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

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Canopy Management in Fruit Crops
Strawberry
There are 4 training systems — matted row, spaced row, hill system and plastic
mulch in strawberry. Generally, matted row system is followed in our country.
• Matted row: This is the simplest and least expensive method. The runners are usually
planted at 90cm x 45cm spacing. In Himachal Pradesh, a spacing of 60cm x 25cm for
Chandler is optimum. After the initial growth
of the first year, runners are allowed to cover
the vacant space all around the mother plants
ultimately followed in heavy soils which
are free from weeds. In this system, more
number of plants can be accommodated/unit
area which give a higher yield under suitable
conditions. The overcrowding may cause
higher fruit rot. Thus, care must be taken
to maintain the optimum number of plants Well managed strawberry field
without overcrowding.
• Spaced row: This system is suitable for cultivars that are moderate to weak in producing
runners. The daughter plants are spaced at definite distances by covering the selected tips
of runners with soil which become plants. This is done till the desired number of daughter
plants are obtained for each mother plant. The runners formed later on are removed.
• Hill system: This system is followed for cultivars developing only a few runners. All
runners are removed from the mother plants. The individual plants become large and
bear more than those in matted row. The plants are planted 25-30cm apart in twin rows
20-30cm apart and 100-110cm spacing between twin rows. A small tractor can be used
for tillage. Where cultivation is done manually, the rows can be spaced closer at 60cm. In
some cases, triple rows are set.
• Plastic mulch: Green or black plastic film is used as a mulch for hill system to control
weeds and conserve moisture, but on hot days, some scalding of berries takes place.
In this system, berries are kept clean, and rot and mold are reduced. The plants bloom
earlier. These are prone to damage by frost.