Pomegranate Fruit Cracking: How to Prevent It

Fruit cracking is one of the most damaging physiological disorders in pomegranate farming worldwide. A comprehensive review published in the International Journal of Fruit Science confirms that losses as high as 65 percent have been reported due to fruit cracking in pomegranate. Once a fruit cracks it loses all market value and often becomes unfit for consumption. Understanding what causes cracking and how to prevent it can save a very large portion of your income every season.

What Causes Pomegranate Fruit Cracking

Research identifies multiple factors that cause or worsen fruit cracking. The primary cause is water imbalance during fruit development. When the tree experiences water stress and then suddenly receives heavy rain or irrigation, the internal pressure in the fruit increases faster than the peel can expand and the skin splits. Research published in the journal Acta Physiologiae Plantarum studied cracking behaviour in five pomegranate varieties and found that varieties with higher cell wall degrading enzyme activity including polygalacturonase and cellulase showed more cracking. Nutritional deficiencies especially of boron, calcium, and potassium are consistently identified in published research as major contributors to cracking. Sharp temperature fluctuations between day and night during fruit maturation, high evapotranspiration, and low relative humidity all increase cracking risk. Environmental factors including rain intensity especially after a dry period significantly aggravate the problem.

Which Varieties Crack More

Variety selection significantly affects cracking incidence. Research published in Applied Fruit Science in 2024 found that the variety Jodhpur Red had maximum cracking associated with low phenol and antioxidant content in the peel and high activity of cell wall degrading enzymes. In contrast, the Kandhari variety registered no cracking and had the highest levels of total phenols, antioxidants, and anthocyanin content. Among commercially grown varieties in Maharashtra, Bhagwa is relatively less prone to fruit cracking compared to Ganesh, which is one reason Bhagwa has become the dominant commercial variety. The thick peel of Bhagwa provides better mechanical resistance to internal pressure during maturation.

Irrigation Management is the Most Critical Factor

Consistent irrigation throughout fruit development is the single most important practice to prevent cracking. Research confirms that moisture imbalance and irregular irrigation practices directly contribute to fruit cracking severity. Never allow the soil to become completely dry during fruit development and then apply heavy irrigation. Use drip irrigation to maintain consistent soil moisture rather than flood irrigation which creates extreme wet and dry cycles. During the last 4 to 6 weeks before harvest when fruits are approaching maturity, reduce irrigation but maintain a baseline to prevent the soil from going dry. Sudden heavy rain after dry conditions during this period is the most common trigger for mass cracking events in Indian pomegranate orchards.

Nutrient Management to Reduce Cracking

Research from an experiment on Bhagwa pomegranate at VNMKV Parbhani in Maharashtra during 2019 to 2021 found that application of Spic Cytozyme at 4 ml per litre resulted in minimum fruit cracking along with highest fruit length, diameter, weight, and volume. Research from Himachal Pradesh found that application of boron at 0.2 percent as foliar spray significantly reduced fruit cracking. Apply borax at 1 to 2 grams per litre as a foliar spray two to three times during fruit development at 30-day intervals. Calcium sprays applied during fruit development help strengthen peel structure. Apply calcium nitrate at 1 percent concentration three times during the season at fruit set, mid-development, and 6 weeks before harvest. Potassium foliar sprays in the last 60 days before harvest improve peel strength and reduce splitting risk.

Fruit Bagging to Physically Prevent Cracking

Covering individual pomegranate fruits with paper or non-woven fabric bags when they are 45 to 60 days old significantly reduces cracking incidence by protecting fruits from direct sunlight, temperature extremes, and rainfall impact. Bagged fruits also maintain more stable moisture content in the peel which reduces the risk of skin splitting during maturation. The bags are removed 15 to 20 days before harvest to allow colour development. While bagging increases labour costs, the reduction in cracking losses combined with the premium price that unblemished bagged fruit commands in the market makes it economically justified for most commercial pomegranate farmers.

Mulching Reduces Cracking Risk

Mulching around pomegranate trees with black polythene or organic material like sugarcane trash significantly reduces soil moisture fluctuation which is the primary trigger for cracking. Mulched trees maintain more stable root zone moisture even during dry spells reducing the risk of a sudden wet-dry cycle that causes mass cracking. A 10 centimetre layer of mulch extending to the canopy drip line controls soil temperature as well as moisture, both of which contribute to cracking prevention.