Abstract
Fruit tree pruning is the cutting and removing of selected parts of a fruit tree. It spans through quite a number of horticultural techniques. Pruning includes cutting branches back, sometimes removing smaller limbs entirely and more so the removal of young shoots, buds and leaves. Established orchard practice of both organic and nonorganic types typically includes pruning. Pruning can control growth, remove dead or diseased wood, and stimulate the formation of flowers and fruit buds. Pruning and training young trees improves their later productivity and longevity and can also prevent later injury from weak crotches or forks (where a tree trunk splits into two or more branches) that break from the weight of fruit, snow, or ice on the branches. However, the efficiency of pruning methods is also important. Manual pruning has constraints like lower field Capacity and incomplete pruning in case of tall trees. Therefore, a tractor operated 1-row frontal pre-pruner with electro hydraulic control was tested for Kinnow Mandarin and Guava orchards. The time involved for top and side pruning was 23.30 and 46.80 min/acre, respectively and there was 99.32-99.38% saving in time as compared to manual pruning.
Highlights
Fruit tree pruning is the cutting and removing of selected parts of a fruit tree
The speed of cutting discs and inclination of cutting bar was controlled by electronic panel, distributor and hydraulic mototrs provided for each saw blade
The mean field capacity of manual pruning was calculated as 0.002 ha h-1 for side pruning and for top pruning the manual efficiency was very low and unable to complete the pruning due to reach problem
Summary
Fruit tree pruning is the cutting and removing of selected parts of a fruit tree. It spans through quite a number of horticultural techniques. The most important commercial citrus species in India are the mandarin (Citrus reticulata), sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and lime lemon (Citrus limon) sharing 41, 23 and 23%, respectively of all citrus fruits produced in the country with an area of 0.428, 0.185, 0.286 million ha and production rate of 5.1, 3.27 and 3.15 million metric tons, respectively (Anonymous, 2018). Uttar Pradesh is considered as the most important guava producing state in India, and the Allahabad-Varanasi region has the reputation of growing the best quality guava in the country as well as in the world. It is a hardy and tall tree with height of more than 2.5 m (Anonymous, 2020b). A pre-pruner was tested for Kinnow and Guava orchards in Indian conditions
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