EFFECT OF ORCHARD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON GROWTH, FRUITING AND YIELD OF SENILE PLUM TREES
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Date
2012
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigation on Effect of orchard management practices on growth, fruiting and yield
of senile plum trees was conducted during 2010 and 2011 at the experimental orchard of the Department of
Fruit Science, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni-Solan (H.. P). The
experiment consisted of three levels of irrigation (Irrigation at 20, 40 and 60 % soil moisture depletion of
field capacity), four levels of pruning (Heading back of Scaffolds 75, 50 , 25 % and normal pruning) and two
levels of nitrogen fertilization (75 % and 50 % additional nitrogen of the recommended dose as CAN). The
studies revealed that irrigation at 20 per cent soil moisture depletion of field capacity resulted in higher tree
growth, fruit set, yield, size and quality fruits. Annual shoot growth, radial growth of trunk, pruning weight,
average leaf area, leaf chlorophyll content, fruit weight, volume, size, fruit firmness, T.S.S, reducing and non
reducing sugars were higher in heavily (75 % of HB) pruned trees whereas tree volume, fruit set and yield
was higher in lightly (25 % of HB) and normal pruned trees. With the increase in the pruning severity the
leaf N, K, Fe and Mn content increases, whereas Ca, Mg and Cu content decreases. P and Zn content were
not affected by pruning treatments. 75 % additional N resulted in increased annual shoot growth, trunk girth,
tree volume, leaf area and chlorophyll content. Increasing N treatment also resulted in increased organic
carbon, N, P, K, Fe, and Zn, and decreased in pH, EC, bulk density, K, Ca and Cu content. Irrigation and
nitrogen fertilization (I x N) interaction had significant effect in all the parameters except fruit weight, pulp
to stone ratio, TSS, acidity, leaf (N, Mn and Fe), soil (pH, Ca, Mg and Zn). Irrigation and pruning (I xT)
interaction had significant effect in all except girth, tree volume and leaf (N, P, K and Mg). Pruning and
nitrogen (T x N) interaction had significant effect on annual shoot growth, spread, pruned wood, fruit set,
fruit yield, fruit diameter and leaf copper. IxTxN interaction had significant effect on fruit yield, quality
parameters (size, acidity, reducing sugar, total sugar) and leaf copper content.
The total water expense of 110.9cm, 117.22 cm and 109.9 cm in the year 2010 and 89.56cm, 79.62
cm and 71.67 cm in the year 2011 was worked out in a season under 20, 40 and 60 per cent soil moisture
depletion of field capacity irrigation treatments, respectively. Irrigation and nitrogen fertilization had a
marked influence on water productivity during both the years. I3 and N1 treatment registered the maximum
water productivity.
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Keywords
irrigation, biological phenomena, fruits, land resources, nitrogen, field capacity, fertilizers, biological development, plums, developmental stages, plum trees,growth, fruiting