STATISTICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON APPLE PRODUCTION IN HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2017
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present study entitled “Statistical investigations on apple production in Himachal
Pradesh” was carried out in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. Multistage random sampling
technique was employed for the selection of sampling units. Primary data were collected on area,
production and socio-economic parameters for standardization of sampling technique for
estimation of apple production in Himachal Pradesh. Equalization of cum √f method of
construction of strata boundaries showed least variance among four stratification rules and can be
efficiently used for estimation of apple production in study area. The estimate of apple production
came out to be 788782 MT with standard error of 27.55. Data were recorded on various
morphological characteristics of apple plant to assess their relative contribution towards the yield.
Apple yield was found to be significantly and positively correlated with fruit weight, trunk girth,
plant height, canopy spread, flower density index and fruit set. Step-wise regression analysis
suggested that plant girth, flower density index and fruit weight were the most significant
characteristics for estimation of apple yield. Path analysis revealed that fruit weight and flower
density index were the most important characteristics of apple crop which should be exploited
through a breeding programme for improving yield potential. Two groups namely low and high
yielder were categorized on the basis of canopy spread, fruit set, LD ratio and fruit weight using
discriminant function. The groups formed were subjected to Principal Components and Factor
Analyses. Four out of ten Principal Components were extracted for both populations which
explained 79.47% and 79.88% of the total variation of the original variables respectively. Power
and linear function can be used for the prediction of apple area and production respectively in
Himachal Pradesh. ARIMA (0, 1, 0) and ARIMA (1, 1, 5) were found to be best fitted models for
forecasting of apple area and production respectively in Himachal Pradesh. Apple production was
found to be positively and significantly correlated with the maximum temperature and relative
humidity. Step wise regression revealed that the maximum and minimum temperatures were the
most important weather parameters for the estimation of apple yield. Socio-economic status of
apple orchardists with respect to production and marketing of apple crop was also studied.
Retailers channel (Channel V) was found to be most efficient for marketing of apple, followed by
commission agents channel (Channel III), post harvest channel (Channel-I), and village trader
channel (Channel II) in the study area.
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