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Establishment of an orchard is a long term investment and deserves very careful planning. The selection of proper location and site, planting system and planting distance, choosing the varieties and the nursery plants have to be considered carefully to ensure maximum production.
Selection of site: The following factors are to be considered before selecting a site for an orchard.
1. Climate: The climate of the locality should be suited to the fruits, or the fruit chosen should be suited to the climate. Enquires should be made on the following points to assess how climate affects the fruits intended to be grown.
1) Experience of the fruit growers and research stations in the locality regarding the acclimatization of the fruits under consideration.
1. Climate: The climate of the locality should be suited to the fruits, or the fruit chosen should be suited to the climate. Enquires should be made on the following points to assess how climate affects the fruits intended to be grown.
1) Experience of the fruit growers and research stations in the locality regarding the acclimatization of the fruits under consideration.
2) The seasons of heavy rainfall, hail storms and hot winds.
3) The seasons and intervals of cyclones, heat waves, gales and other catastrophic features
2. Soil: Few prospective sites should be examined for both physical and chemical properties. For this purpose profile pits of 2m depth should be dug in each representative part of the site as suggested by external appearance, Samples should be collected and analyzed for deciding the choice. Soil samples must be analyzed to know the suitability of soil for growing fruit crops. Soil analysis gives information on the type of soil, its fertility; its pH value etc. As far as possible flat land should be selected. There should be no hard pan up to a depth of 2m.
3.Irrigation facilities: Most of the horticulture crops are raised under irrigation. Sothe water facilities should also be taken in to consideration (quantity and quality).Water table should be below 2 m depth.
2. Soil: Few prospective sites should be examined for both physical and chemical properties. For this purpose profile pits of 2m depth should be dug in each representative part of the site as suggested by external appearance, Samples should be collected and analyzed for deciding the choice. Soil samples must be analyzed to know the suitability of soil for growing fruit crops. Soil analysis gives information on the type of soil, its fertility; its pH value etc. As far as possible flat land should be selected. There should be no hard pan up to a depth of 2m.
3.Irrigation facilities: Most of the horticulture crops are raised under irrigation. Sothe water facilities should also be taken in to consideration (quantity and quality).Water table should be below 2 m depth.
4.Nearness to the market: Saves the over head charges in transport and gives closetouch with market tastes (in the case of market gardens).In most cases a large percentage of the retail price of fruits is accounted for by transport charges. The hill bananas and the apples of Kulu valley are produced cheap but they are sold at high prices on the plains owing to heavy cost of transport.
5.Transport facilities: Fruits being perishable cannot be moved for long distanceswith out quick and refrigerated transport. Bananas from the south are not reaching northern market in our own country owing to the absence of refrigerated transport. But under refrigerated conditions, they can be transported to longer distances. So; the orchards must be located where there is quick transport, preferably a refrigerated transport system.
6.Power (electricity) supply: It would be a great advantage if electric power linesare running in the proximity of the area as it can be tapped easily.
7.Proximity to established orchards: It is an added advantage if the site is inproximity to the already established orchards because of compactness of areas of production facilitates provision of transport and storage facilities. It also enables formation of co-operative societies and other associations which can collectively own grading and spraying machinery and other costly equipment including storage facilities. If there are compact blocks of single crop say citrus, banana, mango etc. the spread of diseases and pests are more. In selecting a site close to other orchards, one must make sure that they are free from devastating pests and diseases like citrus scale, canker, panama disease of banana, the tristeza disease of citrus.
8.Availability of labour: Large orchards are started often in out of the way placesand forest areas away from populated centres.It would therefore be necessary to ensure that adequate labour is available for orchard operatins.This point is of important in plantation crops particularly.
9.Social factors: These assume importance when large contingents of labour andmanagerial staff are to be employed as plantations or large orchards. They should be provided with medical and educational facilities, so that, they are content and stick on to the jobs.
10.Presence of nurseries close by: It is an advantage if the nurseries are close byto the selected site for selecting the plants for the orchard after studying the scion parents personally. It will also help to get cheap and quick transport of plants which will ensure better establishment.
10.Presence of nurseries close by: It is an advantage if the nurseries are close byto the selected site for selecting the plants for the orchard after studying the scion parents personally. It will also help to get cheap and quick transport of plants which will ensure better establishment.
11.Cost of the land: Cost of the land comes up for consideration when all the otherrequirements listed above have been satisfied. It should never be the prime consideration in the choice a little extra cost paid for the foregoing amenities is more than repaid in the long run.