Aonla fruit is rich in Vitamin 'C' and Pectin, therefore has an important medicinal value in Ayurvedics.

CLIMATE

This is a fruit of subtropical region with district winter and summer. Soon after fruit set in spring, the Fruits remain dormant through summer without any growth thus makes it highly suitable crop for arid zone.

SOIL

Grows well in sandy loam to clay soils. It has great tolerance to salinity and sodicity and cultivated in pH range of 6.0 to 8.0 successfully. However production shall be highly benefitted in deep and fertile soils.

Varieties

Banarasi, Chakaiya, Francis, Krishna, Kanchan, Anand-1 and Anand-2.

PLANTING

Grafts/buildings are planted in the beginning of monsoon in June-July. Spacing of 8 to 10 m both ways is recommended. Pits of 1 Cubic m are dug and allowed to weather in summer for a fortnight. Each pit is filled with 3 to 4 baskets of fYM mixed with dug soil. After first rain the plants are planted in the centre of the pit and staked properly.

TRAINING AND PRUNING

Aonla tree does not require regular pruning. However pruning in early years for gaining proper shape and development of strong frame is necessary for which tree is trained to single stem upto the height of about 1m and primary branches can be allowed at regular space all around the trunk.

Inter cropping

In the initial 3 to 4 years, intercrops such as vegetables and legumes can be taken up.

Nutrition:

Ten year old trees should be given 1.5 Kg, N, 1.0 Kg. P2O5 and 0.7 Kg. K20 per year; Spray 0.6% Borax thrice in the month of September - October at about 10-15 days interval to control fruit necrosis which develops due to deficiency of boron.

Irrigation

Aonla trees are hardy and stand very well against drought. However, the crop shall be benfitted by giving two /three irrigations at the time of full bloom and set. During summer the fruit is dormant, hence no irrigation is necessary.

Harvest

Commercial crop starts fruiting after 6-8 years of planting. Productive life of trees is estimated to be 50-60 years under good management.

Generally Aonla fruits are ready for harvest in November-December. Their maturity can be judged either by the change of seed color from creamy white to black or by the development of transluscent exocarp. Maximum Vitamin C content is observed in mature fruits.

Grown up tree yields 100 to 150Kg. per annum.

PLANT PROTECTION

Insect Pests

1. Gall Caterpillar: (Betonra Stytophora Swinhoe) Young caterpillars bore into the aptical portion of the shoot during rainy season and make tunnel. Due to this, damaged region bulges abruptly into a gall. Due to this, aptical growth is checked, side shoot develop below the gall and subsequent growth is hampered.
   
   Control: Cut the infected apices and give a prophylectic spray of systemic insecticide like rogor 0.03%.
   
   

2. Leaf rolling caterpiller:(Garcillaria acidula): The caterpillar rolls the leaf and feed inside reducing photosynthetic capacity of leaves and subsequent leaf shedding.