STUDIES ON RELATIONSHIP OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS WITH APPLE CROP PHENOLOGY IN DIFFERENT AGRO-CLIMATE ZONES OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2020-02
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigations entitled “Studies on relationship of environmental factors with apple
crop phenology in different agro-climate zones of Himachal Pradesh” was conducted during the years 2016
and 2017 in the Department of Environmental Science, Dr YSP University of Horticulture and Forestry,
NauniSolan HP. The field experiment was laid out in Random Block Design (Factorial) by taking apple
orchards in three agro-climatic zones at four elevations viz., 1000-1400 m amsl, 1400-1800 m amsl,1800-2200
m amsl and 2200-2600 m amsl, respectively falling in three agroclimatic zones of HP. At each selected
elevation five commercial growing varieties of apple namely Royal Delicious, Red Fuji, Golden Delicious, Red
Chief and Gale Gala were taken. Accordingly, there were 20 treatment combinations which were replicated four
timesby taking four orchards at each elevation. The trends of weather and chill units were worked out by taking
30 years data. In the apple growing districts the annual average temperature showed increasing trend in the order
of 0.048oC/year (Kullu)> 0.040oC/year (Shimla)> 0.021oC/year (Kinnaur). In apple growing districts chill units
decreased to the tune of 6.61 to 13.09 per year. In Shimla and Kinnaur districts of the state the apple
productivityincreased at the rate of0.024 and 0.10 tons/ha/year whereas, it exhibited decreasing trend at the rate
of 0.08 tons/ha/year in Kullu district. Number of Julian days taken to attain phenophases from bud burst to fruit
maturity follow the order 143.8 (2200-2600m amsl) > 140.4 (1800-2200 m amsl) > 126.6 (1400-1800 m amsl) >
125.3 (1000-1400 m amsl). Apple cultivars exhibited variations in days for attaining phenophases from bud
burst to fruit maturity in the range of 130.3 to 138.6 days and variety wise order was 138.6 days (Royal
delicious) > 134.8 days (Red fuji) > 134.2 days (Golden delicious) > 132.2 days (Red chief) > 130.3 days (Gale
gala). The phenophases (bud burst to fruit maturity) accumulated highest GDD (1215.0) at lower altitude range
(1000-1400 m amsl) and lowest 1129.5 at higher altitude range 2200-2600 m amsl. The zone wise irregularity to
attain the various phenological stages as per instability index was in the range of 10.8 – 15.0 %. The irregularity
to attain the phenological stages was relatively less at higher altitude which followed an increasing trend with
decrease in altitude range. Soil available NPK exhibited highly significant and positive correlation with
productivity except lower altitude range 1000-1400 m amsl. The highly suitable areas for apple crop were
predominantly at higher altitudinal areas like Bhang, Naggar, Manali and Raisan in Kullu; Kotgarh, Jubbal,
Kumarsain, Chopal and Rohru of Shimla and Kinnaur district covering Sangla, Kalpa, Sharbo and Pooh. Some
areas of Lahaul and Spiti such as Tabo and Kaza. The marginally suitable areas were at the elevation of 10001400
m amsl replaced by Bajaura and Bhuntar in Kullu district; Karsog, Nagwain and Jhanjheli in Manali;
Theogin lower parts of Shimla and few pockets namely Salooni and Bharmaur in Chamba; Bara Bhangal area in
Kangra district. The study inferred that environm
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