Sapota

• India is considered to be the largest producer of sapota in the world, though it is considered to be a minor crop in India. At present, total area and production under sapota is estimated at 25,824 hectares and 3.38 lakh tones. In Andhra pradesh sapota is cultivated in an area of 3,490 ha with a production of 8.50 tonnes/ha. But the productivity of 8.5 tonnes/ha. In Andhra Pradesh is far less than the All-India productivity level of 14.19 tonnes/ha.

Varieties

Cricket Ball (Calcutta Large)

• This bears the largest sized fruits, which are round in shape. Pulp is gritty and granular and moderately sweet. This variety is free from leaf spot disease.

Kalipatti

• Fruits are oval shaped less seeded with a sweet mellow flesh of excellent quality. Fragrance is mild. Each fruit has 1-4 seeds. Fruits appear singly. The main harvest is in winter. This variety has higher T.S.S, ascorbic acid and total sugar.

Pala (Gutti)

• The fruits are small to medium sized and oval or egg shaped, with apex broadly pointed and are very sweet. The bearing is heavy and fruits are borne in clusters. The fruit has thick skin and good flavour.

Kirthabharthi

• On the rind 4-6 ridges are seen. Fruit skin is rough, medium thick and buff coloured, and pulp is sweet. Fruit apex is rounded. The fruits can be transported to distance markers.

Dwarapudi

• The fruits resemble those of cricket ball but small in size, fruits have a sweet pulp.

Oval

• The fruits are small to medium sized and oval or egg shaped. Pulp is coarse grained and less sweet.

Soils

• Sapota prefers a warm and moist weather and grows both in dry and humid areas. Coastal climate is best suited. Areas with an annual rainfall of 125-250cm are highly suitable. The optimum temperature is between 11 and 34⁰C. A high temperature of 41⁰C during summer causes flower drop and fruit scorching.
• The soils must be well drained and should not have high lime content which induces chlorosis.

Spacing

• Light soils - 10m x 10m
• Heavy soils - 13m x 13m

Planting

• Prepare land by ploughing and harrowing. Dig pits of about 1m x 1m x 1m. Fill the pits with top soil and compost. Plant the grafts in the middle of pit keeping the graft joint above the groundlevel. Provide support by staking. Planting should be done during rainy or late winter season.

Manures and Fertilizers

F.Y.M

• Before planting : 50 kg/plant
• Every year : 50 kg /plant

• Manure plants in the beginning of rainy season. The fertilizers should be applied in trenches 20-30cm deep and 30cm wide along the drip line of the tree.

Interculture

• The tree basin should be kept free of weeds. Bromacil @ 3kg a.i/ha proved to be the best herbicide for controlling both broad-leaved weeds and grasses and was effective for a period of 6 months.
• Vegetative and other filed crops can be grown as intercrops in the first 6 to 7 years.
• Application of SHADU at 100ppm before flowering and again at peak flowering stage results in higher fruit set and NAA at 300 ppm after fruit set results in better retention.

Irrigation

• When plants are young irrigation may be given throughout the year depending upon soil condition. In later stages, during summer, irrigation should be given at 20-25 days interval and in winter at 30 to 35 days interval. Over irrigation results in flower and fruit shedding and also large number of fruits and flat limb malady (fasciation of shoots).

Plant protection

• Sapota does not suffer from serious pests and diseases. But some times, chiku moth, chiku bud bore leaf miner, mid rib folder, leaf spot disease, sooty mold and flattening of branches (Botryodiplodis theobromes) are seen. Hence for sapota there is no regular spiny schedule and needful control measures have to be adopted. In case of severe infestation of bud borer, whose larva damages the flower bud, spraying of malathion (0.05%) or monocrotophos (0.01%) is recommended. The leaf disease can be effectively controlled by monthly spray of mancozeb (0.2%).

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