Canopy management in fruits

1. 1. Dr. Parshant Bakshi Associate Professor (Fruit Science) SKUAST - Jammu Canopy
Management in High Density Orchards of Temperate Regions SAMETI TRAINING ON
7TH of November 2013
2. 2. Steps of Canopy Architecture Management Applications of Canopy Architecture
Management Conclusion Introduction Objectives Principles of Canopy Management
3. 3. A series of operationsA series of operations on the above groundon the above ground
portion of the plant,portion of the plant, aiming towardsaiming towards maximized
productionmaximized production of quality fruits perof quality fruits per unit canopy
area.unit canopy area. Canopy Architecture ManagementCanopy Architecture
Management
4. 4. Appropriate canopy architecture managementAppropriate canopy architecture
management encompasses the development ofencompasses the development of •
Strong frame of primary branchesStrong frame of primary branches • Wider crotches in
scaffold branchesWider crotches in scaffold branches • Healthy and well distributed
secondary andHealthy and well distributed secondary and tertiary branchestertiary
branches • Sufficient fruiting terminals in most productiveSufficient fruiting terminals in
most productive areasareas • Healthy foliage with high photosyntheticHealthy foliage with
high photosynthetic efficiency to maximize the solar radiation useefficiency to maximize
the solar radiation use efficiencyefficiency • Enough space for air circulation inside
canopyEnough space for air circulation inside canopy Canopy Architecture
Management...Canopy Architecture Management...
5. 5. Inherent plant characteristicsInherent plant characteristics • Growth behaviorGrowth
behavior • Flushing patternFlushing pattern • Dormancy patternDormancy pattern •
Bearing behaviorBearing behavior
6. 6. Set of conditions and resourcesSet of conditions and resources • Planting
systemPlanting system • Spacing etc.Spacing etc. • Solar radiationSolar radiation • Wind
velocityWind velocity • Rainfall patternRainfall pattern • Light distributionLight distribution
7. 7. Principles of Canopy ArchitecturePrinciples of Canopy Architecture
ManagementManagement • Facilitating aeration inside the canopyFacilitating aeration
inside the canopy • Maximizing light penetration in andMaximizing light penetration in and
outside of canopyoutside of canopy • Facilitating conversion of sunlight intoFacilitating
conversion of sunlight into chemical energy by plant leafchemical energy by plant leaf •
Controlled plant structure includingControlled plant structure including staturestature •
ImprovedImproved fruit colour, quality andfruit colour, quality and yieldyield
8. 8. Understanding Architectural behavior of plantsUnderstanding Architectural behavior of
plants Before, going for canopy management,Before, going for canopy management,
understanding of plant nature and behaviour i.e.understanding of plant nature and
behaviour i.e. Plant architecture is essentialPlant architecture is essential
Because,Because, • The architecture of a plant depends on theThe architecture of a
plant depends on the nature and relative arrangement of its eachnature and relative
arrangement of its each part.part. • The expression of an equilibrium betweenThe
expression of an equilibrium between endogenous growth process and
exogenousendogenous growth process and exogenous constraints exerted by the
environmentconstraints exerted by the environment
9. 9. How to decide the course of action for CanopyHow to decide the course of action for
Canopy Architecture Management ?Architecture Management ? 1.1. Analysis of
architectural engineering aspects inAnalysis of architectural engineering aspects in plant,
such asplant, such as Angling of branchesAngling of branches Pattern of
branchingPattern of branching 2.2. Understanding the endogenousUnderstanding the
endogenous growth process likegrowth process like Flushing patternFlushing pattern
Action of growth hormonesAction of growth hormones 1.1. Understanding the level of
influence of environmentUnderstanding the level of influence of environment on
architecture at a point of time/ locationon architecture at a point of time/ location 2.2.
Objectives for which canopy is being managedObjectives for which canopy is being
managed
10. 10. Basic Objectives of Canopy ArchitectureBasic Objectives of Canopy Architecture
ManagementManagement • To restore root/ shootTo restore root/ shoot ratioratio • To
obtain specificTo obtain specific form of the plantform of the plant • To develop specificTo
develop specific geometry within thegeometry within the plant and its overallplant and its
overall topologytopology • To maintain optimumTo maintain optimum balance
betweenbalance between vegetative andvegetative and reproductive partsreproductive
parts
11. 11. Restoreroot/shootratioRestoreroot/shootratio Few Considerations for Canopy
managementFew Considerations for Canopy management • Plants respondPlants
respond differentially indifferentially in different environmentdifferent environment •
Development ofDevelopment of shoot and rootshoot and root system in the plantsystem
in the plant has symbiotichas symbiotic relationshiprelationship
12. 12. Few Considerations for Canopy managementFew Considerations for Canopy
management • WeakWeak crotches incrotches in the branchesthe branches and
directionand direction of theof the branches canbranches can be correctedbe corrected
by unequalby unequal cuttingscuttings Schematicdiagramofangling
ofbranchesandformationof widercrotches
13. 13. Few Considerations for Canopy managementFew Considerations for Canopy
management • Pruning is a dwarfing processPruning is a dwarfing process • Vegetative
growth and fruiting/yield haveVegetative growth and fruiting/yield have antagonistic
effectsantagonistic effects • Apical dominance is a natural phenomenonApical dominance
is a natural phenomenon Pruning forPruning for dwarfing anddwarfing and
promotionpromotion maximum shoots/maximum shoots/ fruitingfruiting pointspoints
14. 14. Plant architecture development by PruningPlant architecture development by Pruning
15. 15. Few Considerations for Canopy managementFew Considerations for Canopy
management  Vigour of shoots varies inversely with theirVigour of shoots varies
inversely with their number and crop loadnumber and crop load  Fruit quality is affected
by heavy croppingFruit quality is affected by heavy cropping  Pruning effects are
localizedPruning effects are localized Growthstimulationinthe budnexttocut
PruningPruning effects areeffects are localizedlocalized
16. 16. Few Considerations for Canopy managementFew Considerations for Canopy
management By cutting outside (1,2) or inside buds (3), the trees can be made to spread
or grow compact
17. 17. Few Considerations for Canopy managementFew Considerations for Canopy
management  Young shootsYoung shoots afford theafford the best materialbest
material for blossomfor blossom budbud formationformation  Removal ofRemoval of
shoot resultsshoot results in loss ofin loss of accumulatedaccumulated
carbohydratecarbohydrate
18. 18. Steps of Canopy managementSteps of Canopy management • Selecting appropriate
plantingSelecting appropriate planting systemsystem • Initial frame developmentInitial
frame development • Training the plants with open centreTraining the plants with open
centre • Centre opening of grownup treesCentre opening of grownup trees • Allow the
canopy to growAllow the canopy to grow horizontallyhorizontally • Pruning of the shoots
andPruning of the shoots and excessive growthexcessive growth
19. 19. 1. Planting System1. Planting System Major advances inMajor advances in planting
system areplanting system are •Square system withSquare system with high density
plantinghigh density planting •Rectangular systemRectangular system with high
densitywith high density plantingplanting •Double hedge rowDouble hedge row •Single
canopy withSingle canopy with multiple root systemmultiple root system
20. 20. Planting SystemPlanting System Square system Single hedgerow Double hedgerow
Rectangle system
21. 21. View of single row system of planting in appleView of single row system of planting in
apple
22. 22. 2. Frame Development2. Frame Development a)a) Removing weakRemoving weak
crotchescrotches b) Tip pruning ofb) Tip pruning of long branches /long branches /
breaking apicalbreaking apical dominance todominance to facilitate lateralsfacilitate
 laterals Process for frame development in subtropical fruits areProcess for frame
development in subtropical fruits are
23. 23. 3. Developing open centre frame work in3. Developing open centre frame work in
AppleApple 1 2
24. 24. Considerations for Frame DevelopmentConsiderations for Frame Development A.
Use Braces to support split branches and wood blocks toA. Use Braces to support split
branches and wood blocks to increase crotches while making the tree frame in
subtropical fruitsincrease crotches while making the tree frame in subtropical fruits
25. 25. B. Regulate the number and location of main scaffold limbs forB. Regulate the
number and location of main scaffold limbs for better canopybetter canopy
26. 26. Schematic diagram of training system in fruitsSchematic diagram of training system
in fruits A. Central leader B. Open centre
27. 27. Schematic diagram of training system…..Schematic diagram of training system….. C.
Modified centre
28. 28. 4. Centre opening of grown up trees4. Centre opening of grown up trees To have
sterio fruiting through Centre opening inTo have sterio fruiting through Centre opening in
evergreen fruit plantsevergreen fruit plants Considerations,Considerations, •Long
unfruitful branches due to overcrowding of centreLong unfruitful branches due to
overcrowding of centre •Heavy incidence of pest and diseaseHeavy incidence of pest
and disease •More economical fruit yield from 2/3More economical fruit yield from 2/3rdrd
lower canopylower canopy MethodMethod •Removal of upright branches from centre of
treeRemoval of upright branches from centre of tree ImpactImpact •Emergence of higher
number of healthy shoots inside theEmergence of higher number of healthy shoots inside
the canopycanopy •More panicle and fruit set inside the canopyMore panicle and fruit set
inside the canopy
29. 29. 5. Pruning of shoots and fruits5. Pruning of shoots and fruits Pruning is judicious
removal of plant parts to maintain optimum balance between vegetative and reproductive
growth for enhanced productivity and fruit quality.
30. 30. Considerations for pruningConsiderations for pruning • PurposePurpose • TimeTime •
SeveritySeverity • MethodsMethods
31. 31. Types of pruningTypes of pruning 1.1. Thinning outThinning out 2.2. Heading
backHeading back
32. 32.  Restrain the exuberant vegetative growth of temperate crop trees to manageable
sizes and forms thereby to achieve optimum production. Regain overgrown, older
orchard  Stimulate flowering of new plantings Increase productivity of orchard 
Increase air circulation in the orchard, which lowers losses associated with diseases.
Pruning: An important tool in temperatePruning: An important tool in temperate fruit
productionfruit production
33. 33. Pruning in apple treePruning in apple tree
34. 34. High Density planting in appleHigh Density planting in apple High density planting
(HDP) means to increase the plant population per unit area for increasing the production
of fruit crops.  Semi-intensive system with 500-1,000 trees/ha,  Intensive system
accommodating 1,000 to 10,000 trees/ha  Super-intensive system accommodating
10,000 to 1,00,000 per ha.
35. 35.  Use of dwarf scion varieties;  Adopting dwarfing rootstocks and inter-stocks; 
Efficient training and pruning,  Use of plant growth regulating chemicals; and  Suitable
crop management practices. Components of HDPComponents of HDP  Best Utilization
of land and resources;  Quality production of fruit crops;  Increase in yield per unit
area,  Easy for intercultural, plant protection and harvesting  Obtain export quality of
the harvest. Advantages of HDPAdvantages of HDP
36. 36. HDP in AppleHDP in Apple There are 4 categories of HDP in apple  Low (less than
250 plants/ha),  Moderate (250 to 500 plants/ha),  High (500 to 1,250 plants/ha) and 
Ultra-high (more than 1,250 plants/ha) density. - Super high-density plantings or meadow
orcharding (20,000 to 70,000 plants/ha) Commonly used dwarfing/semi-dwarfing
rootstocks for HDP: M9, M26, M4, M7 and MM106 Meadow orchards: M27 Spur types:
MM106 and MM109 for and M7 and Non-spur types: MM111 For J&K: MM106
37. 37. Starkrimson, Red Spur, Gold Spur, Well Spur, Oregon Spur, Silver Spur, Red Chief,
Bright ‘N’ Early, Royal Gala and Red Fuji  Spindle bush,  Dwarf pyramid,  Espalier, 
Cordon,  Palmette and  Noored Holland Spindle bush Promising spur varieties
Training systems
38. 38. Peach  Bears fruit on one-year-old shoots, which require regular annual pruning to
make them suitable for high- density orcharding.  High density in peach has been tried
with planting varying from 930 to 2,050 trees per hectare yielding 13 to 34 t/ha. 
Training systems used viz., Hedge row, Y-shape trellis, spindle, modified free spindle and
modified leader. Pear  In pear systems hedge row system gives a plant density of 888
plants/ha and causes significant increase in yields.
39. 39. Creation and utilization of space in orchard crop through tree architecture
management
40. 40. Tree architecture of Apple Orchard at CITH, Srinagar
41. 41. Frontier considerations of canopy managementFrontier considerations of canopy
management • Conservation of stored food • Maintaining root : shoot : fruit by pinching
rather pruning. • Pruning time and severity. • Provision of more light and air inside the
canopy for stereo fruiting. • Single canopy with multiple root system concept. • Boosting
up of economical canopy formation. • Exploring the possibilities of mechanization in
pruning
42. 42. Canopy management is therefore, an essential tree management operation starts
from the first year of plant establishment and enables the plant to produce/yield high
quality and quantity by providing proper framework and more fruiting / yielding area.