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IntrdoductionPlanting of fruit trees rather at a closer spacing than the recommended one using certain special techniques with the sole objective of obtaining maximum productivity per unit area without sacrificing quality is often referred as 'High density planting' or HDP. This technique was first established in apple in Europe during sixties and now majority of the apple orchards in Europe, America, Australia and New Zealand are grown under this system. Based on plant population, HDP is termed as Low HDP with less than 250 trees/ha., higher HDP with 500-1250 trees/ha and ultra HDP with more than 1250 trees/ha. Recently, super high density planting system has been also established in apple orchards with a plant population of 20,000 trees per ha. Still dense population of about 70,000 trees/ha is followed in certain orchards and this system of planting is referred as meadow orcharding as practiced in apple. The exact limits of plant density to be termed as are not yet well defined. It varies with the region, species, variety, rootstock, cost of planting material, labour and likely return from the orchard and agro-techniques adopted for a particular crop.
High density planting is one of the improved production technologies to achieve the objective of enhanced productivity of Indian fruit industry. Yield and quality of theproduce are two essential components of the productivity. High density planting aims to achieve the twin requisites of productivity by maintaining a balance between vegetative and reproductive load without impairing the plant health.
The underlying principle of high density planting is to make best use of vertical and horizontal space per unit time and to harness maximum possible return per unit of inputs and national resources. In India, the usefulness / vitality of this technology has been proved in an array of fruit crops eg.; pineapple, banana, papaya, mango, apple and citrus.
Advantages:
1) It induces precocity/precocious bearing
2) Higher yields. The average yield in apple is about 5.0 t/ha under normal system of planting and it is about 140.0 t/ha under high density planting.
3) Higher returns per unit area
4) Early returns
5) Easy management of orchard tress
6) Reduces labour cost resulting in low cost of production
7) Enables the mechanization of fruit crop production and facilitates more efficient use of fertilizers, water, solar radiation, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides.
Dis-advantages of high density planting:
1) HDP results in over crowding, over lapping not only in the tops, but also in the root system and heavy competition for space, nutrients and water.
2) More important is build up of high humidity, lack of cross ventilation in the orchard, which is more conducive for build up of pests and diseases.
3) Reduction in yield in the long run after 10-12 years of age.
4) Production of small sized fruits and poor quality fruits.
The underlying principle of high density planting is to make best use of vertical and horizontal space per unit time and to harness maximum possible return per unit of inputs and national resources. In India, the usefulness / vitality of this technology has been proved in an array of fruit crops eg.; pineapple, banana, papaya, mango, apple and citrus.
Advantages:
1) It induces precocity/precocious bearing
2) Higher yields. The average yield in apple is about 5.0 t/ha under normal system of planting and it is about 140.0 t/ha under high density planting.
3) Higher returns per unit area
4) Early returns
5) Easy management of orchard tress
6) Reduces labour cost resulting in low cost of production
7) Enables the mechanization of fruit crop production and facilitates more efficient use of fertilizers, water, solar radiation, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides.
Dis-advantages of high density planting:
1) HDP results in over crowding, over lapping not only in the tops, but also in the root system and heavy competition for space, nutrients and water.
2) More important is build up of high humidity, lack of cross ventilation in the orchard, which is more conducive for build up of pests and diseases.
3) Reduction in yield in the long run after 10-12 years of age.
4) Production of small sized fruits and poor quality fruits.