EFFECT OF PRUNING IN MANGO (MANGIFERA INDICA L) CV MALLIKA

摘要

Under north Indian conditions, Mallika is emerging as an important commercial cultivar, because it is a late maturing type. The tree of Mallika attains huge stature and becomes over crowded after about 35-40 years of growth. Effect of pruning in somevarieties of mango is documented. Therefore, to study the long term effect of pruning in mango cv Mallika, pruning work was conducted. Trees were subjected to three pruning treatments, viz. T-1 (heading back up to tertiary branches), T-2 (heading back upto secondary branches) and T-3 (centre opening). After eight years of experimentation in pruning trial in mango cv. Mallika the lowest tree height (4.75m) was recorded in trees with first order pruning treatment followed by 5.10m in second order pruningtreatment. Canopy spread was found at par in all the treatments. New shoots emerged on trees in first and second order pruning treatments showed fast growth and attained more lenght of 2.10 and 2.00m respectively. Average flowering data of eight years showed that under all the pruning treatments, enhanced flowering (50.63 to 55.32%) was recorded as compared to control (39.50) percent.) Cumulative yield data of eight years showed that after treatment applications, maximum fruit yield (456.15 kg tree-1)was obtained from second order pruning treatment followed by first order pruning treatment (425.85 kg. tree1) while the lowest fruit yield (273.40 kg tree-1) was recorded in un-pruned trees.