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

• Before
rejuvenation pruning, branches are
•
•
marked with a white chalk by making a ring
around the branches. The selected branches
should initially be cut from the underside on
the lower side by giving at least 10 cm deep
cut. Thereafter, cutting should be done from
the upper surface of the branch.
The cut portion of branches is then pasted
with cowdung or copper oxychloride to avoid
infection of fungal diseases. Immediately
after heading back, pruned wood needs to be removed from the orchard to
prevent the damage by trunk borer.
Better tree canopy after shoot thinning
and pruning
During May-June, selected shoots are
further pruned out to about 50 % of
total length for emergence of multiple
shoots below the pruning points. This is
mainly done to modify the tree structure
and maintain canopy size. Fruiting starts
three years after rejuvenation. The yield
of plants during initial years is slightly
low, while it increases from third year.
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•
The new shoots arise on pruned branches
of heading back and a few shoots are
retained at a proper spacing, growing
towards periphery of trees.
Four to six shoots developing in outer
directions on main limbs should be allowed
to develop. Proper development of new
canopy in horizontal direction should be
kept in mind while practising thinning of
shoots.
Tree growing vigorously
after heading back
Heavy fruiting in rejuvenated tree
Canopy Management in Fruit Crops 7