® Fruit, Vegetable and Cereal Science and Biotechnology ©2010 Global Science Books Pomegranate Culture in Deccan Plateau of India Ram Chandra* • Deodas Tarachand Meshram National Research Centre on Pomegranate, NH-9 By-pass Road, Shelgi, Solapur 413 006, Maharashtra, India Corresponding author : *
[email protected] ABSTRACT The Deccan Plateau is a large plateau in India, making up the majority of the southern part of the country, ranging in elevation from 100 m in the north to 1000 m in the south. The main pomegranate producing areas are distributed between 300 and 950 m above mean sea level in hot arid and semi-arid regions having tropical and subtropical climate. Interestingly, the major production of pomegranate in India is from Deccan Plateau, especially from Maharashtra followed by Karnataka. The agro-climatic condition of Deccan Plateau is congenial for staggering of pomegranate production throughout the year. Maharashtra contributes about 84% in area and 75% in production of pomegranate in Deccan Plateau. Mainly three flowering seasons viz. winter (January-February flowering), rainy season (June-July flowering) and autumn season (September-October flowering) are promoted for fruit production in this plateau. In the present paper, information pertaining to Deccan Plateau and its climatic and soil conditions and existing cultivation practices of pomegranate has been envisaged. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Keywords: climatic conditions of Deccan