Important point

• Raw or half-ripe fruit contains 31.3% – 31.8% carbohydrate, 1.8% protein, and 2.9% fiber.
• The best source of Vitamin B₂ (Riboflavin).
• Marmelosin – the active ingredient present in Bael, extracted from the bark.
• Leaves are used for offering to ‘Lord Shiva’
• It is a sacred tree of Hindus.
• Ripe green fruits are ideal for harvesting.
• It can tolerate sodicity up to 30ESP and salinity up to 9EC.
• Ripe fruits are used to make beverages.
• Ripe green or unripe fruits are best suited for making preserves.
• 9⁰C temperature and 90% relative humidity are suitable for storage.
• Cultivated in the eastern part of the Gangetic plains, UP, Bihar, West Bengal, and Orissa, etc.

Varieties

• Kagzi Gonda
• Kagzi Etawah
• Kagzi Banarasi
• Mirzapuri
• Narendra Bael – 5
• Narendra Bael – 9
• NB- 16
• NB-17
• NB- 7
• Chakiya
• Deoria large
• Baghel
• CISHB-1
• CISHB-2
• Pant Aparna
• Pant Sujata
• Pant Shivani
• Pant Urvashi
• Goma Yashi
• Thar Neelkanth

Climate

• Subtropical trees but can also grow in the tropics.
• It can be grown to a height of 1200 m.
• It withstands temperature as low as – 8⁰C and high 48⁰C
• Is drought resistant.

Soil

• Well-drained, humus-rich loamy soil with a pH of 5.5 to 7.5.
• Bael is a very hardy tree and grows in all types of soil.

Propagation

• Bael is commercially propagated by patch budding and seed.
• The best time for patch budding is June to July.

Planting

• Planting is done from June to July at the beginning of the rainy season.
• Planting distance 8x8m or 10x10m. is kept.
• Pits of size 60-75 cm3 are dug.

Manures and Fertilizers

• Practically there is no manure and fertilizer given to bael.
• Application of manure definitely helps in flowering and fruiting.
• Apply 30 kg FYM per year at the onset of monsoon.
• Also, 500 grams of nitrogen given in two splits of 250 grams each in February and again in June.

Irrigation

• Irrigation is done from time to time in the first year of planting.
• Irrigation once or twice after fruit set helps in better fruit retention, size, and quality.

Training & Pruning

• New plants require staking, initially, for uprightness.
• Lateral branches are allowed to grow above a height of one meter above the ground.
• Zigzag or criss-cross branches should be removed.

Interculture

• Shallow hoeing at the end of the monsoon will keep weeds under control.

Flowering and Fruiting

• Seeded plants bear fruit at the age of 7-8 years, while budded plants start bearing fruit in 4-5 years.
• It starts flowering in May and gives fruit in late May to June.
• It takes about 10 months for the fruits to mature.

Harvesting

• Bael fruits are climacteric and, therefore, should be harvested at full maturity.
• Delay in harvesting leads to cracking of fully ripe fruits on the trees.
• Fruits ripen in April and May in North India.

Yield

100-150 small fruits or 50-75 fruits (large)

Insect and Diseases

• No serious pests or diseases are found in the bael.

1. Canker (Xanthomonas bilvae)

On the affected part of leaves, twigs, thorns, and fruits appear as a clear circle on the affected area.

Control

• The affected part should be removed and destroyed.
• Spray 1% Bordeaux mixture or streptomycin sulfate (200ppm).