Hight Density Orchard

 High density aims at increasing the productivity per unit area by increasing plant
population/unit area by closer spacing.
 This has been successfully done in several temperate fruit crops like apple, pear,
peach etc. where there is availability of dwarfing rootstocks and plant response
for training and pruning and chemical regulation of size.
Eg : Apple 3X3 ---1111 plants.
3X2 ---1666 plants.

 Limited success of high density is noticed in tropical and subtropical fruit crops
because of
1. Non availability of dwarfing rootstocks.
2. Vigorous growth throughout the year.
3. Poor response for training and pruning.
 High density orchard was tried in mango with dwarfing variety like Amrapali and
with the use of dwarfing rootstock like Olur, Vellaikollamban.
Different types of high density planting followed in fruit crops

Bush orchard, Pyramid orchard, Tatura trellies, Meadow orchard, Hedge row system
etc.

Advantages

1. High returns per unit area.

2. Maximum use of resources.
3. Possibility of adopting mechanization.
Disadvantages

1. Competition in later years.

2. Pest and disease problems.
3. Cultural operation is difficult.
High density orcharding and canopy
management of some tropical and
subtropical fruits
Authors
S.K. Mitra

High density planting (HDP) is a highly efficient and advanced production system of fruit
cultivation. In most of the temperate tree and nut crops it is now commercially followed all over
the world because of availability of suitable dwarfing rootstock to control tree vigor. Major
tropical fruit crops are either propagated by suckers (banana, pineapple), seed (papaya) or by
layering (guava) and grafting (mango). The use of dwarfing rootstocks, as in many temperate
tree fruits, is not possible/available in most of the commercial tropical fruits for high density
planting. High density planting is one of the novel methods to achieve high productivity per unit
area both in short duration and perennial horticultural crops. High yield and high fruit quality can
be achieved with a high-density orchard when the orchard has good light distribution throughout
the tree canopy and there is a balance between vegetative growth and cropping. Many variables
must be included in making a decision about spacing. Tree vigor and growth habit as influenced
by cultivar and rootstock (where it could be utilized) are important. The ultimate limit on
productivity of any crop is the amount of photosynthetically-active radiation (PAR) intercepted.
Much of the planning that goes into the design of HDP orchards is actually based on average
light interception over the life of the planting. This involves both minimizing the amount of light
which strikes the ground and providing canopy structures in which the largest amount of canopy
receives optimum light intensity. A tree with a large portion of its volume devoted to bearing has
a greater potential for productivity than one with most of its volume devoted to tree support,
middles or other functions. In India, HDP has been proved useful in many tropical and
subtropical fruit crops e.g., mango, citrus, pineapple, banana, guava litchi, and papaya. The
productivity of fruit crops depends on several factors, poor management of canopy architecture
being the most important one. The fruiting potential of the trees is largely governed by their
architecture, canopy density and photosynthetic efficiency. Canopy in a fruit tree refers to its
physical composition comprising of the stem, branches, shoots and leaves. While, the canopy
density is determined by the number, length and orientation of stem, branches and shoots. Tree
canopy management, especially size control has become a priority for reducing production cost
and increasing fruit yield and quality. The objective of canopy management is to optimize the
plant model in such a way so that it may intercept maximum light by tree training, pruning,
branch and tree orientation. Some of the basic principles in canopy management are: maximum
utilization of the light, avoidance of the buildup of micro-climate congenial for the diseases and
pests, convenience in carrying out the cultural operations, maximizing the productivity and
quality and economy in obtaining the required canopy architecture.
Citation
Mitra, S.K. (2019). High density orcharding and canopy management of some tropical and subtropical
fruits. Acta Hortic. 1255, 127-138
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2019.1255.20
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2019.1255.20