EFFECT OF PLANT SPACING AND PRUNING INTENSITY ON FLOWERING, FRUITING, AND YIELD OF GUAVA (PSIDIUM GUAJAVA L.) cv. PANT PRABHAT

PRABHAKAR JOSHI¹, SHANT LAL², PANKAJ NAUTIYAL³*, MAHESH PAL^4
1Department of Horticulture, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar-263145, Uttarakhand, India
²Department of Horticulture, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar-263145, Uttarakhand, India
³ICAR- Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Chinyalisaur-249196, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, India
⁴Department of Horticulture, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar-263145, Uttarakhand, India
* Corresponding Author : pankajnautiyal2009@gmail.com

Received : 23-09-2015     Accepted : 17-02-2016     Published : 07-03-2016
Volume : 8     Issue : 7       Pages : 1064 - 1068
Int J Agr Sci 8.7 (2016):1064-1068

Keywords : Guava, plant spacing, high density, shoot pruning, winter season
Academic Editor : Narjary Bhaskar, Jacob D.
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : None declared
Author Contribution : None declared

The effect of plant spacing and pruning intensity on fruiting, flowering and yield of guava was conducted at Horticulture Research Center, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand. The treatments were consisted of two plant spacing and three pruning intensities i.e., one fourth, half and three fourth shoot pruning with un-pruned treated as control. The highest number of flower bud emergence per plant was recorded with treatment combination 2.0 X 2.0 m plant spacing and 3/4th shoot pruning for winter season crop during both the years. Three fourth shoot pruning proved significantly superior over other pruning treatments for emergence of new shoots and number of flower buds per plant for winter season crop. The treatment consisted of 2.0X2.0 m plant spacing and three fourth shoot pruning was found superior in this regard, significantly, higher fruit set was recorded with treatment combination of 2.0X2.0 m plant spacing and three fourth shoot pruning for winter season crop. Reverse trend was observed in case of per cent flower/fruit drop during both the years. Number of fruits and yield per plant increased with increase in plant spacing. However, yield on the basis of per hectare was found higher with closer spacing (2.0X1.0 m). Treatment combination of 2.0X1.0 m plant spacing and three fourth shoot pruning gave maximum yield during winter season.