Effect of high density planting systems on the productivity of NA-7 aonla under rainfed conditions

Abstract

An investigation on high density planting systems was carried out on young trees of aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn), planted in 2001, to study the influence of different planting systems and densities on production and productivity of aonla under rainfed condition in the semi-arid ecosystem of western India. Plant height was recorded significantly highest in double hedgerow system having maximum number of plants per unit area, among the different planting systems. However, maximum values of root-stock girth, scion girth and plant spread were recorded in the square system of planting, but the differences among the treatments were non significant. Individual plant gave high yield in square system, but on per unit area basis, double hedgerow system exhibited almost double the crop over square system of planting. Planting systems and plant densities had considerable influence on TSS, vitamin C and sugar contents. Other physico-chemical characters of fruits were not affected significantly by the different planting systems. Based on the overall evaluation data, it can be concluded that by adopting double hedgerow system of planting in aonla the productivity per unit area can be enhanced to nearly double over conventional square system of planting under the rainfed condition in semi-arid ecosystem.