How To Grow Amla Indoor/Indian Gooseberry

 

How To Grow Amla Indoor/Indian Gooseberry

                                                                     

          

Indian Gooseberry (Amla/Aonla)

Botanical Name: Emblica officinalis (Phyllanthus emblica)

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Origin: India

Amla, rich in medicinal properties and nutrients, is a very important fruit. Being a member of the Euphorbiaceae family, which mostly includes xerophytes, cacti, and succulents, Amla is a robust, drought-resistant fruit tree. A ​​rare characteristic is its ability to withstand waterlogging. Due to its high productivity (15 to 20 tons/hectare) and ability to produce even under adverse conditions, this fruit is gaining popularity. It is also known by names such as Amla, Amali, and Nelli. Amla fruits are a rich source of Vitamin C.  A unique feature is that it retains its Vitamin C content even when dried, which is not possible with other fruits. It is used in the food processing industry for making preserved food products. It is also widely used in the preparation of Ayurvedic medicines. Chyawanprash and Triphala are some of its major products. The Vitamin C obtained from its fruits and dried powder is even better than synthetic Vitamin C. Various parts of this plant are used in the treatment of coughs, bronchitis, jaundice, diabetes, indigestion, diarrhea, and fever. One hundred grams of the fruit pulp contains 14 grams of carbohydrates, 0.5 grams of protein, 1.2 grams of iron, 0.3 milligrams of vitamin B, and a rich amount of vitamin C (600-700 mg/100 g pulp). Due to its high iron (1.2 mg/100g) and vitamin B content, the fruit extract is used in several Ayurvedic and homeopathic medicines that are said to prevent hair graying and hair loss. In India, it is cultivated in parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh.

Its possible places of origin are South and Central India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and South China.

Climatic and soil requirements :

 Though amla is a subtropical fruit, it thrives very well and comes to yield in tropical humid conditions also.  If young plants are protected from both extremes of temperature, the mature trees can tolerate right from freezing (0⁰C) to as high as 46⁰C. Similarly, if the young plants are protected from severe drought during summer and water stagnation during heavy rains, then the adult trees tolerate these two adverse conditions. 

 

 Though in a well-drained loamy soil the amla trees grow faster, they can also grow in heavy clay also provided slight drainage is arranged during heavy rains in their early crop growth phase of the first 2 – 3 years.  They also fairly tolerate alkalinity in soils (pH 8.5) and irrigation water.

                                                                    

                                                           

Can you grow Amla indoors?

CULTIVARS AND VARITIES 

Chakaiya :

 It is a prolific bearer.  The fruits are flat, with smooth skin that is greenish in colour.  Fruits are small to medium in size, weighing 26 g, and have a TSS of 10.7⁰ brix.  The trees are spreading in nature. 

 

Banarasi :

              The fruits are large in size, flattened oblong with smooth skin, yellowish with

characteristic three raised segments.  On average, each fruit weighs 38g.  It is a shy bearer. 

Trees have having upright growth habit.

 

Krishna : (NA – 4) 

 A chance seedling of Banarasi developed at Narendra Deva Agrl. University, Faizabad, with medium to large size (40 g) conical, angular, smooth, yellowish fruits with red blush on the exposed surface.  It has fibreless flesh which is semitransparent and hard.  It is a moderate bearer.

 

Kanchan : (NA-5) 

 It is supposed to be a chance seedling of Chakaiya.  A profuse bearer with small to medium-sized fruits (32g), flattened oblong; skin is smooth, yellowish in colour.  It was also developed at Narendra Deva Agrl. University, Faizabad. 

 

Francis :

 Fruits are large (41.5g) with a TSS of 12.0⁰ brix, flattened oval, greenish yellow in colour, soft and almost fibreless.  The branches have a dropping habit. 

 

BSR-1 :

 It was developed at the Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tamil Nadu. The trees are medium in height and spreading, and hence suited for accommodating a larger number of trees per unit area (can be planted at 6M x 6M spacing).  Fruits are medium in size (27g) with a flat stylar end and a round calyx end.  Each fruit has 6 segments, and the juice has a TSS of 18.1⁰ brix.

Balwant (2011): It is a chance seedling developed from the cultivar Banarasi. The tree is semi-tall with semi-spreading growth and has dense foliage. Fruit is flattened, round with moderate size, rough skin, and yellowish green with a pink tinge. Flesh is slightly fibrous, whitish green, soft, juicy, and highly astringent. The stone is moderate in size and rectangular in shape. It is the earliest variety and matures in the middle of November by producing 110-120 kg yield per tree.

Neelum (2011):  It is a seedling selection from open open-pollinated strain of cultivar Francis. The tree is tall with semi-spreading growth and dense foliage. Fruit skin is smooth, semi-translucent, and yellowish green. Flesh is almost fibreless and soft. The stone is

medium and oval in shape. It is a mid-season variety and matures at the end of November by giving 120-130 kg yield per tree.

                                                                          

Propagation :

Amla (Indian gooseberry) is propagated by inarching and budding.

Patch and modified ring budding methods are used for budding. It can also be successfully propagated by veneer grafting. To grow rootstock plants, seeds are extracted from fully ripe fruits using a machine or by drying them in the sun. The seeds are hard and take a long time to germinate. Therefore, the seeds should be treated with concentrated H2SO4 for 3 minutes, then washed with water and soaked in 500 ppm gibberellic acid for 24 hours. Rootstock seedlings are prepared by sowing these treated seeds in nursery beds or polybags filled with potting mixture in February-March. Budding of improved varieties is done on these rootstocks after one year. Propagation by budding can be done from February to March and from June to September.

How to grow Amla at home?

Planting

Amla saplings should be planted during the rainy season in pits measuring one cubic meter, spaced 8x8 meters apart. Where irrigation facilities are available, planting can also be done in February. Before planting, 20 kg of farmyard manure and 1 kg of neem cake should be mixed into each pit. In alkaline soils, 5-8 kg of gypsum and 20 kg of sand should be added. In unfavorable climatic and soil conditions, high-density planting using the 'hedge row' method is recommended. In this method, the distance between rows should be 8 meters, and the distance between plants should be reduced to 4-5 meters. In-situ planting of amla is also beneficial. Due to self-incompatibility in amla, two varieties should be planted together. NA-6 and NA-7, or Kanchan, make a good combination.

Manure and Fertilizers

The quantity of manure and fertilizers required for amla (Indian gooseberry) depends on the soil type, climate, variety, and productivity. However, for a one-year-old plant, 10 kg of farmyard manure (FYM), 100 grams of nitrogen, 50 grams of phosphorus, and 100 grams of potash should be applied per plant. The quantity of manure and fertilizers should be increased in the same proportion every year for up to 10 years. The entire quantity of farmyard manure and phosphorus, along with half the quantity of nitrogen and potash, should be applied in January-February. The remaining half of the nitrogen and potash should be applied in August.

Irrigation

In amla orchards, after flowering (February-March), irrigation should be continued at intervals of 10-20 days until June. Using alkaline water is not beneficial. Amla is typically irrigated using the ring method. With drip irrigation, applying 60 CPE (Crop Pan Evaporation) every other day saves 40-45 percent of water and also results in higher yields. In case of water scarcity, the pitcher irrigation method is also beneficial.

Training and Pruning

The main branches should be allowed to appear at a height of 0.75-1 m above the ground level. Plants should be trained to a modified central leader system. Two to four branches with a wide crotch angle, appearing in opposite directions, should be encouraged in the early years. During March – April, prune and thin the crowded branches to provide maximum fruit-bearing area in the tree.

Harvesting and Yield

The fruits are ready for harvesting when their color turns a light greenish-white. Plants propagated vegetatively begin bearing fruit after 3 years. At 10 years of age, a single tree can yield 160 to 180 kilograms of fruit.

How To Grow Amla Indoor/Indian Gooseberry

Physiological Disorders

Internal tissue necrosis: 

This is caused by boron deficiency. In this disorder, the fruit pulp turns brown-black. This disorder is most commonly found in the Francis (Hathi Jhool) variety. To control it, spray with 0.6% borax three times at 15-day intervals, starting in early September.

Pests and Diseases

1. Pests: Amla plants are affected by the following pests:

Shoot Gall Maker (Betousa stylophora): The larva of this insect reaches the pith of the stem and causes swelling, which appears like a boil. Prune the affected branches and spray with methyl parathion (0.05%).

Stem Borer (Indarbela): This insect bores tunnels into the stem and makes it hollow. Soak cotton wool in petrol or kerosene oil and insert it into the holes. This will kill the insect.

2. Diseases: The major disease of amla is:

Amla Rust: This disease is caused by the fungus Ravenelia emblica. Brown spots appear on both sides of the leaves, which later spread to the fruits and turn dark brown. This disease can be effectively treated by spraying with Dithane Z-78 (0.2%).