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

Fig
Fig plants require annual pruning to
keep them in normal production. The
plants are preferably trained to a modified
leader system. Four to five main limbs
are placed especially in initial training
around the stem which, on suppressing
the leader to a side lateral, results into
a well balanced pruning. It is practised
annually to stimulate production of new
growth and bearing fruits. However, time
and type of pruning vary with location,
variety and number of pickings.
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In general, fig plants are trained to
a single stem and laterals are
allowed at a height of 1.0-1.5 m. In
Northern India, the plants are headed back to a height of 30-40 cm above the ground
level, whereas in Pune heading back to about 1.0-1.5 m is usually done from the
ground level. As the fig tree normally bears 2 crops in a year, the first (known as
‘Breba’) on the wood of previous season and the second crop on new wood of current
season, the time and amount of pruning are adjusted according to growth habit and
bearing capacity of the tree.
Pruning for better fruiting
In Pune, light pruning is given just after fruits are harvested. In Uttar Pradesh, severe
pruning is done in December, leaving only 3-4 buds on shoots of previous year’s growth.
In Karnataka, fig plants are headed back every year in January-February to about 2
buds on each shoot of previous season’s growth to obtain fruits in July-October.
Canopy Management in Fruit Crops 37