25-08-2017, 09:32 PM
Avocado
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Avocado is one of the popular fruit crops grown and consumed in Sri Lanka.
It is also a commonly grown fruit in home gardens of the wet zone of the country.
Growers select avocado as a permanent crop in their home gardens;
Due to its excellent adaptability to the climatic conditions of the wet zone
particularly its tolerance to rainfall during flowering
with less demand for crop husbandry practices
few pest and disease problems
Areas of production
Avocado is well-adapted to;
LC MC and UC Wet zone of Sri Lanka.
Presently, avocado is successfully grown in the districts of
Kegalle, Kandy, Matale & certain areas of Bandarawela & Nuwara Eliya
Other potential areas:
- Gampaha, Colombo & Kurunegala.
Apart from the wet zone, avocado is becoming popular in the intermediate zone as a home garden crop.
Botany of the crop
Very shallow root system
Flower opens at two nights
Based on that two types
Type A
Flower open in the morning (9 am) and act as female flower. Next opening takes place evening at 2nd day (3 pm) act as male flower.
Type A can be pollinated by type B pollen during morning.
Type B
Flower open in the evening (3 am) and act as female flower. Next opening takes place during morning next day (9am) act as male flower.
Type B can be pollinated by type A pollen during evening.
Propagation
Wedge or cleft grafting is the most common method.
Stocks are wedge-grafted at the age of 4-6 weeks.
Since avocados exhibit the phenomenon of polyembryony, the more vigorous nuclear seedlings are usually chosen to raise grafted plants.
MANAGEMENT OF ORCHARDS
Training and pruning
Not an adopted practice in home gardens
Adopted In large-scale cultivations,
closer spacing - 8 x 8 m
to allow maximum coverage of land
As a first step in pruning,
to encourage formation of lateral branches
the main stem is cut back - height 60 cm from the ground,