Pruning in horticultural crops

This presentation is about the different types of pruning followed in horticultural crops ...its also contains their pictures with description.

1. PRUNING IN HORTICULTURAL CROPS

2. DEFINITION: Pruning  is a horticultural and silvicultural practice involving the selective removal of parts of a plant, such as branches,  buds, or roots .  

3. IMPLEMENTS USED TO PRUNE : 1. Hand pruners, 2.Loopers, 3.Chain saw

4. REASONS TO PRUNE: Deadwood removal S haping (by controlling or directing growth ) I mproving or maintaining health R educing risk from falling branches

5. TYPES OF PRUNING 1.Thinning out cut 2. Heading back cut Thinning out cut: Thinning is the removal of the entire branch or limb at its base . Heading back cut: Heading is cutting back a portion of a branch to just above a healthy bud or side branch.

6. Special pruning techniques: Root pruning: A circular trench of 45cm is dug out away from the stem annually and roots are cut off with a sharp knife. After that ,trench is filled with manures. It helps in increasing the production of mass fibrous roots.

7. Ringing : In this method ,we should remove complete ring of bark from the branch . Notching: It is partial ringing of a branch above dormant lateral bud

8. Smudging: It is a practice of smoking the trees like mango in Philippines. Bending: Bending of branches increasing the productivity in erect growing varieties.

9. Coppicing: Removing the main trunk leaving 30-35cm cm stump alone. This stump starts producing more vigorous shoots after 6 months. Only 2-3 shoots are retained per stump and the rest ones are completely thinned.

10. Pollarding: Method of removing the growing point in shade trees to encourage side branches. Lopping: Cutting some branches to reduce canopy cover in shade trees to permit more sunlight

11. Time period: Pruning small branches can be done at any time of year . Large branches, with more than 5-10% of the plant's crown, can be pruned either during dormancy in winter, or, for species where winter frost can harm a recently pruned plant, in mid summer just after flowering . Autumn should be avoided, as the spores of disease and decay fungi are abundant at this time of year.