Effect of type and time of pruning on flowering behaviour of Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica L.) in sub-tropical landscape

Abstract

An experiment was carried out to study the effect of type and time of pruning on flowering behaviour of Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica L.) in sub-tropical landscape during 2013–15. The experiment was laid out in two-factor randomized block design comprising four different levels of pruning viz., P0 (unpruned), P1 (45 cm height from ground level), P2 (60 cm height from ground level), P3 (75 cm height from ground level) and five different times of pruning viz., T1(15th October 2013), T2(15th November 2013), T3(15th December 2013), T4 (15th January 2014) and T5 (15th February 2014). Among the levels of pruning, pruning at height of 75 cm from ground level was found to be best for increasing flowering period, quantity and quality. It induced early flowering (bud visibility at 151.53 days, bud opening at 165.33 days, full bloom at 177.87 days), greater flower number 699.33/plant and longer flowering duration 109.73 days. Among the months, February (2014) month responded best in terms of flower earliness (bud visibility at 102.25 days, bud opening at 117.58 days, full bloom at 132.50 days), more number of flowers per plant i. e. 676.33/plant and longer flowering duration 105.92 days compared to other pruning levels and time. The treatment combination pruning at 75 cm from ground levels in February month was the best for good quality flower production.