Fig orchards
446Genofund and agrotechnics of fig orchards in the Makhtumkuli Scientific-Production Experimental Center
The fig (fig, Ficus Carica L.) collection garden of the Magtymguly Scientific-Production Experimental Center, which belongs to the subtropical garden reserve section, includes cultivated and wild forms. Among subtropical fruit trees, the fruits of figs, olives, pomegranates, and dates are distinguished by their nutritional value. One of them is the fig tree. This tree is 3-5 meters tall and has large leaves. When it is well cared for, it produces good and abundant crops every year. Figs come in yellow, blue, black, red, and ink colors. The fig tree blooms in April and ripens in August and September.
Currently, there are 92 varieties of figs in the subtropical orchards breeding reserve department of the Magtymguly Scientific-Production Experimental Center of the Turkmen Agricultural University named after S.A. Niyazov, and a total of 231 figs are cared for, and the biological and economic properties of these varieties are studied on a scientific basis. Fig orchards are imported from many countries around the world. Wild species of figs are found in Western Kopetdag, Sumbar and Chendir valleys in Turkmenistan. The fig tree grows in Central Asia, the Caucasus and Arab countries, Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. Like other subtropical fruit plants, figs are one of the most useful plants that have been cultivated since early times. The fig tree grows abundantly in Yemen. Local varieties of figs are common in the Sumbar Valley. In the villages, in the center of the settlement, fig trees are grown on the land of each household. The fig tree is usually propagated by cuttings. The rods taken for rooting are 20-22 centimeters long, 1.2-1.5 centimeters thick in diameter. Depending on soil and weather conditions, fig seedlings in the nursery are watered 8-12 times a year. In autumn, after the leaves of the seedlings fall, they move it to another place.
Before starting the foundation of a fig garden, the agrochemical properties of the soil should be determined. The depth of groundwater should be 2.5 meters below the surface. When planting figs, the row spacing should be 6 x 6 meters. A hole 40 cm deep and 50 cm wide is dug below for planting figs. Then fig seedlings are planted in those pits, which take root well in the nursery. A fig tree is given 30-40 tons per hectare every 3-4 years. From mineral fertilizers, 300-400 kilograms of superphosphate and 75 kilograms of potassium salt are given per hectare.During spring procesing, 300 kilograms of nitrogen fertilizers are applied to each hectare of root figs. A productive fig tree is watered 4-6 times a year. Watering is done once in winter. The last 4-5 waterings are given in spring (March, April) and summer (May, June, July). Watering stops in August.
A 10-12-year-old fig tree yields 50-60 kilograms per root, 150-170 centners per hectare. A large fig tree tolerates -12...-15 degrees of cold. If it is above this level, its branches above the ground get cold. Although it is drought tolerance, it prefers constant moisture soil. When the soil is sufficiently moist, figs ripens quickly, the fruit is large and sweet, when the moisture is low, the fruits are dry.
Dovran ISLAMOV,
Researcher of the Subtropical gardens genofund department
of the Magtymguly Scientific-Production Experimental Center
of the S.A.Niyazov Turkmen Agricultural University