Res. Environ. Life Sci. 9(7) (2016)

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1 Bagri et al RELS ISSN: Res. Environ. Life Sci. 9(7) (2016) cv. Sardar under high density planting R.K. Mahesh*, Praveen Jholgiker, Mamatha N.P, Ravi, P., Shivanand, M.R. and Kallappa, S.N. Department of Fruit Science, Kittur Rani Chennamma College of Horticulture, Arabhavi, UHS, Bagalkot, India * (Received: November 09, 2015; Revised received: May 02, 2016; Accepted: May 06, 2016) Abstract: Effect of different pruning on growth, yield and guava cv. Sardar, during the year was observed at Department of Fruit Science, Kittur Rani Channamma College of Horticulture, Arabhavi, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot. Maximum number of secondary and tertiary branches were recorded in (pruning performed during first week of April - first week of August - first week of December), whereas highest N-S (North-South) canopy spread was recorded in (pruning performed during first week of May - first week of September - first week of January) after III pruning cycle. Among different pruning level (plants pruned with 25 per cent of shoot growth) recorded higher values for plant height, N-S and E-W (East-West) canopy spread. also give good result with respect to vegetative growth. Among the pruning levels maximum yield tons per ha was recorded in L (plants pruned 1 with 25 per cent shoot growth) and in interactions (plants pruned with 25 per cent shoot growth during third week of April - third week of August - third week of December) recorded maximum yield per ha. Key words: High density planting (HDP), Guava, Pruning, Growth, Yield. Introduction Pruning is one of the horticultural practices followed in decidious and temperate fruit crops like apple, pear, peach, plum and in the sub-tropical fruits such as grape, fig, pomegranate and phalsa to bring a balance between vegetative and reproductive functions of the plant (Singh and Bal, 2007). The success of high density planting depends on proper management of plant architecture. Plants of guava oriented in N-S direction with E-W spread of trees have a greater bearing on the fruit yield (Anon, 1986). High density orcharding system is a very intensive form of fruit production with great relevance to the food and nutritional prosperity of the ever increasing human population. There are several advantages of high density planting such as early production, high returns per ha, efficient use of fertilizers and irrigation water (Purohit, 1988). Proper canopy management is essential to avoid competition for light under high density planting and to achieve higher productivity. Training guava to open up the canopy and provide strong frame work and scaffold of branches suitable for bearing heavy crop is found to improve yield and fruit quality (Tiwari et al., 1992). Guava is very amenable to regulation of canopy size by pruning as the flower and fruits are borne in the axils of leaves on current seasons shoots. A better understanding of the effects of pruning on crop performance under tropics is required (Singh et al., 2005). The pruning of guava has not received much attention, this may be due to the fact that a reasonable crop load is achieved without pruning practices. But to achieve high productivity with excellent quality of the fruits, it is necessary to adopt the advance methods of pruning with utmost care. The system of high density planting (HDP) and meadow orcharding in guava has been perfected for sub-tropical conditions of North Indian plains (Singh, 2008). However the technology of HDP needs to be tested and fine tuned to the regions of its cultivation under tropical ecosystem of South India including guava growing areas of Karnataka. Therefore the present research was conceived. Material and Methods The present investigation was carried out at Kittur Rani Channamma College of Horticulture, Arabhavi (University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot), Gokak taluk of Belgaum district, Karnataka during Arabhavi is situated in northern dry tract of Karnataka State at 16 15' north latitude and 74 45' east longitude and at an altitude of m above the mean sea level. Arabhavi lies in zone-3 of region-2 of agro-climatic zones of Karnataka and is considered to have the benefit of both South-West and North-East monsoons. The average rainfall of this area is 530 mm distributed over a period of five to six months (May to October) with peak rainfall during September. In present investigation three different time and level of pruning were used in high density planting orchard (spacing 2x1 m) and observations on growth, yield and Research in Environment and Life Sciences 849 July, 2016

2 quality were recorded at monthly interval in randomly selected uniform healthy plants which were labeled.the different time and level of pruning were used are given below - Treatment I Pruning II Pruning III Pruning First week of April First week of Aug. First week of Dec. Third week of April Third week of Aug. Third week of Dec. First week of May First week of Sept. First week of Jan. Pruning of 25% of length of shoot growth Pruning of 50% of length of shoot growth Pruning of 75% of length of shoot growth The experiment was conducted in two factorial randomized block design (RBD). The data recorded on various characters were subjected to Fisher s method of analysis of variance and interpretation was done as given by Panse and Sukhatme (1967). The level of significance used in F and t test was p = Critical difference (CD) was calculated whenever the F test was significant. Results and Discussion Investigation were carried out in the present study to find out optimum time and level of pruning to realize high yields in guava cv. Sardar under high density planting system by considering growth and flowering behavior of crop under Arabhavi conditions. The interpretation of result pertaining to growth habit revealed non significant effect for time of pruning on plant height Table-1: Effect of different time and level of pruning on plant height (m) in guava cv. Sardar under high density planting S. Em± S. Em± C. D. at 5% NS NS S. Em± C. D. at 5% NS NS 0.20 NS C.V. (%) Research in Environment and Life Sciences 850 July, 2016 recorded at different cycles of pruning (Table-1). Whereas at later stages of growth, plants pruned at 25 per cent of shoot growth recorded maximum plant height. Interaction revealed maximum plant height in plants under (pruning of 25% shoot growth during third week of April - third week of August - third week of December) treatment after II and III cycle of pruning indicating that plants pruned less (25%) irrespective of season of pruning produced more height compared to severe pruning (50 and 75% of shoot growth) indicating that severe pruning some times delays growth. Similar views were reported by Singh et al. (2007), Singh and Chanana (2005) in guava. Lal et al. (2000) in mango. Proper control of vegetative growth is a pre requisite for high density planting and without it there is overcrowding and inefficient light utilization, reduced flower bud formation and fruit setting (Singh, 2011). A balanced canopy architecture promoting more number of productive shoots should be the aim of canopy management under high density planting. In present investigation efforts were made to identify correct sequence of time at which the guava plants have to be pruned and identifying correct level of pruning to strike a balance between vegetative and reproductive phase in guava cv. Sardar. The results of effect of time and level of pruning on number of secondary shoots revealed that the trait of number of shoots per plant was not influenced by level of pruning. However the time of pruning showed its effect during II and III cycle of pruning. Maximum number of secondary Table-2: Effect of different time and level of pruning on number of secondary branches in guava cv. Sardar under high density planting S. Em± C. D. at 5% NS NS S. Em± S. Em± C. D. at 5% NS NS C.V. (%)

3 Table-3: Effect of different time and level of pruning on number of tertiary branches in guava cv. Sardar under high density planting S. Em± C. D. at 5% S. Em± S. Em± C. D. at 5% NS NS 5.41 NS C.V. (%) shoots was noticed in shoots pruned in first week of May, September and January. Interaction suggested that plants pruned by 25 per cent of shoot length during first week of May, September and January registered maximum secondary shoots (Table-2). The bearing potential of guava plants depends on the availability of more number of fruiting shoots (Singh, 2011; Shahan and Haseeb, 2009; Dhaliwal and Kaur, 2003). The results of number of tertiary branches per plant as influenced by different level of pruning revealed non significant differences. Whereas the plants which were pruned in first week of April, August and December produced significantly higher number of tertiary shoots (23.39, 24.67, 26.19, 29.36, and 34.94) after I, II and III cycles of pruning. The interaction suggested that plants under treatment (removing of 75% shoot growth during first week of April - first week of August - first week of December) produced maximum number of tertiary shoots (27.75 and 30.97) and (34.17 and 35.33) after II and III cycle of pruning. This was found on par with,,, and respectively. Higher number of tertiary shoots in may be attributed to severity of pruning early in the summer (April) and further during August and December might have encouraged more vegetative growth by activating more number of later buds in the growing shoots (Table 3). These findings have similarity with reports of Gupta and Godara (1989) in ber who observed increased vegetative growth in plants was pruned in 30 Table-4: Effect of different time and level of pruning in North South direction of guava cv. Sardar under high density planting S. Em± C. D. at 5% NS NS NS S. Em± C. D. at 5% NS 0.09 NS NS NS S. Em± C. D. at 5% NS 0.16 NS C.V. (%) May under Hissar condition, this shows the importance of climatic condition on pruning. Sundararajan and Muthuswamy (1963) indicated that, in different spacing of guava pruning by tipping increased the number of functionary laterals in guava. The analyses of data shows no significant differences for canopy spread (N-S) as influenced by time of pruning at both 30 and 60 DAP after I pruning cycle and 30 DAP in II pruning cycle. In III pruning cycle maximum North-South canopy spread of 1.42 and 1.45 m was recorded in 30 DAP and 60 DAP in the treatment (Table 4). However non significant difference was noted for level of pruning during most of growth stages. Higher North-South canopy spread (1.41 m) was recorded in during III pruning cycle. Interaction pointed out maximum canopy spread in II and III cycle of pruning in plants pruned at 25 per cent shoot growth during first week of May, September and January respectively. Higher values in this treatment may be attributed to mild pruning (25%) initiated towards the end of summer with plants getting sufficient period of rest followed by pruning and irrigation resulting in profuse growth. These findings corroborate with views of Sundarajan and Muthuswamy (1963) who opined that mild pruning by tipping increased more number of functionary laterals in guava. Similar results were also found by Ansari et al. (2011) in citrus species, Lal et al. (2000) in mango (Singh and Chanana, 2005) and Sundararaj et al. (1969) in guava. The data related to canopy spread in East- Research in Environment and Life Sciences 851 July, 2016

4 Table-5: Effect of different time and level of pruning in East - West direction of guava cv. Sardar under high density planting S. Em± S. Em± C. D. at 5% NS NS NS S. Em± C.V. (%) West direction for time of pruning highlighted non significant differences. While the effect of level of pruning showed effect on canopy spread (E-W) recording higher values in plants pruned by 25 per cent of shoot growth during II and III cycles of pruning (Table 5). However interaction showed non significant effect on canopy spread. This might be due to light pruning in those plants. Similar results were reported by Ansari et al. (2011) in citrus species. Time of pruning had no significant effect on number of flowers per plant, number of fruit set per plant and per cent fruit set. Among the pruning levels highest numbers of flowers per plant (43.48), number of fruit set per plant (39.78) and per cent fruit set (91.10%) was recorded in. Among interaction on time and pruning levels no significant variation was found with respect to numbers of flowers per plant. Maximum number of fruit set per plant (48.40) and per cent fruit set (94.33%) were recorded in which was on par with T L (Table 6) It might be due to light 1 1. pruning increased the reproductive growth compared to severe pruning and severely pruned plants gave rise to more vegetative growth. Sundarajan and Muthuswamy (1966) reported that shoots flowered earlier by 3-28 days in pruned plants, than in the unpruned plants of guava, and also pruning increased the number of flowers and fruits per shoot in guava. There is no significant variation found in number of fruits harvested per plant, yield kg per plant, yield kg per plot and yield tons per ha as influenced by Research in Environment and Life Sciences 852 Table-6: Effect of different time and level of pruning on flowering parameters during mrig bahar in guava cv. Sardar under high density planting Treatments Number of Number of fruit Percent flowers /plant set /plant fruit set S. Em± C. D. at 5% NS NS NS S. Em± C. D. at 5% S. Em± C. D. at 5% NS C.V. (%) time of pruning. Among the pruning levels maximum number of fruits harvested per plant (37.22), yield kg per plant (7.54 kg), yield kg per plot (30.88 kg) and yield tons per ha (37.68) were, recorded in (pruning of 25% shoot growth) which was closely followed by. Among interactions significant variation was found with respect to number of fruits harvested per plant, yield kg per plant, yield kg per plot and yield tons per ha. However maximum number of fruits harvested per plant (45.92), yield kg per plant (9.18 kg), yield kg per plot (40.22 kg) and yield tons per ha (45.89) was recorded in (Pruning of 25% shoot growth during third week of April - August - December) which was found on par with, (Table 7). High yielding behavior in plants under may be due to light pruning employed in the plants under treatment which might have increased the number of potential flowering and fruiting shoots in the plant canopy. These plants also recorded higher values for number of flowers per plant, per cent fruit set and number of fruits per plant respectively. Significantly high flowering and yield realization in plants under is due to a balance in the plant canopy architecture in these plants with higher values for plant height, moderate values for canopy spread in North- South and East-West direction. The plants under were pruned in third week of April - August - December which might have also helped in inducing flowering during its peak natural blooming period under Arabhavi conditions. July, 2016

5 Table-7: Effect of different time and level of pruning on yield of guava cv. Sardar under high density planting Number of Treatments fruits harvested Kg/plant Kg/plot Tons/ha /plant S. Em± C. D. at 5% NS NS NS NS S. Em± C. D. at 5% S. Em± C. D. at 5% C.V. (%) Plants pruned at 25 per cent of shoot growth recorded maximum plant height. Interaction revealed maximum plant height in plants under (pruning of 25% shoot growth during third week of April - third week of August - third week of December) treatment after II and III cycle of pruning indicating that plants pruned less (25%) irrespective of season of pruning produced more height compared to severe pruning (50 and 75% of shoot growth) indicating that severe pruning sometimes delays growth. Similar views were reported by Singh et al. (2007), Singh and Chanana (2005) in guava. Lal et al. (2000) in mango. Time of pruning had no significant effect on number of flowers per plant, number of fruit set per plant and per cent fruit set. Among the pruning levels highest numbers of flowers per plant (43.48), number of fruit set per plant (39.78) and per cent fruit set (91.10%) was recorded in. Among interaction on time and pruning levels no significant variation was found with respect to numbers of flowers per plant. Maximum number of fruit set per plant (48.40) and per cent fruit set (94.33%) were recorded in which was on par with T L. It might be due to light pruning increased the reproductive 1 1 growth compared to severe pruning and severely pruned plants gave rise to more vegetative growth. Similar results were also given by Dhaliwal and Sandhu (1982) in guava. Among the pruning levels maximum number of fruits harvested per plant (37.22), yield kg per plant (7.54 kg), yield kg per plot (30.88 kg) and yield tons per ha (37.68) were, recorded in (pruning of 25% shoot growth) which was closely followed by. However maximum number of fruits harvested per plant (45.92), yield kg per plant (9.18 kg), yield kg per plot (40.22 kg) and yield tons per ha (45.89) was recorded in (Pruning of 25% shoot growth during third week of April - August - December). References Anonymous: Guava cultivation extension bulletin No. 20, IIHR, Bangalore, India, pp. 8 (1986). Ansari, A.M., Sha, A. and Ahmed, E.: Studies on rejuvenation of poor bearing citrus plants. Prog. Agric., 11: (2011). Chada, G.D.: Studies on the effects of pruning in certain verities of guava (Psidium guajava L.). Madras Agric. J., 34: (1969). Dhaliwal, G.S. and Sandu, I.P.S.: Effect of pruning on vegetative growth, flowering and fruit set in ber (Zizypus mouritiana Lam.). Haryana J. Hort., 11: (1982). Gupta, R.B. and Godar, N.R.: Effect of pruning severity on growth, quality and yield of ber (Zizypus mouritiana Lam.) cv. Umran. Prog. Hort., 21: (1989). Lal, B., Rajput, M.S., Rajan, S. and Rathore, D.S.: Effect of pruning on rejuvenation of old mango trees. Indian J. Hort., 57: (2000). Panse, V.G., and Sukhatme, P.V.: Statistical methods for agricultural workers, ICAR, New Delhi, p (1967). Purohit, A.G.: High density planting of fruit trees A review, definition, concepts and effect on utilization of resources, tree growth and yield. J. Maharashtra Agric Univ., 13: (1988). Sahan, A.E.A. and Haseeb, G.M.M.: Effect of pruning severity some chemical substances on growth and fruiting of guava trees. American- Eurasian J. Agric. Environ. Sci., 5: (2009). Singh, A., Dhaliwal, G.S. and Hundal, S.S.: Effect of planting distance on radiation interception behavior of guava (Psidium guajava L.). J. Agromet., 7: (2005). Singh, G. and Chanana, Y.R.: Influence of pruning intensity and pruning frequency on vegetative and reproductive attributes in guava cv. L- 49 Abstract : 1 st Inter Guava Symp, CISH, Lucknow. pp. 52 (2005). Singh, G.: Approaches in high density planting of guava (Psidium guajava L.). Acta Hort., 780: (2008). Singh, G.: Application of canopy architecture in high density planting in guava. Prog. Hort., 43: (2011). Singh, H.J. and Bal, J.S.: Effect of pruning and growth regulators on vegetative and fruiting characters of guava planted at different spacing. Haryana J. Hort. Sci., 36: (2007). Sundararajan: Effect of notching of buds and pruning of shoots on growth and productivity in Ficucs carcia. Ind. J. Hort., 26: (1969). Research in Environment and Life Sciences 853 July, 2016