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

Sweet Orange
Sweet orange trees are trained to
a single system and any shoot
emerging from the portion below the
bud union is nipped off regularly. The
first year growth beyond height of 0.7-
1.0 m is headed back to develop side
shoots.
•
Only 4-6 branches having wide angle
with the main trunk are allowed to
grow up to 2.5-3.0 m. Thereafter, no
training is required. Training of plants
is completed in 3 years so that plants
attain a mechanically strong canopy.
The pruning in pre bearing trees is
done at any time avoiding the peak winter.
Pruning of Bearing Trees
•
•
It consists of removal of dead, diseased, criss cross and weak branches. Removal of
water sprouts and suckers from each rootstock below the bud union is also essential.
It is done regularly along with thinning of shoots for better penetration of sunlight and
aeration.
The cut ends after pruning are treated with Bordeaux paste to avoid fungal infection.
The best time for pruning in bearing trees is after harvesting during late winter or
early spring. After each pruning, spraying of Bavistin (1ml/litre of water) is beneficial
to avoid any secondary infection.
Well managed tree in fruiting
Canopy Management in Fruit Crops 33