Maru Gaurav
A very high-yielding ICAR-CAZRI (Jodhpur) release bred specifically for the hot, arid west, commonly cited at up to about 40 kg of fruit per mature plant.
Quick facts
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Kharif
- Starts bearing
- Bears from year 2–3 (grafted/cutting)
- Expected yield
- Very high — up to ~40 kg/plant
- Suitable soil
- Sandy / light soil
- Disease resistance
- No special resistance claimed; bred for arid tolerance
- Release
- ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
About this variety
Maru Gaurav is a karonda variety released by ICAR's Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur, bred specifically for the hot, arid conditions of western Rajasthan and neighbouring Gujarat where the institute is based. It is commonly cited as the highest-yielding named karonda variety, with figures of up to roughly 40 kg of fruit per mature plant reported — well above the general 8–15 kg range typical of the crop — making it the clear choice for a grower whose primary goal is maximising fruit tonnage from arid, marginal land rather than a specific pickle or sweet-eating quality trait.
Should you pick this variety?
Maru Gaurav is the pick when your main goal is the most fruit from hot, dry, poor land. It is reported to give up to about 40 kg of fruit from a full-grown plant, while karonda usually gives 8–15 kg. It was bred at CAZRI, Jodhpur, for western Rajasthan and Gujarat. What is not clearly recorded is whether its fruit suits pickle or sweet eating, so check with your buyer first. If you already have a buyer asking for sour green fruit, look at the Pant varieties. If you sell juice or squash and want red colour, look at Thar Kamal. Outside the dry west, there is less information, so plant a few first.
Sowing & cultivation
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- The highest cited per-plant yield among named karonda varieties, up to roughly 40 kg/plant.
- Bred and evaluated specifically for hot, arid conditions, well matched to Rajasthan and Gujarat's dry-zone karonda belt.
Things to consider
- Fruit quality profile (pickle versus sweet-eating suitability) not as specifically documented as the Pant or Konkan Bold lines — yield, not a particular quality trait, is its defining strength.
- Best proven in Rajasthan's arid conditions; performance outside that belt is less documented.
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Rajasthan
- Gujarat
Making the arid-land yield actually happen
The figure people quote for this CAZRI release — up to about 40 kg per mature plant — comes from a plant that has been kept alive properly through its first dry summers, not from a bush left to the rain. Karonda survives on little water; a heavy crop still needs some.
Three things decide whether you get near that figure on sandy land. Give each young plant a basin and a bucket or a drip dripper through the first two hot seasons. Mulch the basin with crop trash so the water you give does not leave by evening. And do not crowd the plants — a thorny karonda hedge planted too close competes with itself and bears on the outside only.
How it compares with other varieties
Every Karonda (Carissa) variety with a page on this site, side by side. The row for this page is highlighted.
| Variety | Best for | Yield | States |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHES-K-II-7 | Sweet fresh fruit, juice (vitamin C) | Good; high sugar and vitamin C | Karnataka |
| Konkan Bold | Fresh eating, jam, jelly, juice | High; prolific bearer | Maharashtra |
| Maru Gauravthis page | Highest yield on hot, dry land | Very high — up to ~40 kg/plant | Rajasthan, Gujarat |
| Pant Manohar | Pickle and chutney (green fruit) | Good, pickle-grade fruit | Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand |
| Pant Sudarshan | Pickle and chutney (green fruit) | Good, pickle-grade fruit | Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand |
| Pant Suvarna | Pickle and chutney (green fruit) | Good, pickle-grade fruit | Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand |
| Thar Kamal | Red pulp for juice and squash | Good; roughly 13 kg/plant in CIAH evaluation | Rajasthan |
Tools for this crop
The numbers you need next: how much seed to buy, whether the lot germinates, what the fertilizer bill looks like and what Karonda (Carissa) is selling for.
- Seed Rate CalculatorHow much seed your Karonda (Carissa) plot needs, corrected for the germination of the lot you bought.
- Germination CalculatorTest 100 seeds from the bag before sowing and see whether the lot is fit to sow.
- Seed Variety FinderFilter every Karonda (Carissa) variety on this site by state, season, duration and soil.
- Fertilizer CalculatorTurn the NPK recommendation for Karonda (Carissa) into bags of urea, DAP and MOP for your field size.
- Crop CalendarMonth-by-month sowing, weeding, irrigation and harvest dates for Karonda (Carissa) in your state.
- Crop Profit CalculatorPut your seed, labour and input costs against the yield you expect from this variety.
- Mandi Price CheckerToday's Karonda (Carissa) rate in your nearest mandi, before you fix a price with a trader.
Subsidy and government support
Schemes that help with the cost of Karonda (Carissa) seed or planting material. Rules and the application route are on each scheme page.
Frequently asked questions
How much fruit does Maru Gaurav give per plant?
Up to about 40 kg from a full-grown plant is commonly reported, while karonda in general gives about 8–15 kg. This is the best-case figure, so expect less if water and care are limited.
Is Maru Gaurav good for pickle or for sweet eating?
That is not clearly recorded. Its strength is yield. If you want a sure pickle fruit use a Pant variety, and for a sure sweet fruit use Konkan Bold or CHES-K-II-7.
Can I grow Maru Gaurav outside Rajasthan and Gujarat?
It was bred for hot, dry conditions, and how it does elsewhere is less documented. Ask your local Krishi Vigyan Kendra and try a few plants before a big planting.
Is the 40 kg per plant figure for Maru Gaurav realistic?
Treat it as the best case. It is reported as up to about 40 kg from a full-grown plant, while karonda usually gives 8–15 kg. Plan your income on a lower number until you have seen your own harvest.
Who bred Maru Gaurav?
It was bred at CAZRI, Jodhpur, for the hot, dry parts of western Rajasthan and Gujarat.