Abstract:
The semi-arid regions of Tami Nadu are characterized by extreme weather
conditions and poor soil and water quality, which limit the productivity of fruit
crops. However, to enhance the effective utilization of land area, preliminary
research was conducted to assess the sustainability of growing non-traditional
fruits crops under the semiarid vertisol condition of Tamil Nadu. Research was
conducted at the Regional Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,
Aruppukottai, during the year 2019-2021. The research station is located in semi arid region, which experiences an annual average rainfall of 770 mm in about 42
rainy days mainly during the North-East Monsoon. The soil type is vertisol (Black
clay loam soil with underlying canker nodules) and soil depth ranges between 0.6
to 1.2 m. This research station caters the needs of the people living in semi-arid
zones of Sothern districts of Tamil Nadu. In order to carry out the experiment,
different nontraditional fruit crops were collected from different zones of India and
introduced into Regional Research Station, Aruppukottai. The fruit crops
introduced were Karonda (Carissa congesta), Chironji (Buchanania lanzan), Mahua
(Bassia latifolia), Khirni (Manilkara hexandra), Bael (Aegle marmelos), Wood apple
(Feronia limonia) and Jamun (Syzigium cumini) from Indian Council of Agricultural
Research (ICAR) - Central Horticultural Experimental Station (ICAR–CHES), Godhra,
Gujarat and Phalsa (Grewia asiatica), Lasoda (Cordia myxa), Mulbery, Apple ber
plants and Khejri (Prosopis cineraria) from ICAR - Central Institute for Arid
Horticulture (CIAH), Bikaner, Rajasthan. After evaluating growth performances for
one year of period, the Karonda var. Thar Kamal, Phalsa var. Thar Pragati, Lasoda
var. Thar Bold, Mulbery var. Thar Lohit and Thar Harit and Khejri var. Thar Shobha
showed comparatively higher mean growth performances and initiation of
flowering under semi-arid vertisol condition. Mass multiplication is in progress
for commercial cultivation.
