Growing Pomegranate Crop Nutrition Advice

The pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a fruit-bearing shrub or small tree that originating from Iran, stands as a pivotal fruit crop thriving in arid and semi-arid regions, particularly in India. This fruit’s resilience against harsh climate conditions such as high temperatures, low rainfall, and frequent droughts makes it an essential sustainable plant choice. Commercially grown in key Indian states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, pomegranate is available year-round across the country. Its roots spread shallowly and widely, making it sensitive to waterlogging, preferring well-draining soil. They produce striking red, bell-shaped flowers, which later develop into the iconic spherical fruits containing juicy seeds (arils) surrounded by a pulpy, edible covering. Pomegranate plants necessitate various nutrients for optimal growth and fruit production. Maintaining a robust pomegranate plant and ensuring fruitful yields involves providing balanced nutrition, ideal growing conditions (such as well-draining soil and adequate sunlight), and appropriate watering to prevent issues like waterlogging or nutrient deficiencies.

Pomegranate trees exhibit bisexual, intermediate, and male flowers across new and old growth in three distinct flushes. In arid and semi-arid climates, three flowering seasons arise—February-March (ambe bahar), July-August (mrig bahar), and September-October (hasta bahar). Given its nutritional richness and versatility, the fruit serves as a valuable addition to any dietary regime.

Harvest-ready fruits emerge within 4-5 months post-flowering, with timing contingent on factors like water availability for irrigation, market demands, and pest/disease prevalence in the area. Sustaining a balanced nutrient supply through proper fertilization and regular watering is pivotal for healthy pomegranate growth and a bountiful harvest. Additionally, attentive care, encompassing pruning, pest control, and adequate sunlight exposure, significantly contributes to the plant’s overall health and productivity.

• Pomegranate cultivation thrives in dry, semi-arid weather. The optimum temperature for fruit development is 35 -38 ° C. The best region for cultivation is 500m above sea level.
• Extreme temperatures, either too high or too low, during these growth stages can adversely affect pomegranate trees and the quality of fruit produced.
• Pomegranates adapt well to diverse soil types, producing best in rich with humus, deep loamy soils having good drainage, while also exhibiting tolerance to both salinity and alkalinity, favoring pH levels between 6.5-7.5.
• Pomegranate plants require various nutrients for optimal growth and fruit production.
• Pomegranate, a drought-tolerant fruit crop, requires regular irrigation to prevent fruit splitting. Winter irrigation should be 10-12 days, summer 4-5 days, with drip irrigation for water savings. Over-irrigation can cause fruit cracking, wilting, and under irrigation leads to decrease vegetative and fruit growth rates, leading to yield losses.

Nutrient requirements (as per Crop Advisor)

Role of nutrients

Nutrient deficiencies

Nitrogen:

Stunted plant growth begins with yellowing on mature leaves, gradually stiffening as the plant flowers earlier, producing more hermaphrodites flowers. In later stages, leaves turn light brown and dry out, starting from the tips.

Phosphorus:

Causes stunted plant growth, with younger leaves displaying slender, elongated shapes. Yellowing starts from leaf tips, and in advanced stages, complete leaf yellowing, dark brown chlorotic spots, and yellowing of leaf veins occurs.

Potassium:

Initially, the first signs manifest on older leaves: numerous brown spots emerge along the leaf margin from the tip, leading to yellowing of the leaf edge and eventually presenting a scorched appearance.

Calcium:

Younger leaves show interveinal yellowing from the tip, progressing towards the midrib. The veins retain their green color, then turn yellow. A pinkish tinge appears, then a dark brown color. The affected leaf section dries up and turns dark brown.

Magnesium:

Leaves have light green edges and veins, grey patches along margins, and become covered. Dry leaves turn grey, and with calcium deficiency, they turn dark brown. Dry leaves appear signs of drying.

Sulphur:

Deficiency causes light green leaf veins to appear on the middle leaf, followed by yellowing in the middle around the mid rib, interveinal areas, and the entire leaf becoming pale yellow. The intensity of yellowing is lower than nitrogen deficiency. Reduced Fruit quality & Sweetness observed in pomegranate.

Zinc:

Zinc deficiency first appeared as interveinal chlorosis in immature and mid-shoot leaves, followed by yellowish regions extending throughout the plant. Rosetting or small-sized leaves, restricted shoot dieback, and reduction in flowering and fruit setting were observed in pomegranate.

Iron:

Younger leaves display deficiency symptoms, including inter-veinal chlorosis, complete yellowing, and subsequent leaf drying.

Copper:

Copper deficiency causes irregular growth, pale green leaves, yellowing margins, chlorotic and necrotic areas, necrosis, puckering, and veinal chlorosis in the plant.

Boron:

Boron deficiency causes leaf yellowing, tissue death, leaf dropping, potential plant death, poor root development, premature flower shedding, hindered pollen tube growth, and inadequate fruit setting in pomegranate.

Manganese:

Manganese deficiency causes light green mottle, darker green band, pale green or yellowish interveinal chlorotic areas, reduced plant growth, and stunted growth.

Crop Nutrition in Pomegranate