Effect of various methods of crop regulation in guava under double-hedge row system of planting

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted on guava cv. Pant Prabhat planted under double-hedge row system. In order to regulate the crop, seven pruning treatments, viz., flower bud thinning by hand (T1, FBT); flower bud thinning by hand followed by removal of terminal one leaf pair (T2, FBTT); removal of leaves and flower buds by hand, retaining one leaf pair at the top (T3, RLFO); removal of all leaves and flowers by hand (T4, RLF); one leaf pair shoot pruning (T5, OLPS); full shoot pruning (T6, FSP); one leaf pair pruning of fruited shoots only (T7, OLPF) and control (T8, C) were studied to know their effect on yield of guava. The maximum new shoot emergence (98.31 per branch) for winter season crop was observed with the treatment T4 (RLF) and minimum with the treatment T8 (C). The maximum flower bud emergence (23.19 per branch) for winter season crop was recorded with the treatment T7 (OLPF) and minimum with the treatment T8 (C). For rainy season crop, there was non-significant difference for these parameters. The maximum number of fruits (499.29 per tree), yield (55.30 kg per tree and 191.90 q per hectare) for winter season were recorded with the treatment T7 (OLPF) and minimum with the treatment T8 (C). During rainy season, the reverse trends were observed. The per cent flower/ fruit drop followed the reverse trend to that of per cent fruit set. The treatment T7 (OLPF) recorded the highest cost: benefit ratio.