Jamun
Jamun (Syzygium
cuminii) is indigenous to India. Its tree is tall and ever-green. It is
generally grown as avenue or as wind break. It is widely grown from
Indo-Gangetic plains in north to Tamil Nadu in south. It is also found in the
lower range of the Himalayas and Kumaon hills.
The refreshing and curative properties of jamun
make it one of the useful medicinal plants of India. Fruits are a good source
of iron, used as an effective medicine against diabetes, heart and liver
trouble. The seed powder of jamun reduces the quantity of sugar in the urine
very quickly.
Climate and soil
Since jamun is a hardy fruit crop, it can be
grown under adverse soil and climatic conditions. It thrives well under both
tropical and subtropical climates. It requires dry weather at the time of
flowering and fruit setting. Early rains are beneficial for better growth,
development and ripening of fruit. Young plants are susceptible to frost.
The jamun trees can be grown on a wide range of
soils—calcareous, saline sodic soils and marshy areas. Deep loam and
well-drained soils are ideal. It does not prefer very heavy and light sandy
soils.
Varieties
There is no improved variety for commercial
cultivation. The most common type grown in north India is known as Rajamun.
This is large-fruited type having oblong fruits of deep purple colour. A
type having large-sized fruits is known as ‘Paras’ in Gujarat. Another type
found in Varanasi has no seed. A selection known, as Narendra Jamun 6 has been
identified with desirable traits at Faizabad (Uttar Pradesh).
Propagation
Jamun is propagated both by seeds and vegetative
techniques, the most common being by seeds. The seeds have no dormancy, hence
fresh seeds can be sown (within 10–15 days) 4–5cm deep at a distance of 25cm ×
15cm. The seeds germinate 10–15 days after sowing. The seedlings become ready
for transplanting in spring or next monsoon. Its seeds show polyembrony up to
30–40%, hence nucellar/apomictic seedlings can be used to produce true-to-type
plants.
Seedling plants bear fruits of variable size and
quality. Therefore, vegetative method is desirable for propagation of improved
or selected types. Budding is most successful for commercial raising of plants.
It is done on one-year-old rootstock having about 10mm thickness. Patch and
forkert methods give more than 70% success if performed in March. In low
rainfall area, July–August is ideal time.
Cultivation
Planting
Pits of 1m × 1m × 1m size are dug 10m apart for
seedling trees and 8m apart for budded plants in a properly cleaned field. Pit
digging should be completed before the onset of the monsoon or spring season.
They should be filled with a mixture of top soil and well-rotten farmyard
manure or compost in a 3:1 ratio. Monsoon season (July–September) is ideal time
of planting. But it can also be planted with a good survival rate in spring
(February–March) if irrigation facilities are available. About 100–150
plants are required for planting a hectare land.
Training and pruning
Young plants need training for the development of
framework. Keep the main stem or trunk clean up to a height of 60–90cm from the
ground level by removing the basal branches and sprouts. Jamun plants do not
require any pruning except removing diseased, dry and crisscross twigs.
Manuring and fertilization
In pre-bearing period, 20–25kg well-rotten
farmyard manure or compost/plant/year should be applied. For bearing trees,
this dose is increased up to 50–60kg/plant/year. The ideal time for giving the
organic manure is a month before flowering. Grown-up trees should be
applied 500g N, 600g P and 300g K/plant/year. This should be spread near the
canopy of the plant and mixed in soil by hoeing.
Aftercare
Green manuring can be done during the rainy
season. Intercropping karonda or phalsa or seasonal vegetable crops in initial
years between the rows or interspaces can be done. Sprouts arising from base of
its plants should be removed timely and the plantation should be kept
weed-free. Jamun is a cross-pollinated crop hence raising of honey-bees near
the plantation is desirable for maximum fruit set and productivity.
Irrigation
Irrigation should be given just after manuring.
Young plants require 6–8 irrigations for better growth. In bearing trees,
irrigation should be given from September to October for better fruit bud
formation and from May to June for better development of fruits. Normally 5–6
irrigations are required.
Harvesting and
Postharvest management
Seedling trees start bearing at the age of 9–10
years, whereas budded ones take 5–6 years. Flowering starts during March and
continues up to April in north Indian conditions. Fruits ripen during
June–July or with the onset of rains. It takes about 3–5 months to ripen after
full bloom. Fruits change their colour from green to deep red or bluish black.
This is a non-climacteric fruit hence it does not ripen after harvesting. Fully
ripe fruits are harvested daily by hand-picking or by shaking the branches
and collecting the fruits on a polythene sheet. Jamun trees need a number of
pickings, since all fruits do not ripen at a time. The average yield of
fully-grown budded and seedling trees is 50–70kg and 80–100kg/plant/year.
Jamun fruits are highly perishable. They can be
stored only up to 2 days at ambient temperature. Precooled fruits packed in
perforated polythene bags can be stored for 3 weeks at 8–10°C and 85–90%
humidity. There is no standard practice for grading of fruits. Blemished
or bruised fruits must be sorted out before packing. Fruits are normally
packed in bamboo baskets and transported to local markets. In the market,
fruits are sold on green leaves or on pieces of newspaper. The fruits prepacked
in leaf cup covered with perforated polythene bags have little or no damage,
during handling. Handling of fruits during transit from market to home is also
easier in this container.amun fruits can be processed into excellent
quality fermented beverages such as vinegar and cider, and non-fermented
ready-to-serve beverages and squashes. A good quality jelly can also be
prepared from its fruits. The seeds can be processed into powder which is very
useful to cure diabetes.
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