In this article we will discuss about some important points that should be kept in mind while planting new orchards, mainly in Punjab.
1. Suitable Soil for Orchard Plantation:
The soil for growing fruit plants should be deep, well-drained, loamy and fertile without hard pan up to two meters of the depth of soil. Water logged, marshy, saline or acidic soils are not fit for fruit cultivation.
2. Water:
Water table should be below three meters and not fluctuating.
3. Method of Planting:
Proper planning is must before the actual plantation of new orchard. The roads, water channels and paths should be constructed within the orchard before planting. One meter deep pits of one meter diameter should be dug. The pits should be left exposed to sun for few days before actual planting. Refill the pits with a mixture of half of the top soil and well rotten farmyard manure and should be watered a few days before planting. To protect the fruit trees from the termite attack, mix 15 ml Chloropyriphos 20 EC in 2.5 kg soil per pit.
4. Improved Cultivars:
The life cycle of fruit trees is different from field crops as these take only six months to complete their life cycle. But fruit crops are a long term investment. Therefore one should plan a new orchard with utmost attention and care.
Selection of unhealthy and poor quality plant material reduces the profitability of the farmer and it comes into his notice after 3-4 years of the plantation when the fruit trees come into bearing stage. That’s why it is recommended that one should go for the plantation of improved varieties under the technical guidance of the experts.
5. Planting Distance and Number of Plants Per Acre:
Optimum spacing regulates the proper utilization of sunlight, avoids competition in uptake of nutrients and facilitates proper irrigation so that the fruit trees may grow and bear properly. That’s why, the fruit trees should be planted at optimum planting density as recommended by PAU, Ludhiana.
6. Planting Systems:
i. Square System:
In Square system, plant to plant and row to row distance is the same. The plants are at right angle to each other and every unit of four plants form a square. The farmers of Punjab prefer this system as it facilitates the inter-culture in two directions after the orchard is planted. The orchards remain productive for a long time and intercropping is also feasible during the initial years of plantation.
ii. Quincunx/Filler System:
Some of the fruit trees like Mango, Litchi, and Pear come into very late bearing. In such orchards, additional income can be generated by the plantation of filler trees. The filler is uprooted when the permanent trees come into bearing.
iii. Hexagonal System:
In this system, the trees are planted in each corner of an equilateral triangle. This system accommodates 15 per cent more trees per unit area than the square system. In this system, pruning should be done very carefully as the trees have a tendency to overcrowd after a few years.
7. Selection of Nursery Plants:
Selection of fruit seedlings from the nursery is the most important point to be kept in mind while plantation of new orchards. Healthy, vigorous, free from diseases and insect-pests and of known pedigree should be obtained from the reliable nursery preferably from PAU, Ludhiana, and State Horticulture Department or from government approved nurseries.
The plants should be of medium budded or grafted on suitable rootstocks. The bud union should be smooth. Evergreen plants should be lifted with well sized earthen balls. Tying material should be removed from the bud/graft union before transplanting. Purchase 10 per cent more plants than the actual requirement to fill up the gaps.
8. Use of Fertilizers:
Balanced application of fertilizers is very important to get the maximum profit from the fruit trees. The vegetative growth of fruit trees takes place mostly in the month of February to April. The availability of nutrients should be optimum at this time. Organic manures such as FYM should be applied 2-3 months before the initiation of new growth.
However, the nitrogenous fertilizers (Urea) should be applied generally in two split doses, first half to be applied before growth/flowering and the second half should be applied after fruit set. Phosphorous should be applied along with the first dose of nitrogen.
Potash should be applied 4-5 months before the ripening of the fruits to improve the quality of the fruits. Macronutrients such as Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potash should be applied through broadcasting. Micronutrients should be applied as foliar sprays only on the appearance of deficiency symptoms on the plants.
9. Irrigation:
The young plants up to the age of three to four years should be irrigated at weekly intervals from March to June, after 2-3 weeks interval from November to February and from July to November depending upon the climate, rainfall and type of soil. Irrigation is crucial before sprouting, after fruit set and in the hot weather, otherwise the growth of bearing trees may be adversely affected resulting in the excessive shedding of flowers/ fruits.
10. Training and Pruning:
The fruit plants should be trained to an appropriate system during the initial years of plantation to give them a particular shape and size. Training of the fruit trees should be done in such a manner that sufficient light and air get penetrated inside the foliage to enhance the quality of fruits and such trees are also capable of bearing heavy crops over the years.
The training of deciduous fruit trees such as Grapes, Pear, Peach and Plum should be completed in initial 4-5 years of the planting. Pruning is desired to remove the non-productive parts, diseased, dried, crisscrossed and broken branches and to regulate the fruit crop of good quality and productivity.
11. Harvesting of Fruits:
To minimize the post-harvest losses, the harvesting of the fruits should be based on certain maturity indices. There are certain fruits those can be ripened even after harvesting such as Mango, banana, plum but the grapes, litchi etc. cannot be ripened after harvesting of the fruits. That’s why, harvesting of the fruits should be done at different timings depending upon the varying maturity indices.
The fruits should not be pulled from the branches during harvesting. It will lead to rupturing of the fruit skin from the stem end and breakage of the branches. The harvested fruits should be graded into 3-4 sizes. Do not pack the immature, over ripe, small, soft and bruised fruits.
Fruits are nature’s gift to mankind. These are not only delicious and refreshing, but also the major source of vitamins, minerals and proteins. In Punjab, the fruit trees occupy an area of 76,500 ha.
According to the varying climatic conditions of Punjab, It can be divided into three distinct zones as given below:
1. Sub-mountainous Zone
2. Central Zone
3. Arid-irrigated Zone
1. Sub-Mountainous Zone:
It comprises the districts of Roopnagar, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, SBS Nagar, Gurdaspur, SAS Nagar (Mohali) and union territory of Chandigarh. Mango, Litchi, Kinnow and other mandarins, Lemon, Pear, Guava, Peach, Plum, Sapota and Amla are the recommended fruits for cultivation in this zone.
2. Central Zone:
Amritsar, Taran taran, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Barnala, Sangrur, Patiala, Moga, Fatehgarh Sahib are the main districts. Pear, Guava, Grapes, Peach, Mango, Kinnow and other mandarins and lemon are the recommended fruits for cultivation in this zone.
3. Arid-Irrigated Zone:
Bathinda, Faridkot, Sri Mukatsar Sahib, Mansa, Ferozepur and Fazilka are the main districts. Kinnow and other mandarins, malta, lemon, guava, grapes and ber are the recommended fruits for cultivation in this zone.
Season for Planting:
The fruit trees can be divided into two categories according to the plantation time:
1. Evergreen Fruit Plants:
Evergreen fruit plants such as citrus, mango, litchi, guava, loquat, and sapota should preferably be planted during February- March and September- October.
2. Deciduous Fruit Plants:
The deciduous fruit plants such as pear, grapes, peach, plum etc. should be planted during winter when they are dormant. Their planting must be completed up to middle of January in Peach & Plum and up to mid-February in Pear and grapes.