canopy management in fruit crops - Department of Agriculture & Co ...
canopy management in fruit crops - Department of Agriculture & Co ...
canopy management in fruit crops - Department of Agriculture & Co ...
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narrow crotches are avoided. This basic frame <strong>of</strong> the tree is ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed by<br />
remov<strong>in</strong>g water sprouts as and when they emerge. <strong>Co</strong>rrection <strong>in</strong> the framework<br />
is done at the time <strong>of</strong> annual prun<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Annual prun<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> ber is essential to <strong>in</strong>duce maximum number <strong>of</strong> new healthy<br />
shoots which bear good quality <strong>fruit</strong>s. It is also essential to remove the undesirable,<br />
weak, <strong>in</strong>tercross<strong>in</strong>g, diseased and broken branches to avoid crowd<strong>in</strong>g and to<br />
encourage healthy growth for maximum <strong>fruit</strong> bear<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Prun<strong>in</strong>g is done dur<strong>in</strong>g the hot and dry season when tree sheds leaves and<br />
enters <strong>in</strong>to dormancy. In Tamil Nadu, its trees are pruned dur<strong>in</strong>g January-April <strong>in</strong><br />
Maharashtra, prun<strong>in</strong>g must be completed by the April end, while <strong>in</strong> Haryana by<br />
the May end. Severity <strong>in</strong> prun<strong>in</strong>g also differs at different locations. In general,<br />
light prun<strong>in</strong>g, at about 25 buds, is the best. However, prun<strong>in</strong>g could be done at<br />
15-20 buds under more moderate climatic conditions.<br />
All the secondary shoots should be completely removed. To avoid the occurrence<br />
<strong>of</strong> long, un<strong>fruit</strong>ful basal portions <strong>of</strong> branches caused by light prun<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> several<br />
years, half the past season’s shoots are pruned down to 20 buds, while the<br />
rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g half to the basal 1 or 2 nodes.<br />
Spray<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> 3% thiourea or potassium nitrate once <strong>in</strong> 2 days before prun<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>in</strong>duces bud sprout<strong>in</strong>g from maximum number <strong>of</strong> nodes.<br />
Canopy Management <strong>in</strong> Fruit Crops 19