High density planting (HDP)

High Density Planting is a method of densely planting plant with plant population more than the optimum to get higher productivity in terms of quality and yield by manipulating the tree architecture and planting systems such as use of dwarfing rootstock, interstocks, scions, spurs; intensive use of growth regulators, training and pruning, cultural practices and reducing the spacing. The main principle is to improve efficiency of horizontal and vertical space utilisation per unit time, and resources and input utilisation. There is a balance between the vegetative and fruiting structures without affecting the plant health. Advantages include increased productivity, high income, efficient use of resources and mechanisation and operational efficacy

1. HIGH DENSITY PLANTING (HDP) & ULTRA HIGH DENSITY PLANTING (UHDP)

2. HIGH DENSITY PLANTING High Density planting means to increase the plant population per unit area for increasing the production of fruit crops To overcome low productivity To reduce gestation period for early returns

3. TYPES Semi-intensive: 500-1000 trees/ha Intensive system: 1,000 to 10,000 trees/ha Super-intensive system: 10,000 to 1,00,000 trees/ha

4. PLANTING DENSITIES Low HDP: <250 trees per ha Moderate HDP: 250-500 trees per ha High HDP: 500-1250 tree per ha Ultra HDP: >1250 trees per ha Super HDP: 20,000 trees per ha (in Apple Orchards) Meadow Orchard: 70,000 trees per ha (in Apple & Guava)

5. COMPONENTS OF HDP Use of dwarf scion varieties. Adopting dwarfing rootstock and inter-stocks. Efficient training and pruning. Use of plant growth regulating chemicals. Suitable crop management practices.

6. PLANTING SYSTEM FOR HDP Rectangular with single, double or three rows are followed Single row: row spacing is wide: 4X2m Double row: Wider spacing: (4+2)X2m Three row: More wider spacing: (4+2+2)X2m Bed System (or) Meadow orchards: A bed of 10-15 rows is closely planted (30X45 cm) and separated by alleys of 2.5m width between beds

7. ADVANTAGES Best utilization of land and resources Quality production of fruit crops Increase in yield per unit area Easy for intercultural, plant protection and harvesting Obtain export quality of the harvest

8. DISADVANTAGES Less life span of the fruit Difficult to manage the tree canopy Require high level of technical know-how for the maintenance of fruit trees

9. HDP FOR BANANA Spacing: 1.2X1.2 m (or) 2.1X2.1 m 3 Suckers per pit~ Pit size: 50X50X50 cm Pit spacing : 30-45 cm Cavendish: 1.8X3.6 m (4600 plants per ha) Nendran : 2X3 m (5000 plants per ha) Plant density: 4444 to 5555 plants per ha

10. BENEFITS 33% more plant population 44% reduction in labour cost 37.5% decrease in fertilizer cost BCR=4.49:1

11. U HDP FOR MANGO Amrapalli : 2.5X2.5 m spacing (suited for North India) Spacing Recommended: 4.5X4.5 m (or) 3X2m (or) 3X1m Dwarfing rootstock for Alphonso: Vellaikolumban ( Polyembryonic ) For Fruit set during off year: Applying Paclobutrazol ( Curtal ) 1-2 ml per tree along with 10 litres of water (Growth Regulator) Training the Mango tree by removing the tip at 2.5’ height to produce 3 branches growing different direction to form umbrella like structure Pruning is done to remove dead, diseased and unwanted branches for better light penetration.

12. VARIETIES SUITABLE Amarapalli Alphonso Dashehari Banganapalli Imampasant Bombay Bangalura

13. Benefits Easy management because the height of tree is only 7’ Reduced labour cost Effective utilization of scarce land Under Conventional Cultivation plant density is 40 tree per acre but in HDP 200 per acre and in UHDP 654 per acre

14. MANAGEMENT OF MANGO IN HDP

15. PINEAPPLE HDP

16. MEADOW ORCHARD IN GUAVA Modern method of High Density Planting developed by CISH,Lucknow Shift of perception of farmers from production to productivity Densely planted orchards through judicious canopy management and tree training system Suitable varieties: Sardar , Sweta , CISH G 5, CISH G 6, Lalit , Allahabad Safeda , Hybrid seedlings Heavy usage of growth regulators and pruning

17. Different types of planting in Guava System Spacing(m) Density(plant/ha) Low Density 8x8 100-250 Medium Density 6x6 250-500 High Density 3x3 500-2000 Ultra- High Density 3x1.5 2000-5000 Meadow Orchard 2x1 5000-1,00,000

18. Advantages Commercial bearing from first year Average yield is 40-60 t/ha (Traditional method – 12 t/ha) Easy to manage due to small tree size Requires less labour Lower cost of production High quality fruit with good colour development Better utilization of Solar radiation and Increased Photosynthetic efficiency Higher income