Studies on canopy management in peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch)

The present investigations “Studies on canopy management in peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch)” were conducted at Fruit Research Farm in Department of Fruit Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during the years 2014 and 2015. Peach trees of cv. Shan-ipunjab were planted in January 2011 at two spacings viz., 5m x 2m and 5m x 3m and were trained to four training systems viz., Y shaped, Hedge row, Espalier and V trellis. The total radiation interception and penetration in the upper and lower parts of the canopy were higher in Espailer and V trellis trained trees. Average radiation interception during the year was higher in the upper part of the canopy as compared to lower canopy part irrespective of spacings and training systems. Vegetative growth in terms of tree girth and spread was higher in V trellis trees whereas Hedge row trees recorded higher tree height, shoot length and canopy volume. Reproductive growth ( lower bud density, fruit set and yield) was maximum in V trellis trees and minimum in Hedge row trees. Fruits harvested from Espailer and V trellis trained trees were superior in fruit quality (size, weight, colour and total soluble solids) and matured earlier than the Y shaped and Hedge row trees. The 5m x 3m planted trees were found to be better in terms of light interception, vegetative growth, fruit yield and quality as compared to trees planted at 5m x 2m. Foliar nutrient content of peach leaves was not affected significantly by different training systems and spacings during the present studies. Keyword: Light interception, training systems, spacing, peach ____________________________ _____________________ Signature of the Major Advisor Signature of the Student Koj pRbMD dw isrlyK : AwVU (pruns prsIkw (AYl.) bYS) iv`c kYnopI pRbMD dw AiDAYn ividAwrQI dw nwm Aqy dwKlw nM. : XwimnI Srmw AYl-2012-ey-23-fI inmn ivSw : bnspqI ivigAwn ifgrI : pI.AYc. fI. pRmu`K slwhkwr dw nwm Aqy Ahudw : fw. hrimMdr isMG sInIAr bwgbwnI mwihr Koj pRbMD iv`c ku`l pMny : 120 + AMiqkw + vItw XUnIvristI dw nwm : pMjwb KyqIbwVI XUnIvristI, luiDAwxw – 141004, pMjwb, Bwrq swr mOjUdw AiDAYn “AwVU (pruns prsIkw AYl.) iv`c kYnopI pRbMD dw AiDAYn” isrlyK ADIn pMjwb KyqIbwVI XUnIvristI, luiDAwxw dy &l ivigAwn ivBwg dy &l Koj Pwrm ivKy sMn 2014 Aqy 2015 dOrwn kIqw igAw[ AwVU dI Swn-ey-pMjwb iksm dy bUty 5 mI  2 mI Aqy 5 mI  3 mI kqwr &sly apr augwey gey Aqy isDweI dIAW iqMn v`Ko-v`KrIAW ivDIAW Bwv vweI Awkwr, hY~j roA, AYspylIAr Aqy vI tRyils rwhIN iehnW bUitAW dI isDweI kIqy gey[ kYnopI dy auprly Aqy hyTly Bwg iv`c ku`l ivkrx AvroDn Aqy ivCydn sB qoN vDyry AYspylIAr Aqy vI tRyils pRxwlIAW vwly bUitAW iv`c drj kIqw igAw[ swl dOrwn, kYnopI dy hyTly Bwg dy mukwbly kYnopI dy auprlI Bwg iv`c AOsqn ivkrx AvroDn vDyry hoieAw Aqy ies aupr kqwr &sly Aqy isDweI ivDI dw koeI vI pRBwv nhIN ipAw[ vI tRyils bUitAW iv`c bUty dy Gyry Aqy PYlwA dy ilhwz nwl bnspqk vwDw vDyry hoieAw jdoNik hYj roA bUitAW ivc̀ bUty dI aucweI, tihxIAW dI lMbweI Aqy kYnopI Gxqw vDyry drj kIqI geI[ bnspqk vwDw (hyTlI klm dI Gxqw, &l sY~t Aqy JwV) vI tRYils bUitAW ivc̀ sB qo N vDyry Aqy hYj roA bUitAW iv`c sB qoN G`t sI[ vI Akwr Aqy hYj roA bUitAW dy mukwbly AYspylr Aqy vI tRyils bUitAW qoN qoVy gey &lW dI guxvqw (Akwr, Bwr, rMg Aqy ku`l GulxSIl soilf) vDyry sI Aqy iehnW bUitAW dy &l jldI p`ky[ 5 mI  2 mI dy mukwbly 5 mI  3 mI kqwr &sly apr augwey gey bUtym, roSnI AvroDn, bnspqk vwDw, &l dy JwV Aqy guxvqw dy ilhwz nwl vDIAw sn[ AwVU dy p`iqAW dy pOSitk q`qW dI imkdwr aupr v`Ko-v`KrIAW isDweI ivDIAW Aqy kqwr &wsilAW dw koeI vI ArQpUrn pRBwv nhIN ipAw[ mu`K Sbd: roSnI AvroDn, isDweI ivDIAW, kqwr &wslw, AwVU __________________ _______________ pRmu`K slwhkwr dy hsqwKr ividAwrQI dy hsqwKr