Orchard Management (1+1)

EXERCISE 1

EXERCISE 1: LAY OUT OF DIFFERENT PLANTING SYSTEMS OF ORCHARD- SQUARE, QUINCUNX SYSTEM/FILLER SYSTEMS

Aim:

To accommodate optimum number of trees per unit area consistent with space for the proper development of each tree and convenience in various orchard operations.

PLANNING OF ORCHARDS

Orchard is a long-term investment and needs lot of planning and expertise. While planning and planting a new orchard, one should give utmost attention and care to various aspects like selection of location and site, nature of soil and subsoil, planning of suitable kinds and varieties of fruits, proper planting distance and purchasing of plants from reliable nurseries.

Preparation of land

The land should be cleaned properly for free movement of man and machinery. All the trees, bushes and creepers should be removed. The stubbles regeneration should be controlled as it obstructs the movement of machines. The soil of the area desigtined for growing fruit plants needs thorough preparation. A virgin land requires a deep ploughing and harrowing. The land should be repeatedly ploughed and bring the soil to a fine tilt.

Layout plan

The marking of position of the plant in the field is referred as layout. The layout plan of the orchard should be prepared carefully, preferably in consolation with horticultural experts. The orchard layout plan includes the system of planning provision for orchard paths, roads, water channels and farm building. A sketch of the proposed orchard should be prepared before the actual planting is taken in hand.

Method of layout

For laying out an orchard, according to square system, a base line is first established and position of the trees is marked along this line putting wooden stakes in the ground. Another base line at right angle to the first base line, is then marked along with the other edge of the field with the help of a carpenter square bar or a cross shaft.

The right angle can also be drawn with the help of measuring tape. One end of this tape is fixed at 3 metre distance from the corner along the first line and the tape is then stretched along the second base line for a distance of 4metre. The diagonal distance between these two points should be 5 metre. The wooden stakes are put in the ground at the desired distance along the second line. All the four rows are thus established and staked. Three men, one putting the peg in the field and other correcting alignment while moving along the base line, can easily stake the whole field.

System of planting

The following are the important systems of planting generally followed on the basis of Agro-climatic conditions.

1. Square system: It is the most commonly used method and easy to layout in the field. In this system, plant to plant and row to row distance is the same (Fig. 1.1). The plants are at the right angle to each other, every unit of four plants forming a square. This system facilitates the intercultural operations in two directions after the orchard is planted.

Aims:

1) To provide adequate space to plants .
2) To accommodate more number of plants.
3) Easy intercultural operations.
4) To improve aesthetic view of the land.

Fig 1.1: Square System of Planting

Advantage:

1) Most easy and popular one.
2) In this row to row and plant to plant distance is kept similar.
3) Plants are exactly at right angle at each corner.
4) Inter culture operations can be done in both the directions.
5) Adequate space for inter-cultivation of remunerative crops like vegetables.

2. Quincunx or diagonal system: This system is exactly like the square system but one additional tree is planted in the centre of each square (Fig.1.2). The number of plants per acre by its this system is almost doubled than the square system. Fruit trees like papaya, kinnow, phalsa, guava, peach, plum etc. can be planted as fillers in the permanent trees provides an additional income to the grower in the early life of the orchard. The filler trees are uprooted when the main orchard trees start commercial fruiting.

Fig 1.2: Quincunx System of Planting

Calculations:

Calculation of number of different fruit crops per hectare with different system of planting by using the following formulae:

i. Square and rectangular systems:
No. Of plants required for 1 ha = 10, 000 sq. m
Row to row distance (m) x plant to plant distance (m)

ii. Hexagonal system:
No. Of plants required for 1 ha = 10, 000 sq. m
1/2 x plant to plant distance (m) x distance between two rows(m)

Where, distance between two rows is; v3/4 x plant to plant distance (m)

iii. Quincux system:
In this case the number of plants become doubles that of square system.