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Jasmine is one of the important flower crops grown on commercial scale in certain selected areas of the Andhra Pradesh. The main areas of production of the these flowers in our State are Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Guntur, Prakasam, Kurnool, Cuddapah, Ananthapur and Chittoor districts. The flowers are highly fragrant and used for religious offerings in temples and highly preferred by ladies for adorning their hair. They are also used for extraction of essential oil which is used in the preparation of perfumes and scented water.
Soils
Jasmine grows well in light soils. A loamy soil is the best. Although they are grown in heavy clay soils in some places, yields are high only in loams.
Varieties
Jasminum sambac is usually accepted as commercial jasmine which is a shrub. There are four types in jasminum sambac. (1) Single flowered Arabian jasmine. This is the most commercial type, which bears flowers flowers profusely. (2) Semi double type of jasmine called Dontara Malle. (3) The fully double small flowered Arabian jasmine (Boddu Male) also called as the grand duke of Tuscany.
Janminum grandiflorum
It is a climbing type and is commonly called as "Sannajaji"
Propagation
Jasminum sambac is propagated by cuttings and layers while Jasminum grandflorum(Jathimalli) is propagated by layers and by stem cuttings.
Planting
Pits of 1 to 2' deep are dug at a distance of the 3-4' to 6' (depending upon the variety) for setting out the plants. Jatimalli has a semi climbing habit and hence require a low (4'- 6' high) pandal for this spread of its branches. Before digging the pits, the field has to be ploughed once or twice and 20t/ha of farmyard manure is applied and well incorporated with the least ploughing. At planting again 10kg of FYM is applied in pits. The rooted cuttings or layers are planted in pits during the rainy season (June-July) and watered if necessary on alternate days till they are established.
After Cultivation
Irrigation is most important for jasmines. Constant and adequate water supply (irrigating twice a week) in light soils during the flowering season i.e March to August which essential for good yield of flowers. After the flowering is over water supply can be gradually cut off.
Pruning
The pruning of jasmine is an important operation. With the approaching of winter the bushes
start to shed the leaves. To promote good flowering water is withheld to the bushes in the
2nd fortnight of November which throws the plant to rest and shed the leaves. The plants
are defoliated. The bushes are trimmed back to half the height and dead branches are removed
in January. After such treatment towards end of January when temperatures rise farmyard manure
is applied and irrigated which results in new growth and flowering towards the end of Februry
to March. The climbing types on pandals are pruned in June-July. At pruning the dead branches
and old stems are removed.
Manures and Fertilisers
The plants are usually manured once in every with organic manures in January before flush
season commences at 10-12 kg FYM per plant. In some places tank silt and horse manure are also
applied to get high yields. The manures are usually applied after pruning.
| Fertilizers |
Grams/Plant |
| Male |
Jati male |
| Ammonium Sulphate |
200 |
50 |
| Superphosphate |
400 |
125 |
| Muriate of Potash |
400 |
125 |
Note: After pruning the bushes should be manured one in June-July , again in December-January.
Plant Protection
PESTS
STICK BUGS
Adults and nymphs of this bug suck the sap from leaves, tender shoots and flower buds, reducing the market value. These can be controlled by spraying 0.05% malathion.
THRIPS AND BUD BORDERS
These can be controlled by spraying 0.06% dimethoate 2 ml/l
DISEASES
RUST
Brown colored pustules develop on the lower surface of the leaves and in severe cases on stems and flowers. This can be controlled by spraying any copper fungicide .
Harvest
The layers will start flowering from 2 nd year after planting and the commercial yields commence from third year onwards. The Jasminum sambac varieties flower profusely in summer and also in rainy season (i.e March-August) while climbing types (Jatimalli) will flower throughout the year, with peak flowering in june - july.
Yield
The yield of flowers per hectare in 2500 - 3000 kg in sambac (i.e about 200 g/bush) and 3000 - 4000 kg/ha,in climber (Jatimalli i.e 200 - 250 g/vine).
Since the jasmine flowers are highly perishable and have to be disposed off in the market within few hours after picking.
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