be kept intact with its nutrient content.
Figure: Harvesting of plum
