GROWING MARACUYA IN THE COLOMBIAN COFFEE REGION

Maracuya Passiflora edulis form. flavicarpa has been grown for three years in the marginal coffee zones of Caldas, Risaralda and the north of Valle del Cauca (Colombia) in an area that adds up today to 580 ha under the joint sponsorship of the diversification project of FEDERACAFE and the PASSICOL processor.

The plantations lie between 900 m and 1 250 m above sea level with 1 300 mm annual rainfall and day temperatures of 24 and night temperatures of 18°C, 8 hours sunlight, relative humidity of 80%, soils type series 200 (Neira Flats) and type series 10 (Chinchiná), the former loamy clay texture and the latter low contents of organic matter, medium levels of P and K and low levels of minor elements.

The culture in these regions has a 26 month cycle starting with the replanting in the field.
With a vegetative period of six month average yields in the area are of 60 ton/ha/cycle.
Basic to these yields is the presence of abundant pollinating agents represented basically by Xilocopa sp. ‘Carpenter drone’, Apis mellifera or common honey bee, and Polistes sp. black wasp.

These insects are favored by abundant woody areas, guadua patches and natural rivers as well as host species like Matarraton, Bambusa sp., guaduilla and some leguminous weeds.
All these factors added to scanty intensive pesticide aplication in the area generate good pollination and high yields per ha.

International Symposium on Fruit Growing in Tropical Highlands

J.C. Arroyave

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1992.310.27