Studies on apple yield forecasting on the basis of flowering, fruit set and tree biometrical parameters

摘要

Apple is a major fruit crop of Himachal Pradesh. The variation in yield causes problems at both farm, marketing and processing levels. Future forecast of gross crop production are difficult to make by the administrators, scientists and policy-makers, while at orchard management level, financial plan and budget from year-to-year and even over a shorter time, may entirely be disrupted by a small change in production expectations. Apple yield is a function of complex interacting factors, which are governed by the environmental conditions and intrinsic potential of plant. Inspite of regular horticultural practices, flowering and fruit set, which in turn affect yield, continue to vary from year-to-year because some of the variables which influence these phenomena are varied and impossible to control. No attempts, till date, have been made to forecast apple yield on these parameters and crop estimates are generally made 30-45 days before actual harvesting. The objective of present study was to developsuitable methodology for me prediction of apple yield well in advance during the dormant season on the basis of flowering, fruit set and tree biometrical parameters.