Sapota Powder,India ENJAY price supplier

Sapota Powder

Sapota, popularly known in India as chiku, is native to tropical America Most probably to south Mexico or Central America.  This plant is also grown for its Latex.

Chicle and gutta parcha are extracted from its latex. These are used as a base material in Chewing Gum and in some other industrial products. 

 In India it is cultivated for fruits which are liked all over the country.  The fruit is a fleshy berry, variable in shape, size and weight (75-150g).  The skin is thin, rusty brown somewhat scurfy looking like Irish potato, and the pulp soft, melting, crumbling with a sandy or granular texture with 1-5 hard, black seeds.  The fruit is a good source of digestible sugar (12-18%) and an appreciable source of protein, fat fibre ad minerals, Calcium and Iron.  It has become a very popular fruit crop in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. 

Climate and soil

Sapota, a crop of tropical region, needs warm (10-38 C) and humid (70 % relative humidity) climate where it flowers and fruits throughout the year.  However, if taken to subtropics or to places of  higher elevation like in Punjab and Haryana, it gives only one crop from summer flowering in April and May.  Under moisture stress also, it produces one crop only. 

Varieties

There are about 41 varieties spread all over the country.  However, commercially sapota industry is based on a few varieties and in some areas it is only monoculture like Kalipatte in Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Cultivation

Planting

Since sapota is a crop of warm and humid tropics, it can be planted in any season provided irrigation facilities are available.  But it is beneficial to plant the grafts in beginning of the rainy season.  In areas having heavy rainfall, it can be planted in September.  In light soils pits of 60 cm x  60 cm x 60 cm size, whereas in heavy and gravely soils pits of 100 cm x 100 cm x 100 cm size are made in April May and exposed to sun for 15days.  Top 30cm soil is mixed with equal quantity of well rotten compost or farmyard manure, 3kg super phosphate and 1.5kg muriate of potash are used for pit filling.  To begin with all sides and bottom of the pit are dusted with 5% BHC dust and pits mixture is added to fill the pit and remaining vacant space is filled with remaining soil to height of 15cm above soil surface.  Such pits are left to monsoon rains for settling and then planting is done at appropriate time.  At the time of planting, a small hole sufficient to accommodate the ball of soil and roots of grafts is made in the centre of the pit and planted with scion in the direction of heavy wind to avoid damage to joint.  After planting soil around the plant is gently and firmly pressed and stakes are provided to avoid sun heat.  The plants are then lightly watered.  Young plants should also be protected against sunscald by providing dry grass thatch on top ad three sides excepting the south-east for sunlight.  Such well cared plants establish fast. 

Since sapota tree makes uniform all round growth, square system of planting is recommended.  However, in lands with 5-15 % slope, contour planting is recommended. Depending on growth habit, sapota orchards are planted at 10x 10cm but being slower in growth, it takes longer period to occupy allotted space.  Therefore, high density plantations having 5 m x 5 m spacing up to the age of 13 years are very remunerative.  Thereafter yields begin to decline.