Queries addressed  through farmer-scientist interaction

A one-day field visit of farmers from various clusters under the Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Project (HP-HDP) was held at the high-density apple plantations of Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni. The main aim of the event was to apprise the farmers of the benefits of high-density apple plantations and their management.

Over 100 farmers from different clusters in Shimla, Sirmour, Mandi, Kullu, Kinnuar and Chamba chosen by the Project Control Unit of the HP HDP and officers of the Horticulture Department took part in the event. This event was organised by the Department of Fruit Science of the university. The idea behind the event was to apprise and address the queries of farmers who are raising high-density apple plantations under this project. 

Dr Parvinder Kaushal, Vice Chancellor of the University was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Dr JN Sharma, Director Research and Nodal Officer of the HP HDP at the University, Dr JS Chandel, Professor and Head, Department of Fruit Science, all the statutory officers and heads of department also took part in the occasion. 

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Kaushal said that the university has always been at the forefront of providing the latest knowhow to the farmers. He said that the research on high-density apple plantations at different altitudes is an effort to provide the apple growers the technical knowhow so that they can benefit from increased production through this modern technology.

The university raised the plantations in the year 2016 keeping in view the importance of high-density plantations in fruit crops in general and apple in particular. Various varieties being studied are Jeromine, Red Velox, Red Cap Valtod, Scarlet Spur-II, Super Chief, Gale Gala, Redlum Gala and Auvil Early Fuji grafted on M9 and MM106 rootstocks. The university has been studying the performance of various varieties on different rootstocks namely M9 and MM106. The plant spacing i.e. 2.5 X 0.75 m (5333 plants/ha), 2.5 X 1.0 m (4000/plants/ha) and 2.5 X 1.5 m (2666 plants/ha) and training systems viz., Vertical Axis, Slender Spindle and Tall Spindle are being tested. 

“The University’s Department of Fruit Science has been conducting trials for development of Packages of Practices on high-density apple plantations under the World Bank funded HP HDP. The trials are being conducted in different agro climatic conditions at various research stations of the University including the main campus at Nauni to identify the suitable varieties and rootstocks along with ideal plant spacing and canopy management techniques and the results will be shared with the growers in the future,” said Dr Kaushal.

 During the field visit, the scientists of the Department of Fruit Science apprised the farmers about the various important aspects of high-density plantations, which can enable them to get best yield. A farmer scientist interaction was also held where all the queries of the farmers were addressed.

 What is high density plantations

High-density planting refer to the planting of higher number of plants per unit area than the convention system of plantings. Conventionally, standard apple plants raised on seedling rootstocks are planted at a spacing of 7.5 X 7.5 m with a planting density of 178 trees/ha and spur varieties on seedling rootstocks are planted at a spacing of 5.0 X 5.0 m with a planting density of 400 plants/ha. The average productivity of these orchards is approximately 6 to 8 MT/ ha, which is much below the productivity obtained in high-density orchards (40-60 MT/ ha).

In high density planting, apple plants on clonal rootstocks can be planted at 5333 plants/ha to increase the production per unit area basis and improves the quality of the produce. With the increasing pressure on land and reduction in average land holdings, shifting from low density planting systems to high density planting systems is need of the hour, as the trees in high density are more precocious, heavy yielders and produce better quality fruits. High-density orcharding can be done on flat and fertile lands with assured irrigation using dwarf/semi dwarf clonal rootstocks which can be trained to modern methods of canopy management viz., vertical axis, slender spindle and tall spindle etc. The technology is helpful in best utilization of land and resources and ease in orchard inter-culture operations, plant protection as well as harvesting and to obtain export quality of the produce.

Canopy management has paramount importance in high density planting to control vigour of the trees and harvest quality fruits. Training and pruning are two important horticultural practices of canopy architecture that plays significant role in quality fruit production. Generally, training of trees aims at more penetration of sunlight, support to main branches for desired tree architecture to increase the planting density and finally increasing the production. The training systems like tall spindle, vertical axes, slender-spindle, head and spread are  recommended for high-density apple orchards. Under these training systems, branches are trained to horizontal positions/below horizontal, using cloth pins on 8-10 cm shoots and tying of branches during summer months. Pinching of shoots at 8-10 cm growth is carried out to develop the fruiting spurs and to check the growth of branches.