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Jackfruit
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Jackfruit

Artocarpus heterophyllus
Family: Moraceae
Typical yield 15.0 t/ha
Varieties 3
Pest/Disease 6
Seasons 4

Profile

Growth habit
tree
Lifecycle (days)
Perennial (juvenile 3–6 yrs)
Primary uses
Fresh fruit; processed (chips, flour); timber; fodder (leaves)
Pollination
insect
Origin / distribution
South/Southeast Asia; grown in humid tropics incl. East Africa

Environment

Climate

Temp optimal
24–32 °C
Rain optimal
1200–2400 mm/yr
Altitude
0–1500 m

Soil

pH optimal
6–7
Soil type
Deep, well-drained loam/sandy loam; rich organic matter

Farmer Guide

Row spacing
900 cm
Plant spacing
900 cm
Depth
5 cm
Seed rate
kg/ha
Nursery days
90
Planting: Plant grafted seedlings at onset of rains in large pits (e.g., 60×60×60 cm) with compost. Stake young trees; mulch and weed circles.
Transplanting: Handle root ball gently; avoid bending taproot; plant at same collar height.
Irrigation: Keep moist during establishment and dry spells; critical at flowering/fruit set.
Fertigation: Split N and K into small doses during active growth; avoid heavy late N.
Pest scouting: Monitor fruit borers, mealybugs, scale/sooty mold; prune for airflow; remove infested fruits.
Pruning/Training: Formative prune to 3–4 scaffold branches at 1–1.2 m; maintain open canopy.
Harvest: Harvest when fruit spines flatten and aroma develops; cut with 10–15 cm peduncle; handle carefully.
Postharvest: Shade-cool; avoid latex stains; consume/process promptly; short ambient shelf life.

Nutrient Schedule

#StageDAPProductRateTargets (kg/ha)Notes
1 Basal (at planting) 0 Compost + NPK 17-17-17 3 t/ha + 150 kg/ha N: —, P₂O₅: —, K₂O: — Pit-mix compost; light NPK away from roots
2 Topdress 1 90 CAN 26% N 60 kg/ha N: —, P₂O₅: —, K₂O: — Establishment boost; irrigate after
3 Topdress 2 180 MOP (KCl) 60 kg/ha N: —, P₂O₅: —, K₂O: — Support canopy and future fruiting
4 Pre-flowering 365 NPK 15-9-20 (or similar) 120 kg/ha N: —, P₂O₅: —, K₂O: — Higher K for fruiting

Nutrient Requirements

NutrientStageAmountUnit
N Basal 40 kg/ha
P₂O₅ Basal 30 kg/ha
K₂O Basal 40 kg/ha
N Early_growth 30 kg/ha
K₂O Early_growth 20 kg/ha
N Fruiting 40 kg/ha
K₂O Fruiting 40 kg/ha

Images

Jackfruit
Name Country Maturity Traits
Local Jackfruit KE 1200 Large fruits
Grafted sweet type (generic) KE 1460 Early bearing; sweet bulbs; manageable canopy
Firm-flesh type (processing) TZ 1825 Good chips/flour; large fruits
Stage Product Rate (kg/ha) Notes
Basal Compost/manure (well-decomposed) 3000 Pit incorporated at planting
Basal NPK 17-17-17 150 Light dose; away from stem
Topdress CAN 26% N 60 ~3 months after planting
Topdress MOP (KCl) 60 ~6 months after planting
Fruiting NPK high-K (e.g., 15-9-20) 120 Before flowering/fruit set
Name Type Symptoms Management
Fruit borer pest Bored fruits Bag young fruits; sanitation
Fruit borer (carpophagous moth/borer) pest Bored fruits; premature drop Sanitation; bagging; timely harvest; rotate actives if spraying
Mealybugs & scale (with sooty mold) pest Honeydew, black mold on leaves/fruits Control ants; prune; oils/soap or selective insecticides
Fruit fly (Tephritidae) pest Stings; maggots in pulp Bait traps; field sanitation; bagging
Anthracnose disease Leaf/fruit spots; rots postharvest Prune for airflow; avoid overhead irrigation; protectants if severe
Stem/foot rot (Phytophthora) disease Cankers; collar rot; dieback Well-drained sites; avoid injuries; copper paints on wounds
System Typical Min Max Notes
orchard 15 8 25
rainfed orchard (low density) 12 8 18 Mature trees; 80–120 trees/ha
irrigated/improved (medium density) 18 12 30 Good management; pruning & nutrition
Country Region Planting Harvest
KE Coastal & low-mid altitude (long rains) Mar–Apr Year-round once mature
KE Coastal & low-mid altitude (short rains) Oct–Nov Year-round once mature
UG Central/wet zones Mar–Apr Year-round once mature
TZ Coast & Northern zones Mar–Apr Year-round once mature
Country Region Suitability
KE Arid/semi-arid with poor irrigation Low
KE Coast; Lake Basin; mid-altitude humid High
KE Coastal/low mid-altitudes High
KE High, cool highlands (>1800 m) Low
TZ Coastal belt; Morogoro; Kilimanjaro foothills High
UG Central; Lake Victoria basin High