Correct soil acidityLime and dolomite
Apply lime or dolomite where soil pH is below 5.5. The exact quantity should come from a soil test.
| Soil pH | Agricultural lime | Dolomite alternative | Timing |
|---|
| Below 5.0 | 1 kg/plant/year | 2 kg/plant/year | One or two splits in May and September |
| 5.0-5.5 | 0.5 kg/plant/year | 1 kg/plant/year | One or two splits in May and September |
Separation interval: Apply fertiliser only 15-20 days after lime to avoid nutrient reactions and improve use efficiency.
Build soil biologyOrganic manures
Apply well-decomposed farmyard manure or compost at 5-10 kg per plant during May-June and mix it into the surface soil. Under irrigation, split the manure between May and September.
The guide notes beneficial effects from neem cake, bone meal or vermicompost at about 1 kg per plant. These materials support root growth, and neem cake can help reduce nematode and root-grub pressure.
Age-based nutritionNPK fertiliser schedule
| Crop age | Rain-fed kg/ha | Irrigated kg/ha | Splits |
|---|
| First year | N 25, P 25, K 50 | N 25, P 25, K 50 | 2 in both systems |
| Second year | N 40, P 40, K 80 | N 60, P 60, K 80 | 2 rain-fed; 3 irrigated |
| Third year / stabilised yield | N 75, P 75, K 150 | N 125, P 125, K 250 | 2 rain-fed; 3 irrigated |
Under high-production systems harvested from 18 months onward, the full-grown recommendation may be used from the second year, according to the source guide. Base final rates on soil tests and current extension recommendations.
Soil application windows
May/June, September/October and December/January.
Foliar application windows
August/September, October/November and December/January.
Application methods
Temporarily remove mulch. Apply fertiliser in a circular band about 15 cm wide, leaving 30 cm from the plant base. Mix into the top 5-7 cm with a hand fork and replace the mulch.
For yielding plants, the guide describes a solution of 1 kg muriate of potash + 600 g DAP + 400 g urea in 100 L water, applied at 5 L per clump at monthly intervals outside heavy-rainfall periods. This is equivalent to approximately NPK 150:150:300 kg/ha in the guide's standardised system.
Wet both leaf surfaces when plants are well hydrated. Use clear or cloudy conditions, avoiding very hot, dry weather and midday. Where root damage restricts uptake, the guide suggests 1% DAP + 1% MoP or 1% 19:19:19 as a foliar option.
Micronutrients and sulphur
- Zinc: zinc sulphate at 250 g per 100 L water as foliar spray during April-May and September-October. Apply alone; do not mix with pesticides, fungicides or other fertilisers because precipitation can reduce availability.
- Boron: in deficient soils, commercial borax at 7.5 kg/ha in two soil doses with NPK, or 0.25% borax as foliar spray during April-May and September-October.
- Sulphur: nutrient-grade bentonite sulphur at 20 kg/ha with NPK in sulphur-deficient areas.
Test before correcting: Micronutrients have narrow safe ranges. Diagnose deficiency through soil and/or leaf testing rather than routine over-application.