Sapota (Chiku) – Manilkara achras

Sapota, commonly known as chiku or sapodilla, is an important tropical fruit crop belonging to the family Sapotaceae. It is native to tropical America (Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies) and was introduced to India long ago. It is valued for its sweet taste, high nutritional value, and medicinal properties. The fruit is rich in sugars, vitamins, minerals, and is highly recommended for patients suffering from tuberculosis and malnourished children.

Botanical Classification

• Botanical Name: Manilkara achras
• Family: Sapotaceae
• Chromosome Number: 2n = 26
• Common Names:
  • Hindi: Chiku
  • Tamil: Sapota
  • Kannada: Chikoo hannu
  • Telugu: Sapota pandu

Economic Importance

• High yielding and profitable: Can be grown even on marginal lands with low input.
• Nutritional value: Rich in carbohydrates (mainly sugars), vitamins (A, C), and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, iron).
• Medicinal properties: Used to treat diarrhea, cough, and skin infections.
• Industrial uses: Latex extracted from immature fruits and bark is used for making chewing gum (chicle).
• Long shelf life: Can be stored and transported easily.

Climate and Soil Requirements

Climate

• Tropical and subtropical fruit crop.
• Can be grown from sea level up to 1200 m.
• Best suited to coastal areas with warm and humid conditions.
• Annual rainfall requirement: 1250-2500 mm.
• Optimum temperature: 11°C – 34°C.
• Grows well in both dry and humid conditions but prefers moderate humidity.
• Cannot tolerate frost or prolonged water stagnation.

Soil

• Sapota is a hardy crop and can be grown in a variety of soils.
• Prefers well-drained, deep, and porous soils.
• Ideal soils:
  • Deep alluvial soils
  • Sandy loam soils
  • Red lateritic soils
  • Medium black soils
• Can tolerate salinity to some extent in soil and irrigation water.
• Avoid waterlogged, clayey, or hardpan soils.

Propagation and Planting

Propagation Methods

• Grafting: The most common method used. Grafts are prepared using the Manilkara hexandra (Pala) rootstock.
• Other methods: Inarching, Air Layering, Softwood Grafting, and Budding.

Planting Season: Best time: June to December.

Spacing

• Normal spacing: 8m × 8m.
• High-density planting: 8m × 4m.

Planting Method

• Pits of 1m³ are dug and filled with:
  • Topsoil
  • 10 kg Farmyard Manure (FYM)
  • 1 kg Neem Cake
  • 100g Lindane 1.3% (for termite control)
• Planting Depth: The graft joint should be 15 cm above the ground level.
• Staking is necessary to prevent bending or damage to the graft joint.

Nutrient and Fertilizer Management

Manures and Fertilizer Application (kg/tree/year)

Time of Application

• Manures and fertilizers should be applied in September – October.
• Apply fertilizers 45 cm away from the trunk up to the leaf drip zone and incorporate them into the soil.

Irrigation Management

• Newly planted trees should be irrigated immediately and then on the third day.
• Young plants: Water once every 10 days until well established.
• Mature trees require regular irrigation, especially during dry periods.
• Drip irrigation is beneficial for efficient water use.

Aftercare and Intercropping

• Pruning: Remove rootstock sprouts, water shoots, crisscross branches, and lower branches.
• Intercropping: During the pre-bearing stage, short-duration leguminous crops (pulses, vegetables) can be grown.

Pests and Management

Diseases and Management

Maturity Indicators

• The fruit turns dull brown when fully mature.
• A lighter shade appears below the skin when scratched.
• Milky latex reduces as the fruit matures.
• Dried stigma at the tip of the fruit falls off easily.

• Harvesting Handpicking is the preferred method.
• Ripening Process Fruits are ripened using 5000 ppm Ethrel + 10g NaOH pellets in airtight chambers.

Yield

• 20-25 t/ha/year.
• Yield starts from the 3rd year after planting.

Specific Problems and Corrective Measures