Systems/Methods of Orchard Planting | Horticultural Important Notes

 

                             

Systems of Orchard Planting

                       "The arrangement of plants in the orchard is known as lay-out. The following points need to be considered before choosing a system of planting." 

• It should accommodate maximum number of plants per unit area.
• It should allow sufficient space for the development of each tree.
• It enables equal distribution of area under each tree.
• The intercultural operations such as ploughing, spraying etc. are easily carried out.  
• It makes supervision more easy and effective.

 

(1). Square System:-

• In this system a tree is planted at each corner of a square what ever may the Planting distance.  
• The distance between row to row and plant to plant is same.

Merits and Demerits:

• Most commonly followed and simplest of all and easy to lay out.
• The possibility of cultural operations in two directions is the greatest advantage of this system.
• The major disadvantage of this system is that a lot of space in the centre of each square is wasted.

 

(2) Rectangular System:-

• Similar to square system, except that the distance between plants in the row and distance between rows is not the same but different.  
• Row to row distance is more than that from plant to plant in the row.

 

Merits and Demerits:-

• It has almost all the advantages of the square system but cultivation is some what difficult, especially when the trees have fully grown.

 

(3) Quincunx or Filler System:-

• This is also known as filler or diagonal system.
• This is the modification of a square system of layout distinguished to make use of the empty space in the center of each square by planting another plant is called filler tree.
• Generally the filler tree will be precocious and shorter duration and not be of same kind as those planted on the corner of the square.
• Guava, phalsa. plum, papaya, peaches, kinnow are important fillers.
• They yield some crop before the permanent trees come into bearing.  
• The filler tree is removed when the main fruit trees grow to full stature and start bearing.
• This system is followed when the distance between permanent trees exceeds 8m or more or where permanent trees are very slow in their growth and also take longer time for coming to bearing. Eg. Sapota, Jackfruit.

Merits and Demerits:-

• The main advantage of this system is that the plant population is about double than the square system.
• The greatest disadvantage of this system is that, it is difficult to carry out intercultural operations on account of the filler tree.

 

(4) Hexagonal System:-

• This is also called as equilateral system.
• Some times a seventh tree is planted in the centre of the hexagon, and then it is called septule system.
• In this system the trees are planted in each corner of the equilateral triangle.  
• This system differs from the square system in which the distance between the rows is less than the distance between the trees in a row, but the distance from tree to tree in six directions remains the same.  
• This system is usually employed, where land  is expensive and is very fertile with good availability of water.

 

Merits and Demerits:-

• This system permits cultivation in three directions.
• The plants occupy the land fully without any waste as in square system
• This system allows 15% more plants than the square system of planting.
• This system is not generally followed because it is difficult to adopt in practice in the field and the inter-cultivation in such gardens is difficult to carry out.

 

(5) Triangular System:-

• The trees are planted as in square system but the difference being that those in the even numbered rows are midway between those in the odd rows instead of opposite to them.
• Triangular system is based on the principle of iso-lateral triangle.
• The distance between any two adjacent trees in a row is equal to the perpendicular distance between any two adjacent rows.

 

Merits and Demerits:-

• This system is not much of practical importance.
• Plants are not placed at equal distance from all sides.
• When compared to square system, each tree occupies more area and hence it accommodates few trees per hectare than the square system.

 

(6). Contour System:-

• It is generally followed on the hills where the plants are planted along the contour across the slope.  
• It particularly suits to land with undulated topography, where there is greater.
• The main purpose of this system is to minimize land erosion and to conserve danger of erosion and irrigation of the orchard is difficult, soil moisture so as to make the slope fit for growing fruits and plantation crops.  
• The contour line is so designed and graded in such a way that the flow of water in the irrigation channel becomes slow and thus finds time to penetrate into the, soil without causing erosion.
• Terrace system on the other hand refers to planting in flat strip of land formed across a sloping side of a hill, lying level along the contours.  
• The planting distance under the contour system may not be uniform.
• When the slope is <10% contour bunding is practiced and if the slope is >10% contour terracing is practiced.  

 

Merits and Demerits:-

• The trees may not be set at equidistance. The no. of plants per unit area will generally be less than other system.

 

(7). High Density Planting(HDP):-

• High density planting is one of the improved production technologies to achieve the objective of enhanced productivity of Indian fruit industry is often referred as 'High density planting' or HDP.
• This technique was first established in apple in Europe during 60’s.
• In this system, four planting densities are recognized for apples viz., low HDP (< 250 trees/ha), moderate HDP (250-500 tree/ha), high HDP (500 to 1250 trees/ha) and ultra high HDP (>1250 trees/ha).
• In some orchards, planting of apple trees is done more closer is followed (say 70,000 trees/ha) which is often referred as 'Meadow Orchards'.

Advantages of High Density Planting:-

• Higher yields by than traditional planting.
• Higher returns per unit area.
• Early returns.
• Easy management of orchard tress which reduces labour cost resulting in low cost of production.
• Easily mechanization of fruit crop production and facilitates more efficient use of fertilizers, water, solar radiation, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides.

 

Disadvantages of High Density Planting:-

• 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.
• 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.
• Reduction in yield in the long run after 10-12 years of age.
• Production of small sized fruits and poor quality fruits.

Thank You

Vikas Kashyap :)

Contact US

Telegram