High Density Planting of Horticultural Crops By Dr. Suraj Prakash

1. High density orcharding in fruit
crops

2.  High density orcharding is the practice of
accommodating higher number of plants of
the same species per unit area by planting at
a closer spacing than that is planted under
traditional system.

3.  Increased sunlight capture per unit area
 Land use efficiency
 Appropriate vegetative reproductive balance
of the plants.

4.  Low vegetative growth
 Low productivity per plant

5.  Planting system
 Canopy management
 Use of dwarfing rootstock/Interstock
 Training
 Shoot pruning
 Root pruning
 Use of growth regulators

6. Crop Spacing Planting
density
plants per
ha
Yield
(t/ha)
% increase
over
traditional
methods
Mango cv.
Amrapali
2.5m x
2.5m
1600 19.2 250%
Citrus
(Kinnow)
1.8m x
1.8m
3000 20 200%
Banana 1.4m x
1.4m
4444 145.44 250%
Pineapple 25cm x 35
cm x 90cm
64000 90.0 200%
Guava 1m x 2m 5000 50 250%

7. Experiences at B P S A C on high density
orcharding in fruit crops

9. Treatment 1997 1999 2001 2003
7.5 m x 7.5 m 2.54 7.13 29.05 47.1
7.5 m x 5.0 m 1.73 9.6 22.24 45.64
5.0 m x 5.0 m 1.88 25.58 38.26 50.97
2.5 m x 7.5 m 1.91 16.75 24.87 32.53
2.5 m x 5.0 m 1.98 26.12 34.22 56.66
2.5 m x 2.5 m 1.51 20.94 28.2 31.95
S.E.m 0.23 0.59 1.53 4.83
C.D. at 5% 0.64 1.77 4.61 14.52

10. Treatments LAI
7.5 m x 7.5 m 2.14
7.5 m x 5.0 m 2.12
5.0 m x 5.0 m 2.24
2.5 m x 7.5 m 2.59
2.5 m x 5.0 m 2.46
2.5 m x 2.5 m 3.38
S.E.m 0.16
C.D. at 5% 0.47

11. Treatment 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Cumulative
yield
7.5 m x 7.5 m 0.82 4.92 1.25 14.55 2.32 23.82 4.00 28.12 4.35 33.57 115.82
7.5 m x 5.0 m 1.07 4.66 1.06 9.42 1.95 22.25 3.52 27.12 3.95 31.77 102.02
5.0 m x 5.0 m 1.47 3.26 0.82 11.2 2.05 24.92 3.09 28.00 3.75 32.72 107.73
2.5 m x 7.5 m 1.06 4.01 1.03 9.25 1.93 17.62 2.95 19.25 3.00 21.17 104.39
2.5 m x 5.0 m 0.94 3.89 0.95 10.92 1.57 12.75 2.60 14.45 1.95 15.67 78.88
2.5 m x 2.5 m 0.96 3.27 0.73 6.81 0.98 7.90 1.58 8.60 1.00 7.62 45.53

12. Treatment 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Cumulative
yield (q/ha)
7.5 m x 7.5 m 1.47 8.77 2.23 25.90 4.13 42.42 7.12 50.05 7.74 59.80 206.17
7.5 m x 5.0 m 2.85 12.43 2.83 25.15 5.21 59.40 9.40 72.45 10.55 84.82 272.40
5.0 m x 5.0 m 5.87 13.04 3.28 37.00 8.20 99.70 12.36 112.00 15.00 130.90 430.92
2.5 m x 7.5 m 5.65 21.41 5.50 59.81 10.31 93.95 15.75 102.60 16.02 112.85 557.46
2.5 m x 5.0 m 7.51 31.16 7.60 87.38 12.56 102.00 20.80 115.60 15.60 125.40 639.01
2.5 m x 2.5 m 15.32 52.36 11.68 108.96 15.68 126.40 25.28 137.10 16.0 122.00 728.48

15.  Severe pruning in alternate rows every three
years

16.  Possible strategy
 Planting at a spacing of 5 m x 5 m
 Shoot pruning in alternate years when fruiting is
not expected

20. No pruning Pruning to 60% of
canopy
Pruning to 80% of
canopy

21. Month 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
January 27.0 0 12.0
February 0.0 12.0 20.0
March 16.0 0 0.0
April 0.0 18.0 38.5
May 86.0 49.0 138.1
June 60.0 101.0 606.5
July 368.0 226.0 251.2
August 210.0 152.0 423.5
September 319.0 183.0 305.8
October 95.0 58.0 198.0
November 24.0 13.0 0.0
December 34.0 23.0 0.0
Total 1239.0 835.0 1993.6

30.  For production of 1 kg of guava cv Sardar,
the total water requirement is 68.02 litre

37.  Benefit cost ratio of Ultra High Density guava
orcharding for a period of 5 years is 3.1 as
compared to 2.9 traditional system
orcharding.
 Net profit per year, fifth year onwards under
Ultra High Density orcharding is Rs.3.39
lakh/ha compared to Rs.1.68 lakh/ha in
traditional system

38.  Keeping in view yield and gross income,
pruning of guava plants thrice a year viz.
March, May and October to 50% of shoot
length can be recommended for
maximization of income from Ultra-high
density guava orchard growing under Bihar
conditions.
 Application of 60% of recommended dose
of fertilizer and irrigation at 60% PE was
found to be most suitable

44. UHDO at Chakradharpur

48. Place Area (acre)
Deoghar 8
Chakrdharpur 6
Hazaribag 2
Ranchi 2
Saraikela 1

49.  Research papers – 3 No.
 Presentation in symposiums: 6 No

50.  High density orcharding in
 Peach
 Kaghji Kalan
 Pomegranate
 Ber
 Kinnow
 Litchi

51.  Fine-tuning canopy management
strategies
 Standardization of nutrient and water
management strategies