I NTERNSHIP R EPORT

Title
IMPACT OF NPK NUTRIENT ON THE GROWTH AND
PRODUCTION OF JUJUBE

Submitted By
MUHAMMAD RAUF
REG. NO. 2K11-PD-198

Submitted To
MADAM PARVEEN AKHTAR
ASSISTANT HORTICULTURIST
JUJUBE RESEARCH STATION, TANDOJAM

SINDH AGRICULTURE UNIVERSITY TANDOJAM

2015
1

CHAPTER

PARTICULARS

PAGE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

BRIEF NOTE OF RESEARCH STATION

4-7

INTRODUCTION OF JUJUBE (BER)

8-9

IMPACT OF NPK ON THE GROWTH AND PRODUCTION

OF JUJUBE

10-11

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author is highly thankful to Chairman, Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Crop
Production, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam for his encouraging attitude and
constructive way of guidance during this entire course of Internship program.
Thanks are also extended to Madam Parveen Akhtar, (Assistant Horticulturist) Incharge
Jujube Research Station, Tandojam, for technical facilitation during this Internship program.
Thanks are also due to Madam Farah Feroz, Assistant Research Officer, Jujube Research
Station Tandojam, for his extraordinary cooperation and besides his great way of imparting
training to the internees. Thanks are also extended to staff of Jujube Research Station, who
being provided all required facilities and information to the internees.
I am also hugely appreciative Sir Mohammad Ayoub Ba Marri Baloch , who given their
golden time and helped us in every step. I would say that without them it was very difficult
to complete internship work
Besides, this internship program makes me realized the value of working together as a team
and as a new experience in working environment, which challenges us every minute. Not
forget, great appreciation go to the rest of Jujube Research staff that helped me from time to
time during the internship program. The whole program really brought us together to
appreciate the true value of friendship and respect of each other Last but not least I would
like to thank my friends especially those who work together in Jujube Research Institute
Tandojam.
Thanks are also extended to staff of Jujube Research Station, who being provided all
required facilities and information to the internees.

BRIEF NOTE OF JUJUBE RESEARCH STATION TANDOJAM

DIRECTORATE OF SINDH HORTICULTURE RESEARCH
INSTITUTE MIRPURKHAS

INTRODUCTION
Jujube Research Station Tandojam came into existence under the World

Bank

project
Establishment of Tropical Fruit Research Station in 1985.
Four acres of land has been provided to this station for the development and
research work on jujube in 1986. In 2002-03, additional 14 acres of land was
provided for research work keeping in view the importance of jujube crops.

LOCATION:
Office of this station is situated near Sugarcane Section in separate
block at Agriculture Research Institute, Tandojam.
Field of this station is situated on the link road from Tandojam
workshop stop to link road to Village Pir Zaman Shah. 1 km from Tandojam
workshops slop on link road near Makrani Village.

IMPORTANCE:
Jujube (Ber) is highly nutritious fruit, depending upon 1variety, the fruit pulp may
contain 0.20 to 0.80 percent acidity at fully ripe stage. In vitamin-C content, it
contains 70 to 165 m. Ascorbic Acid per 100 gins of pulp, which is much higher than
the vitamin-C content of citrus fruit, as a well known source of the vitamin. Ber fruit is
also very rich in vitamin-A containing nearly 80 mg of B-Carotene per 100 gms of
fruit. The fully ripe ber fruit contains 0.9 percent protein and 12.8 percent
carbohydrates, the highest level found in fruits. The reducing sugars are also quite
high and amount to 3.1 percent to 10.0 percent respectively. The mineral contents

are calcium, phosphorous and iron. Ber fruit exceed even apple and oranges.(Rich in
iron from apple).
The leaves of ber trees are very nutritious for sheep, goat and cattle, At pruning time
large herds of the above animals are seen grazing the ber leaves.

The nutritive value of ber leaves on percentage basis as follow:

1. Crude Protein

8.50

2. Crude Fiber

30.13

3. Total Ash

10.72

4. Calcium

2.19

5. Phosphorous

0.33

Before the introduction of new ber varieties, ber fruit was percent only in the month
of March but after the introduction of new varieties, which produces fruits from
December to April. This fruit is more nutritious than orange and apple, Hence is
known as poors apple.

ORIGION OF JUJUBE;
The jujube (zizyphus- jujube Lamk), locally called ber is an indigenous fruit of China
and Indo-Pakistan sub-continent. Generally it occurs in temperate region, and is
grown in China, India, Pakistan, Syria, Malaysia, Australia, fulalaya regions. It is also
reported growing in certain parts of Afghanistan. Iran arid sub-tropical parts of
Russia. China is perhaps the most important country for the cultivation of jujube,
where it is known as China Dates. Several hundred varieties of jujube are met within
China, it is considered to be one of the principal fruit.
Jujube (Ber) is being cultivated in Sindh province, for more than one hundred years

Near Tandojam in Hyderabad district, one hundred year old trees are still producing
fruit.
The jujube (Ber) is very hardy fruit crop. It can be grown successfully in low rainfall
areas also. It grows well in arid and semi-arid areas and requires much less irrigation
water then most of the fruit crops. It can grow successfully even in water logging and
salinity areas of Sindh province. For successful cultivation, choice of suitable
varieties is of utmost important. Some of most promising varieties which are grown in
Sindh province are classified as under:
1. GOLA

2. KHIROL

3. SOOFI

Lemiae

Ratam Chambelly

Achri

Mukhri

Local

Ratam

White Chambely

Sialkoti

Lumlate

Nayab

Umran

Soghat

Bachelo Goba

Safina

Micture

Grape

Sanghar

Gilli

OBJECT OF JUJUBE RESEARCH STATION TANDOJAM:

1. Evaluation of Agronomical and Horticulture Practices, through comparative field
trial techniques in relation to irrigation, manure, fertilizer cultural operations and
recommendations of farm management techniques, conductive to high
productivity and quality improvement.
2. Evaluation propagation and nursery techniques conductive to speedy
multiplication of progeny selection.
3. Study of insect, pest, diseases and their control measures.
4. To produce / introduce new high yielding varieties of Jujube crop.
5. To study the importance of training and pruning of Jujube crop.
6. Survey collection, maintenance, evaluation and selection of Germplasm from
local and National source.
7. Establishment of progeny stocks of selected varieties.
8. Distribution of stocks from progeny selection.

INRTODUCION OF JUJUBE (BER):

The jujube, locally called as ber, is an indigenous fruit of China and the south Asian
subcontinent. It is produced in several temperate regions such as India, Pakistan,
China, Syria, Malacca, Australia, and Malaya. This fruit is grown in parts of
Afghanistan, Iran and sub-tropical parts of Russia. China is one of the most
important country for jujube cultivation, where it is known as Chinese Dates.
Several hundred varieties of jujube are available in China some of them are
seedless. Jujube is considered to be one of the major fruits in China, because buy it
for good luck. The tree of this fruit is very hard, drought-resistant and can thrive in
poor alkaline tracts without much irrigation and care, and is recommended for soils
where other fruit trees cannot survive.
In Pakistan, jujube has been successfully cultivated in Hyderabad,
Khairpur, Multan, Sargodha and Lahore districts. In Sindh, the area and production
of jujube has increased significantly during 1997-98 to 2014-15. Data indicates that
the area under jujube has increased from 708 to 1210 ha and its production has
increased from 3716 to 5395 metric tons during the same period (Gov: of Sindh,
2014-15). It is mainly cultivated in Hyderabad and Khairpur districts. In Hyderabad
Tando Jam and Tando Allahyar are major area for jujube production. Many varieties
are grown likes soofi, Kheerol (chambeli), sanghri and Gola. Gola is most popular
variety and it has two kinds, the green (lemiae) and the golden (white). White gola is
harvested earlier than other varieties.
This fruit is mostly consumed in fresh, but his other forms such as dried,
candied, pickled, squish and juice is also used. Various Yunani Medicines contain
jujube extract, which is said to be blood purified and also helps digestion. The
powder and decoration prepared from the roots are effective in case of fever, ulcers
and old wounds. The stem bark is considered to be a remedy for diarrhea. It is highly
nutritious fruit depending upon variety, the fruit pulp may contain 0.20 to 0.80%
acidity at fully ripe stage. It contains 70 to 165mg ascorbic acid per 100grms of pulp,

which is much higher than the vitamin C content of citrus fruit, as a well-known
source of this vitamin. Jujube fruit is also very rich in vitamin A, containing nearly 80
ug of B-carotene per 100grms of fruit. The fully ripe jujube fruit contains 0.9% protein
and 12.8% carbohydrates, the highest level found on fruit. The reducing sugar are
also quite high and amount to 3.1 to 10.0% respectively. The minerals contents are
calcium, phosphorus and Iron. Jujube fruit excel even apple and oranges. This study
was planned to conduct detailed investigation on cost of cultivation of jujube in
Hyderabad Sindh.

IMPACT OF NPK NUTRIENT ON THE GROWTH AND

PRODUCTION OF JUJUBE
In our internship program what I learn that Fertilization is one of the most significant
cultural practices in modern plant production. Regardless of its major role in tree productivity
and soil fertility, the application of nitrogen fertilizers may induce a series of negative
consequences, from the microbiological, economic and ecological aspects. The present study
was carried out at Jujube Orchard, ARI Tandojam during the year 2014 to examine the impact
of NPK on the growth and production of jujube variety Lamiae Gola. Jujube fruit produced by
different fertilizers differ in their antioxidant capacity and phenolic composition. Natural
growing practices induce high phenolic concentration and strong antioxidant activity at the
cost of much lower yields. Organic fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers such as more
potassium, less nitrogen and phosphorus are efficient in simultaneously improving yields,
phenolics Molecules ,and antioxidant activity. Proanthocyanidins could be the major
compounds among the phenolics affected by fertilizers and were used as a proxy to estimate
the effects of fertilizers on the phenolic concentration and antioxidant activity. Stem thickness
of jujube variety Lemiae gola is obviously influenced by application of NPK fertilizers to
varied proportions, because K fertilizers work more in development of roots to provide
strength to the tree. Spread of tree is mainly associated with length of branches of jujube
which is evidently occurred under the impact used inputs and particularly by nutrient
application. organic fertilizer [biogas residue fertilizer

and decomposed soybean meal

fertilizer were compared with inorganic fertilizer complete NPK fertilizer and an unfertilized
control on the accumulation of phenolics and antioxidant properties in jujube. Moreover, the
comparisons of NPK to the individual inorganic nutrients NPK. Complex NPK fertilizer is the
most efficient fertilizer in the yields of jujube trees , while organic fertilizer is not so efficient.
Increasing demand for more jujube (Ziziphus jujube Mill.) production requires understanding
the specific fertilization needs of jujube trees. This study was conducted to compare fruit

yields, phenolic profiles and antioxidant activity of jujube in response to different fertilizers.
Application of organic fertilizer appeared to enhance the phenolics and antioxidant activity
accumulation of jujubes, compared to conventional fertilized jujubes. Amongst inorganic
fertilizers, supplemental potassium as an individual nutrient improved the accumulation of
phenolics in jujubes. Our results demonstrate that phenolics levels and antioxidant activity of
jujube can be manipulated through fertilizer management and tracked by following
proanthocyanidin concentrations. In a practical production context, the combination of
organic fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers such as more supplemental individual potassium,
and less supplemental individual nitrogen and phosphorus, might be the best management
combination for achieving higher phenolic concentration, stronger antioxidant activity and a
good harvest.
The effect of N, P, K fertilizer on the yield of jujube should be in the order that K
(positiveeffect) P (positive effect) N (negative effect). Second, N, P and K fertilizer has
impact on the quality of jujube. Fertilization can significantly reduce the jujube number of
small fruit and increase the jujube number of large fruit. Combined NPK fertilization can
promote the number of medium fruit, and increase the number of large fruit. NPK fertilizer
can significantly increase the water content of jujube, and no obvious difference among
distinct treatments was observed. P and K but not N fertilizer has obvious effect on soluble
solids content. Fertilization can increase ascorbic acid oxidize activity of jujube, and have
little effect on polyphone oxidase activity. Application of K fertilizer alone can significantly
improve the prototype of Vc content; while NPK combined application reduces the prototype
of Vc content. Total sugar content can be significant increased upon the N3P3K1treatment
while the content of reducing sugar is not changed. Single application of P and K fertilizer
can increased organic acids content. In contrast, other fertilization treatments significantly
reduce the content of organic acids. The sugar/acid rate after the NPK treatment is higher
than CK, contributes a lot to better taste of jujube. Larger amount of K fertilizer can
significantly increase total flavonoids content. Taken together, the quality of jujube decreased
upon the fertilization order: K (positive effect)> N(positive effect)> P (positive effect).Third,
we used the frequency analysis method to evaluate the impact of fertilization on the yield of
jujube.