High density orcharding in fruit crops

High density orcharding is the practice of accommodating higher number of plants of the same species per unit area by planting at a closer spacing than that is planted under traditional system.

Increased sunlight capture per unit area

Land use efficiencyAppropriate vegetative reproductive

balance of the plants.

Low vegetative growthLow productivity per plant

Planting systemCanopy management

Use of dwarfing rootstock/Interstock Training Shoot pruning Root pruning Use of growth regulators

Crop Spacing Planting density plants per ha

Yield (t/ha)

% increase over traditional methods

Mango cv. Amrapali

2.5m x 2.5m

1600 19.2 250%

Citrus (Kinnow)

1.8m x 1.8m

3000 20 200%

Banana 1.4m x 1.4m

4444 145.44 250%

Pineapple

25cm x 35 cm x 90cm

64000 90.0 200%

Guava 1m x 2m 5000 50 250%

Experiences at B P S A C on high density orcharding in fruit crops

Treatment 1997 1999 2001 20037.5 m x 7.5 m 2.54 7.13 29.05 47.17.5 m x 5.0 m 1.73 9.6 22.24 45.645.0 m x 5.0 m 1.88 25.58 38.26 50.972.5 m x 7.5 m 1.91 16.75 24.87 32.532.5 m x 5.0 m 1.98 26.12 34.22 56.662.5 m x 2.5 m 1.51 20.94 28.2 31.95S.E.m 0.23 0.59 1.53 4.83C.D. at 5% 0.64 1.77 4.61 14.52

Treatments LAI7.5 m x 7.5 m 2.147.5 m x 5.0 m 2.125.0 m x 5.0 m 2.242.5 m x 7.5 m 2.592.5 m x 5.0 m 2.462.5 m x 2.5 m 3.38S.E.m 0.16C.D. at 5% 0.47

Treatment 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Cumulative yield

7.5 m x 7.5 m 0.82 4.92 1.25 14.55 2.32 23.82 4.00 28.12 4.35 33.57 115.82

7.5 m x 5.0 m 1.07 4.66 1.06 9.42 1.95 22.25 3.52 27.12 3.95 31.77 102.02

5.0 m x 5.0 m 1.47 3.26 0.82 11.2 2.05 24.92 3.09 28.00 3.75 32.72 107.73

2.5 m x 7.5 m 1.06 4.01 1.03 9.25 1.93 17.62 2.95 19.25 3.00 21.17 104.39

2.5 m x 5.0 m 0.94 3.89 0.95 10.92 1.57 12.75 2.60 14.45 1.95 15.67 78.88

2.5 m x 2.5 m 0.96 3.27 0.73 6.81 0.98 7.90 1.58 8.60 1.00 7.62 45.53

Treatment 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Cumulative yield (q/ha)

7.5 m x 7.5 m 1.47 8.77 2.23 25.90 4.13 42.42 7.12 50.05 7.74 59.80 206.17

7.5 m x 5.0 m 2.85 12.43 2.83 25.15 5.21 59.40 9.40 72.45 10.55 84.82 272.40

5.0 m x 5.0 m 5.87 13.04 3.28 37.00 8.20 99.70 12.36 112.00 15.00 130.90 430.92

2.5 m x 7.5 m 5.65 21.41 5.50 59.81 10.31 93.95 15.75 102.60 16.02 112.85 557.46

2.5 m x 5.0 m 7.51 31.16 7.60 87.38 12.56 102.00 20.80 115.60 15.60 125.40 639.01

2.5 m x 2.5 m 15.32 52.36 11.68 108.96 15.68 126.40 25.28 137.10 16.0 122.00 728.48

Severe pruning in alternate rows every three years

Possible strategy Planting at a spacing of 5 m x 5 m Shoot pruning in alternate years when

fruiting is not expected

No pruning Pruning to 60% of canopy

Pruning to 80% of canopy

Month 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12January 27.0 0  12.0

February 0.0 12.0 20.0

March 16.0 0  0.0

April 0.0 18.0 38.5

May 86.0 49.0 138.1

June 60.0 101.0 606.5

July 368.0 226.0 251.2

August 210.0 152.0 423.5

September 319.0 183.0 305.8

October 95.0 58.0 198.0

November 24.0 13.0 0.0

December 34.0 23.0 0.0

Total 1239.0 835.0 1993.6

For production of 1 kg of guava cv Sardar, the total water requirement is 68.02 litre

Benefit cost ratio of Ultra High Density guava orcharding for a period of 5 years is 3.1 as compared to 2.9 traditional system orcharding.

Net profit per year, fifth year onwards under Ultra High Density orcharding is Rs.3.39 lakh/ha compared to Rs.1.68 lakh/ha in traditional system

Keeping in view yield and gross income, pruning of guava plants thrice a year viz. March, May and October to 50% of shoot length can be recommended for maximization of income from Ultra-high density guava orchard growing under Bihar conditions.

Application of 60% of recommended dose of fertilizer and irrigation at 60% PE was found to be most suitable

UHDO at Chakradharpur

Place Area (acre)

Deoghar 8Chakrdharpur 6Hazaribag 2Ranchi 2Saraikela 1

Research papers – 3 No.Presentation in symposiums: 6 No

High density orcharding in Peach Kaghji Kalan Pomegranate Ber Kinnow Litchi

Fine-tuning canopy management strategies

Standardization of nutrient and water management strategies