NAFIS

Intercropping

• Intercrop with low growing crops like legumes, vegetables , maize, cassava, etc

Weeding

• Ensure the orchard is weed free
• In mature trees, weed just a 2M strip along the rows and cut grass in the rest of the field

Fertilizer Application

The following fertilizer regime should be followed:-

Note:

For any mineral deficiencies apply foliar feeds for supplementation

Pruning

• Remove all dead branches and twigs and all branches that have been attacked by pests and diseases.
• Remove intertwining branches that prevent light penetration and air circulation.
• Remove all branches that fall below 1 meter from the ground level
• Pruning is best done immediately after harvesting the last fruits and before flowering to give an allowance for wounds to heal.
• Cap the tree at 1m height in 1^st year to produce a spreading framework of branches; In the following year, select 4-5 well spaced branches and let grow. Prune off the rest

Flower inducement

This is done to induce off-season crop.It is done in two ways: -

• Spray with Potassium Nitrate 30-40gm per tree when the crop is dormant.
• Culturally – deprive the plant water for 1-2 months to induce stress and then irrigate the plant regularly.

Deflowering

• In the first year remove all the flowers. This is because the stem is weak and cannot support the fruits.
• Allowing fruits in the first year leads to lower yields in subsequent years