Temprate Fruits (1+1)

EXERCISE 13

EXERCISE 13: Training and pruning of kiwifruit

(A) Training:-

• Kiwifruit is a vine like grape, thus require similar training structure but more stronger than grapes.
• A number of training structures are used for training a vine, but T- bar trellis and pergola systems are more popular.
• In T- bar trellis system, the pillars of iron and concrete about 1.8m in height above the ground level are erected at a distance of 6m from each other in a row in straight line.
• A cross arm (1.5m) is fixed on each pole, which carries five outriggers wire at a distance of 45 cm each.

• Vines are trained upto wire as single stem then two leaders in opposite direction along the center wire are selected or developed . From these permanent leaders, temporary fruiting arms 25-30 cm apart are selected at right angle along both sides of each leader.
• Training of vines on pergola system is similar to that of T-bar. A flat topped network of criss-cross wire is prepared on the erected pillars. This systems is costly to prepare but vine trained on this system gives higher yields.

 

(B) Pruning:-

• The main objective of pruning is to obtain high yield of quality fruits and to manage excessive vegetative growth.
• The following principles should be kept in mind at the time of pruning.

(1) The fruit is developed on current season’s growth arising from one year shoot.

(2) Only the basal buds of the nodes 4-12 on current season growth are productive.
(3) Vines grow 2-3 m every year, which become overcrowded if not controlled by summer and winter pruning.
(4) The shoots developed on older wood by heading back will not fruit normally in the first season.

• Keeping in mind these principles, the vine pruning is carried out in such a way that the fruiting areas are available every year requiring the wood to be young.
• This is achieved by 3-4 years lateral replacement system. In dormant pruning, the fruiting lateral is cut back to 2 vegetative buds beyond the last fruit.
• In the second year, these vegetative buds produce the fruiting shoots, which are pruned again.
• The arm on lateral shoots are pruned and allowed to fruit for 3-4 years.
• After this the lateral is removed from the main branches and other laterals are selected and pruned accordingly so that the balance between vegetative and reproductive growth is maintained for the continuity in the fruit production.
• In summer pruning shoot is cut .beyond 6-8 buds from the last fruit during June-July.