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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To achieve this, the leader can be tra<strong>in</strong>ed one way along the wire and suitably placed<br />
shoot can be tra<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> opposite direction as the second leader. Alternately, the <strong>in</strong>itial<br />
shoot can be cut just below the wire to force the production <strong>of</strong> 2 leaders which can be<br />
tra<strong>in</strong>ed as leaders along the wire.<br />
From the permanent leaders, a system <strong>of</strong> temporary <strong>fruit</strong><strong>in</strong>g arms 25-40cm apart is<br />
developed, at right angle along both sides <strong>of</strong> each leader. These arms are tied down<br />
to outrigger wires to hold them <strong>in</strong> position tak<strong>in</strong>g care not to break them out at<br />
their bases.<br />
The leader is not allowed to twist tightly around the wire or a restriction <strong>of</strong> sap<br />
flow <strong>in</strong> future could result <strong>in</strong> weaken<strong>in</strong>g the v<strong>in</strong>e. Us<strong>in</strong>g substantial tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g as<br />
leader hastens full development <strong>of</strong> <strong>fruit</strong><strong>in</strong>g arms and time <strong>of</strong> full production.<br />
Growth may be relatively slow dur<strong>in</strong>g first season but with<strong>in</strong> 3-4 years the fence<br />
should be furnished with strong leaders and <strong>fruit</strong><strong>in</strong>g arms <strong>in</strong> each direction.<br />
Tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> v<strong>in</strong>es over a pergola is similar to that <strong>of</strong> T-bar fence. The v<strong>in</strong>es are<br />
grown as straight, s<strong>in</strong>gle trunk until they reach a height <strong>of</strong> 2m near the top <strong>of</strong><br />
the structure.<br />
A s<strong>in</strong>gle, strong, permanent leader is then allowed to grow <strong>in</strong> each direction along the ma<strong>in</strong><br />
wire.<br />
To form the <strong>canopy</strong> <strong>of</strong> pergola, a system <strong>of</strong> <strong>fruit</strong><strong>in</strong>g arm is developed from the leaders at<br />
right angle to the wire. Fruit<strong>in</strong>g arms can be reta<strong>in</strong>ed longer on pergolas and may be more<br />
permanent than on T-bar. On more permanent <strong>fruit</strong><strong>in</strong>g arms, temporary <strong>fruit</strong><strong>in</strong>g laterals are<br />
allowed to develop. It usually takes up to 7 years for a pergola to become fully furnished<br />
with v<strong>in</strong>e growth.<br />
Rejuvenation <strong>in</strong> Kiwi<br />
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Knowledge <strong>of</strong> growth and <strong>fruit</strong><strong>in</strong>g habit <strong>of</strong> kiwi v<strong>in</strong>e is essential for its prun<strong>in</strong>g. The<br />
v<strong>in</strong>e grows 2-4m every year which may become over crowded and unmanageable if<br />
not controlled by both summer and w<strong>in</strong>ter prun<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
The <strong>fruit</strong>s develop only on current season’s growth, aris<strong>in</strong>g from the buds developed<br />
<strong>in</strong> previous year. Only basal 3-6 buds <strong>of</strong> current season’s growth are productive. The<br />
shoots developed on older wood, by head<strong>in</strong>g back, do not <strong>fruit</strong> normally <strong>in</strong> first season.<br />
Good quality <strong>fruit</strong>s develop on the exposed v<strong>in</strong>es. A shoot dies gradually if it is pruned<br />
just beyond the <strong>fruit</strong><strong>in</strong>g bud.<br />
Canopy Management <strong>in</strong> Fruit Crops 49