What is pruning and why is it done?
Pruning is cutting of branches for following reasons:-
1. Initiating flowers for next season.
2. Removing weak, diseased and criss-cross branches.
3. Canopy management.
4. Better root growth.
5. Make branches more strong. So more number of fruits can be taken per plant.
Pruning can be of how many types?
Pruning is of two types:
1. Hard pruning: In this type of pruning branches of thumb or more thickness (Secondary and tertiary) are cut. This is done to control the vegetative growth of the plant. By doing this flowers will be delayed (i.e., 4-5 months after hard pruning). It is done in winters after harvesting.
2. Light pruning: In this type of pruning branches of pencil thickness (Tertiary and branches coming out of tertiary) are half cut. This initiates flowering for next season (i.e., after 2 months of light pruning). Branches having thickness less than of pencil and growing inwards are also removed.
Materials required:
- Secateur
- Saw (in hard pruning)
- Bordeaux mixture (fungicide)
How to do pruning?
1. After harvesting is completed, cut the pencil thick branches into half. Height of plant is kept 5 ft in pruning.
2. Once all pencil thick branches are half cut, now check for branches that are growing inward or towards other branch. Then remove these.
3. In hard pruning, we cut the branches of thumb thickness or more.
4. After pruning is done, collect all the cut twigs and dispose them out of the orchard.
5. Apply Bordeaux mixture on cut surface or spray copper oxy chloride @ 2gms/lit after pruning to prevent any fungal infection.
DOs and DONTs:
DOs >Always use sharp secateurs and saw for cutting branches.
DONTs >Do not use blunt implements for cutting branches.
DOs >Disinfect the implements regularly with ethanol.
DONTs >Do not use implements having fungal or bacterial infections.
DOs > Collect and dispose all plant debris after pruning.
DONTs >Do not allow cut branches and debris to remain in orchard after pruning.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q – After how many months of light pruning will I get the fruits?
Answer: Fruit/flower initiation after pruning depends upon various factors like- temperature, water availability, nutrients given etc. Generally it takes 150-180 days from light pruning to harvesting. In case of winters this may be delayed.
Q – What will happen if I did hard pruning for taking fruits in next season?
Answer: In hard pruning, flowering will come after 4-5 months. So if farmer wants to initiate flowering after 2-3 months, he must do light pruning.
Q – What if I did hard pruning in summers?
Answer: Hard pruning should be avoided when temperature is above 40 degrees and water availability is erratic. Hard pruning in hot summer months may cause sun-burning in stem which will ultimately affect general health of the plant.
Q – Do I need to give FYM after pruning to plants?
Answer: After pruning each plant must get 10-15 kg FYM. This increases water holding capacity of soil and fertilizer use efficiency.
