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Essay on Phalsa
Essay Contents:
- Essay on the Introduction to Phalsa
- Essay on the Origin and Distribution of Phalsa
- Essay on the Area and Production of Phalsa
- Essay on the Importance and Uses of Phalsa
- Essay on the Choice of Varieties of Phalsa
- Essay on the Insect-Pests of Phalsa
- Essay on the Diseases of Phalsa
Essay # 1. Introduction to Phalsa:
The phalsa (Grewia asiatica. L.) being a hardy fruit, can be grown successfully even on inferior and marginal lands. Though grown on a small scale, this fruit has bright prospectus for extending its cultivation, especially in lands near cities and towns.
Phalsa groves grown on modern lines, with proper care to cultural practices like manuring, irrigation, pruning, control of diseases and pests etc. can be made to yield good crops and handsome returns to growers.
Essay # 2. Origin and Distribution of Phalsa:
The presence of its name in Sanskrit and also in many other Indian languages such as Punjabi, Bengali, Tamil and Telegu show that phalsa is native to India. It has also been mentioned in early Vedic writings. The phalsa belong to the family Tiliaceae which includes 18 genera and about 350 species.
Some of the genera and species are of Indian origin. The members of this family occur all over the world, especially in the tropics of both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. The plants of this family, however, are not met with in very cold regions, such as Arctic and Antarctic.
Phalsa has been distributed to north and central Thailand and the Philippines. It is widely cultivated in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.
Essay # 3. Area and Production of Phalsa:
Phalsa is grown on about 400 hectares in India. It is commercially cultivated in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Pujnab and Haryana. Besides these States it is also cultivated on limited scale in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, the Western Ghats, the Malabar Coast in South India and Himachal Pradesh.
In Punjab, its cultivation is becoming popular in Fazilka and Abohar area. It is also grown in Amritsar and Ferozepur districts.
Essay # 4. Importance and Uses of Phalsa:
Ripe phalsa fruits are sub-acidic and good source of vitamin A and C. They are fair source of phosphorus and iron. The edible portion of the fruit is 69 per cent and moisture content is 80.8 per cent. Phalsa is very rich in nutrition and contain 1.3 g protein, 0.9 g fat, 14.7 g carbohydrates per 100 g fruit. It is a rich source of mineral matter and contains 129 mg calcium, 39 mg phosphorus, 3.1 mg iron. Its carotene content is 419 I.U. and contains 39 mg vitamin C per 100 g of fruit.
Phalsa fruit contains various bioactive compounds like anthocyanins, tanins, phenolics and flavonoids. Phalsa is mostly consumed as fresh fruit and have cooling effect on human system. Its fruits, roots and leaves form an important ingredient of many recipes used to cure a variety of ailments, according to the Indian and Unani systems of medicine. The fruits are excellent for making juice, syrup and squash.
The phalsa fruit is astringent, cooling in its effect and has beneficial gastric properties. The water extract obtained from the phalsa bark is very soothing and relieves irritation. The roots of the phalsa plants are used for curing rheumatism. Its leaves are ground and applied to boil and other swollen body parts. Phalsa fruits possess anticancer and antioxidant properties.
The yellowish-white phalsa wood is close-grained, strong and elastic. It is used for preparing shoulder poles, bows, spear handles, baskets and shingles. The phalsa bark is treated to yield fibre which can be put to many uses. The shoots of the plants after pruning can be utilized either for making baskets or supporting vegetable crops. Pruning of one full grown phalsa plant is sufficient for making one or two baskets.
Essay # 5. Choice of Varieties of Phalsa:
In phalsa, no distinct cultivar is identified. Some growers have, however, given names as Local and Sharbati. Two distinct types i.e. Tall and Dwarf were recognised at Hisar. Dwarf type was found to be more productive.
1. Tall Type:
Plant height is 4.5 m, leaf size 20 x 18 cm. Leaves are light green in colour. Average fruit size is 2.07 cm and weighing 0.48 g. Average yields per bush is 5.2 kg. Pulp is 81.5 per cent, juice 5.4 per cent. TSS is 14 per cent and Acidity 4.64 per cent.
2. Dwarf Type:
Plant height is 3.4 m, leaf size 18 x 15 cm. Leaves greenish white in colour. Fruit size 2.26 cm, weight 0.54 g. Average yield is 3.5 kg per bush. Pulp 60.3 per cent, juice recovery is 34.6 per cent. TSS is 12.1 per cent with acidity 3.63 per cent.
Essay # 6. Insect-Pests of Phalsa:
1. Plum Hairy Caterpillar- (Enproctis Fraterna):
The caterpillars feed gregariously on leaf lamina skeletonizing it completely. Subsequently, the caterpillars segregate and gnaw the leaves. In case of severe infestation, the entire plant may be denuded.
Collect and destroy the egg masses and the gregariously feeding young caterpillars. Spray Dursban 20 EC (chlorpyriphos) @ 200 ml in 100 liter of water when caterpillars are noticed.
2. Bark Eating Caterpillar- (Indarbela Tetraonis):
Larvae feed inside the branches and trunk, thus translocation of cell-sap is disrupted. Growth and fruiting capacity of the tree is reduced. Remove the webbing and inject kerosene oil into the holes in December-January after pruning.
3. Psylla (Diphorina Grewia):
The pest sucks cell sap from young leaves. The growth of the plant is reducing and fruiting is affected.
It can be controlled by spraying Rogor 30 EC (dimethoate) 1000 ml in 500 litres of water in first week of March.
Essay # 7. Diseases of Phalsa:
1. Brown Spot:
The disease is caused by fungus Cercospora grewiae. The brown spot of phalsa is quite wide spread in the Punjab and is very severe from June to August. It results in premature leaf-fall when the attack is severe. The disease first appears as tiny lesions on the upper and lower surface of the leaf.
In the beginning, these lesions are covered with a white mass of fungus. Gradually, the lesions enlarge and become reddish brown to dark brown. Many times, several lesions coalesce to form big spots which are very conspicuous and may cover a large part of the leaf.
To control this disease, the leaves and prunings should be collected soon after removal and destroyed to check the fresh infection of the new leaves coming out in spring. As soon as the first symptoms appear on the leaves, the plants should be sprayed with Bordeaux mixture 2: 2: 250 or 0.3 per cent Dithane Z-78.
2. Pinspot of Phalsa:
The disease is caused by Phyllosticta grewiae. The disease can appear any time during the growing season of phalsa and may cause considerable damage to the foliage. Small brown to dark brown, circular to irregular pin spot like lesions appears on the leaves.
This disease can be controlled by sprays given above for the brown spot of phalsa.
3. Powdery Mildew- (Oidium Sp.):
Leaves are affected. White powder appears on shoots and under-side of leaves. The disease appears after rainy season. It causes defoliation of the plant.
The disease can be checked by spraying the plants with wettable sulphur @ one litre in 500 litres of water as soon as the white powdery mass appears on leaves and shoots.