canopy management in fruit crops - Department of Agriculture & Co ...

shapes and sizes, and continued as trees mature. In commercial orchards,
pruning facilitates normal daily operations. Where trees have outgrown
their allotted space, pruning can increase the bearing surface. Trees that
grow too close together shade out the lower canopy portions and in turn
decrease their fruit setting. When pruned to allow light to reach the top
and lower sides of trees, the increased bearing surface results in more fruit
setting. Any sprouts arising from the rootstock (i.e. from below the graft
union) should be removed. Pruning of the scion of young trees only delays
growth and extends the juvenility. Pruning is done either to encourage the
growth (thinning) or to reduce the tree size (heading back). Thinning of
bearing trees encourages vegetative growth, and removes interior branches,
encouraging the outward growth into the allotted area planned for mature
trees to occupy. Heading back reduces the outward canopy growth through
topping and hedging of branches.
2
To fulfil the nutritional demand of burgeoning population in the country
and to meet the global challenge in the international market, it is need of
the hour to accommodate almost 10 times more plants per unit area. This
is only possible with the management of canopy to intercept maximum
light in the innermost parts of trees. The canopy management has direct
correlation with dry matter production, flower bud initiation and fruit
quality.
In this manual, pruning has been dealt with in detail, especially in respect
of its requirement for individual fruit trees. The objectives, principles and
economics of pruning of various fruit trees have been comprehensively
explained with practical examples and hints to meet the requirements of
farmers engaged in production of a variety of fruits in the country.
Canopy Management in Fruit Crops