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

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could cause significant damage to the new flush, if the infestation is severe and
is not managed effectively. The insect could be controlled with two sprays of
Carbaryl (0.2%, i.e. 3 g insecticide per litre of water) at an interval of 15 days.
Top working can also be adopted in pruned trees to upgrade seedling plantations
and inferior varieties with superior commercial cultivars. Scions of desired
variety can be grafted on the newly emerged shoots developed on branches
of pruned trees by adopting veneer or soft wood grafting during June- July.
Pruning of trees makes the orchard space open with more availability of sunlight.
Interspaces between the rows of trees can be successfully utilized for intercropping.
It is highly desirable, owing to multiple advantages, i.e. securing additional income
during the gestation period without sacrificing the main crop, replenishing nutrients in
soil through leguminous crops or through fertilizer applied to intercrops, and to keep
orchard healthy with year round inter culture operations.
• Flowers (marigold, tuberose, gladiolus, etc.), vegetables (cucurbits, lobia etc.
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during kharif season and potato, pea, cauliflower, cabbage etc. during rabi season)
and spices (ginger and turmeric) are ideal intercrops for mango orchards.
The shoots, which emerge on the pruned trees, are longer and have higher girth, indicating
that shoots are healthier and thereby have more yield potential. However, if canopy is
condensed after sometime, 2-3 twigs may be removed from the central zone of trees to
facilitate better light infiltration.
This ensures increased photosynthetic efficiency, resulting into higher sustained
production over a long period of time from the rejuvenated trees.
Properly managed trees start bearing from third year onwards with quality fruits.
Canopy Management in Fruit Crops 59