Apple growers get tips on high-density plantations
Author(s): City Air NewsQueries addressed through farmer-scientist interaction A one-day field visit of farmers from various clusters under the Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Project (HP-HDP) was held at the high-density apple...
Queries addressed through farmer-scientist interaction
A one-day field visit of farmers from various clusters under the Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Project (HP-HDP) was held at the high-density apple plantations of Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni. The main aim of the event was to apprise the farmers of the benefits of high-density apple plantations and their management.
Over 100 farmers from different clusters in Shimla, Sirmour, Mandi, Kullu, Kinnuar and Chamba chosen by the Project Control Unit of the HP HDP and officers of the Horticulture Department took part in the event. This event was organised by the Department of Fruit Science of the university. The idea behind the event was to apprise and address the queries of farmers who are raising high-density apple plantations under this project.
Dr Parvinder Kaushal, Vice Chancellor of the University was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Dr JN Sharma, Director Research and Nodal Officer of the HP HDP at the University, Dr JS Chandel, Professor and Head, Department of Fruit Science, all the statutory officers and heads of department also took part in the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Kaushal said that the university has always been at the forefront of providing the latest knowhow to the farmers. He said that the research on high-density apple plantations at different altitudes is an effort to provide the apple growers the technical knowhow so that they can benefit from increased production through this modern technology.
The university raised the plantations in the year 2016 keeping in view the importance of high-density plantations in fruit crops in general and apple in particular. Various varieties being studied are Jeromine, Red Velox, Red Cap Valtod, Scarlet Spur-II, Super Chief, Gale Gala, Redlum Gala and Auvil Early Fuji grafted on M9 and MM106 rootstocks. The university has been studying the performance of various varieties on different rootstocks namely M9 and MM106. The plant spacing i.e. 2.5 X 0.75 m (5333 plants/ha), 2.5 X 1.0 m (4000/plants/ha) and 2.5 X 1.5 m (2666 plants/ha) and training systems viz., Vertical Axis, Slender Spindle and Tall Spindle are being tested.
“The University’s Department of Fruit Science has been conducting trials for development of Packages of Practices on high-density apple plantations under the World Bank funded HP HDP. The trials are being conducted in different agro climatic conditions at various research stations of the University including the main campus at Nauni to identify the suitable varieties and rootstocks along with ideal plant spacing and canopy management techniques and the results will be shared with the growers in the future,” said Dr Kaushal.
During the field visit, the scientists of the Department of Fruit Science apprised the farmers about the various important aspects of high-density plantations, which can enable them to get best yield. A farmer scientist interaction was also held where all the queries of the farmers were addressed.