Management Practices

This post is in continuation of our earlier post on Genetic Potential of a Cultivator part of our series on Low Productivity in Apple: Contributing factors in Himachal Pradesh

Management Practices

Planting density: The latest concept throughout the world is the optimum utilization of available space to achieve the maximum level of production per unit space by accommodating the maximum number of plants in a given area and harvesting maximum solar energy through photosynthesis. The apple orchards in HP, however, have been planted at a spacing of 20 to 25 ft accommodating 250 to 300 plants/ha. Such orchards have a long gestation period of fifteen to twenty years, resulting in low productivity.

The superiority of high density plantations in apples employing semi-dwarf rootstock have been demonstrated at the Regional Horticultural Research station, Mashobra, where the yield up to 70t/ha has been obtained in comparision to 4.5 to 6.5 mt/ha average yield in the state.

Therefore, it would be advisable to adopt high density plantation in suitable areas for improving apple productivity.

This post is part of our series on Low Productivity in Apple: Contributing factors in Himachal Pradesh. Entire series is coverted through following topics

1. Genetic potential of the cultivar
2. Management Practices
3. Pollination Problems
4. Inadequate Nutrition
5. Poor Canopy Management
6. Moisture Stress
7. Old and Senile Orchards
8. Environmental factors

Keep following for the further posts.