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

• If plants
are properly protected, the canopy re development can help in enhancing
•
the nut yield to its full potential after 2-3 years.
The limb pruned trees should be pruned or trimmed as and when required in
subsequent years. It may be noted that yield of limb pruned trees is much better
than freshly planted cashew grafts due to better root system.
Top Working
Mostly old cashew plantations are of seedling origin and have been developed into
senile stage. Such trees can be rejuvenated by grafting with scion sticks of improved
and high yielding varieties on new shoots arising on beheaded stumps. Top worked
trees start flowering and fruiting in the very next year after grafting with new vigour.
Points to be considered Before Top Working
•
•
•
Trees should be within 15-20
years age. They should have
smooth bark and should not
have many crevices on the
bark at collar region. The
colour of trunk should be
brown or ash not black.
Trees should not have been
damaged by cashew stem
and root borer. The trunk
or exposed root portion on
ground should be free from
stem borer damage. Its
symptoms can be ascertained from the oozing of gum or powdery mass fallen near
the entry point of insects.
Trees should be healthy enough with spreading lower branches. It should have well
developed root system and capacity to cope up with the growth of new canopy.
Method of Top Working
•
Top worked trees
Top working involves two steps: (i) beheading of trees and (ii) grafting with an elite
material on new flushes emerging out on the stumps of beheaded tree.
Canopy Management in Fruit Crops 25