Varietal Evaluation for Yield and Yield Parameters of Ber under Semi-Arid Region of West Bengal

An experiment was conducted in a private orchard 5 km away from Regional Research Station, Bidhan Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, during 2004-2005 to study fruit drop, retention, maturity and fruit yield of ten cultivars of ber. Among ten cultivars studied, cv. Kaithali took a minimum of 6 days to attain flower bud development while, in cv. Jogia, it was 13 days. Period from fruit-set to fruit maturity in different cultivars varied from 130 to 160 days. The time of harvest in different cultivars of ber was from third week of December to third week of March. Maximum fruit-drop occurred at 15 and 30 days after fruit-set and, subsequently, decreased up to maturity. The total fruit-drop percentage varied from 66.5 (cv. Gola) to 92.5 (cv. Illaichi). Similarly, final fruit-retention in different cultivars varied from 7.5 in cv. Illaichi to 33.5% in cv. Gola. Cultivar Jogia produced highest fruit yield (111.4 kg plant¹), followed by cv. Gola (90.0 kg plant^-1) and cv. Seb (81.5 kg plant^-1). Lowest average yield was recorded in cv. Mundia (35.3 kg plant^-1).