Effect of pruning and planting systems on growth, flowering, fruiting and yield of guava cv. Sardar

In present investigation, the effect of planting systems and pruning on growth, flowering, fruiting and yield of guava cv. Sardar was studied with two pruning levels, i.e. one leaf pair pruning and unpruned (control) and five planting systems, i.e. square, hedgerow, double-hedgerow, paired and cluster planting. Results revealed that regardless of planting systems, one leaf pair pruning significantly decreased the annual increment in tree height, tree spread, trunk diameter and tree volume as compared to control. Annual increase in tree height (1.63 m) was maximum in double-hedgerow system, while tree spread (1.92 m), trunk diameter (13.3 m) and tree volume (1.80 m(3)) was maximum in square system of planting with one leaf pair pruning during both the years. Number of flower buds was significantly increased with one leaf pair pruning during winter season crop and maximum number of flower buds (62.2) was found in the treatment combination of one leaf pair pruning and square system of planting. One leaf pair pruning significantly increased the winter season crop as compared to unpruned (control) in all planting systems. In rainy season, the maximum yield (66.0 and 2.77 kg/tree, respectively) was obtained from the treatment combination of unpruned and square system of planting, whereas, in winter season of the same year, maximum yield (62.4 and 2.95 kg/tree, respectively) was obtained from treatment combination of one leaf pair pruning and square system of planting. Thus, it can be concluded that one leaf pair pruning in guava cv. Sardar planted under square system is useful to maximize yield in winter season crop under feral regions.