Pruning

•What is Pruning? The selective removal of plant parts (branches, shoots, roots, buds, etc.) to maintain or
modify plant structure, health, and productivity.
•Types of Pruning:
•Thinning: Removal of entire branches back to their origin to open the plant's canopy for light and air
penetration.
•Heading: Cutting back part of a branch to a bud or side branch to restrict size or induce denser growth.
•Pinching: Removing the soft tip of a shoot to encourage branching.
•Root Pruning: Cutting roots, often done during repotting, to stimulate new root growth.
•Why Prune?
•Control Size and Shape: Manage plant dimensions and create desired forms.
•Improve Plant Health: Remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches for better airflow and to reduce
pest/disease risk.
•Increased Light Penetration: Thinning the canopy improves light distribution to inner branches, promoting
more balanced growth.
•Enhance Fruiting/Flowering Stimulates fruit bud formation on certain plants and increases bloom size.
•Rejuvenate Old Plants: Encourages new growth on older, less productive plants.
•Pruning Tools and Techniques:
•Hand Pruners: For small branches.
•Loppers For branches up to about 2 inches thick.
•Pruning Saws: Larger branches.
•Always make clean cuts at a 45-degree angle just above a bud or node.
•Disinfect tools between plants to prevent disease spread.
•Best Time to Prune:
•Varies by plant species. Most deciduous trees are pruned when dormant (winter).
•Flowering shrubs often pruned immediately after bloom.
Irrigation Methods
•Principles of Irrigation: Providing controlled water amounts to supplement rainfall for optimal plant growth.
•Types of Irrigation
•Surface Irrigation:
•Flood Irrigation: Water delivered over the entire field.
•Furrow Irrigation: Water flows through trenches between crop rows.
•Sprinkler Irrigation: Simulates rainfall. Common types include rotating sprinklers, traveling sprinklers, and
center pivot systems.
•Drip/Trickle Irrigation: Targeted water delivery at the root zone through emitters. Highly efficient.
•Sub-irrigation: Water supplied from below the root zone.
•Factors Affecting Irrigation Choice
•Crop Type: Water needs vary among plants.
•Soil Type: Sandy soils drain quickly; clay soils hold water longer.
•Climate: Rainfall patterns and temperature affect water needs.
•Topography: Slopes make some methods unsuitable.
•Water Availability & Cost: Impacts system feasibility.
•Irrigation Best Practices
•Watering Deeply and Infrequently: Encourages deep root growth.
•Watering Early Morning: Reduces evaporation loss.
•Mulching: Conserves soil moisture.
•Monitor Plants and Soil: Water only when needed.
Application of Fertilizers
•What are Fertilizers? Substances supplying essential nutrients for plant growth.
•Macronutrients: Needed in large amounts (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium - NPK).
•Micronutrients: Needed in trace amounts (Iron, Zinc, Manganese, etc.).
•Types of Fertilizers
•Organic: Derived from natural sources (compost, manure, bone meal).
•Inorganic (Synthetic): Manufactured fertilizers providing nutrients in concentrated forms.
•Application Methods
•Broadcast: Spread over the soil surface.
•Banding: Placed below or beside seeds/plants.
•Foliar Application: Nutrients sprayed onto leaves.
•Fertigation: Dissolved fertilizer injected into irrigation water.
•Best Practices
•Soil Test: Determines existing nutrient levels to guide fertilizer choices.
•Follow Directions: Avoid over-application to prevent plant damage.
•Time it Right: Apply based on the crop stage and nutrient needs.
Biofertilizers
•What are Biofertilizers? Living microorganisms that enhance soil fertility and plant nutrient uptake.
•Types of Biofertilizers
•Nitrogen-fixing bacteria: Convert atmospheric nitrogen into plant-usable forms. (Rhizobium, Azotobacter,
Azospirillum)
•Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB): Make phosphorus in the soil more available to plants.
•Mycorrhizae: Fungi forming a symbiotic association with plant roots, aiding nutrient and water uptake.
•Benefits of Biofertilizers
•Improve Soil Health: Increase organic matter and microbial activity
•Sustainable Alternative: Reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers.
•Promote Growth: May release growth-promoting substances.
•Application Methods
•Seed Treatment
•Soil Application
•Seedling Dipping

Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs)

•What are Plant Growth Regulators? Plant Growth Regulators, also known as phytohormones, are naturally
occurring or synthetic chemicals that influence various aspects of plant development. They work in minute
concentrations to regulate processes vital for plant growth.
•Major Types of Plant Growth Regulators:
•Auxins:
•Promote cell elongation, stem growth, and apical dominance (suppression of side shoots).
•Involved in fruit development and prevent premature fruit drop.
•Can be used to induce rooting in cuttings.
•Example: Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)
•Gibberellins:
•Stimulate stem elongation, promoting taller plants.
•Break seed dormancy and induce flowering.
•Increase fruit size in certain crops.
•Example: Gibberellic Acid (GA3)
•Cytokinins:
•Promote cell division and shoot growth.
•Work with auxins to regulate plant shape.
•Delays senescence (aging) in plant parts.
•Example: Zeatin
•Abscisic Acid (ABA):
•Stress hormone that promotes seed and bud dormancy.
•Closes stomata (leaf pores) during drought to conserve water.
•Involved in leaf senescence and fruit drop.
•Ethylene:
•Gaseous hormone involved in fruit ripening.
•Promotes leaf and flower senescence.
•Stimulates fruit drop (abscission).
•Can be used to synchronize fruit ripening in commercial settings.
Key Uses of Plant Growth Regulators in Horticulture and Agriculture
•Rooting Cuttings: Auxins are used to stimulate root formation.
•Controlling Plant Height: Gibberellins promote taller plants; growth retardants can be used to restrict height.
•Delaying Senescence: Cytokinins keep cut flowers and stored fruits/vegetables fresh longer.
•Fruit Set and Thinning: Hormones can improve fruit development and strategically thin fruit to enhance size
and quality.
•Synchronization of Ripening: Ethylene can be used to trigger uniform ripening in crops like bananas and
tomatoes.
•Breaking Dormancy: Gibberellins break bud dormancy and induce germination.
Important Considerations
•PGRs are effective in very small quantities. Over-application can damage plants.
•Timing of application is crucial for the desired effect.
•Plant responses might vary among species or even within different cultivars.
•Always follow the label instructions carefully when using commercial PGR products.
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