PRODUCE CRYSTAL SEEDS FRUIT WHICH IS QUALITY ALL YEAR

PRODUCE CRYSTAL SEEDS FRUIT  WHICH

IS QUALITY  ALL YEAR

I Wayan Wiraatmaja

 Agroecotechnology Study Program,  Faculty of Agriculture, Udayana University,

Correspondence / E-mail address: wiraatmaja@unud.ac.id

Public interest in cultivating guava crystals in Bali is very high, due to high market demand and promising prices (in traditional markets ranging from Rp. 10,000-15,000 / kg and in supermarkets, fruit shops, and tourism / hotel and restaurant markets Rp. 20,000-30,000 / kg).

 Crystal Guava, in addition to being expensive, also has the advantage of quickly bearing fruit (age 8 months after planting has begun to produce), small habitus so that it can be planted with tight spacing so that the population per hectare is high, tastes good, crispy and sweet with thick fruit flesh, and the seeds are very few and even many do not have seeds.

The obstacle faced by Crystal Guava farmers is that their production is not continuous (seasonal) and the quality of the fruit produced is low. Crystal Guava in the production center of Petang Subdistrict, Badung Regency, the fruit harvesting period is only 4 months in a year with an average production of only 20 kg / plant and small fruit size (on average less than 300 g / fruit). This happens because the maintenance carried out is inadequate, especially fertilization that is not in accordance with the recommendations, both regarding the type of fertilizer, time and method, as well as not doing pruning properly.

Guava can produce well if it is fertilized with the right type of fertilizer and the right dosage and application time, at least with organic fertilizer and fertilizer containing N, P, and K. Nutrients to produce excellent fruit quality, extend shelf life, and reduce damage during storage, guava must be fertilized with micro fertilizers especially those containing zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu).

   The short fruit harvest period (only 4 months) on the guava Crystal is caused by the limited disposal period, because the number of young twigs where the growth of flowers is limited. This happens because the type of growth of guava Crystal is apically dominant, ie the shoots / old twigs continue to grow lengthwise and the growth inhibits the growth of new shoots underneath. The dominant apical nature can be broken by trimming / topping the tip of branches or twigs. After pruning will grow new branches from the armpit under the pruning and the new branches will grow flowers. In addition, pruning on guava provides the benefits of a better and balanced canopy shape, quantity, quality and continuity of fruit production is higher because the process of photosynthesis can take place more perfectly.

            Efforts that can be done so that the Crystal guava fruiting throughout the year is to increase production off  season through:

1. Fertilization with organic fertilizer (compost 5 kg / plant) plus organic fertilizer (Urea 250 g / plant, TSP 300 g / plant, KCl 300 g / plant, and Ca 500 g / plant) and micro fertilizer (ZnSO4 0.4% / plant and CuSO4 0.4% /plant).

2. Pruning by cutting the tips of branches and twigs 30 cm from the tips of the shoots, accompanied by the disposal of unproductive shoots and twigs