01 Sep Rejuvenation of Senile and Unproductive Orchards
जीर्ण और अनुत्पादक बागों का कायाकल्प The senile and unproductive orchards attributed a declining trend of production because of unsuitable site and climate, cultivation of inter crops, inadequate nutrition’s, improper planting, undesirable planting materials, incidence of insect pest and disease and other biotic and a biotic stresses. To overcome the problem of unproductive orchards research efforts were initiated to standardize a technology for restoring the production potential of existing plantations by a technique called Rejuvenation. The present paper helps to understand the basics of rejuvenation techniques for senile and unproductive orchards to fetch quality fruit production with increased yield to meet the present and future requirement of a farmer. The term ‘Rejuvenation’ means restoring the productive capacity of the fruit includes removal of old twigs. Rejuvenation restores the production potential of old, un-productive orchards by pruning of branches at different periodicity and at different severities. It also helps in maintaining the manageable tree height with open architecture and canopy of healthy shoots with outwardly growth facilitating penetration and utilization of light. Crowding and encroachment of trees with subsequent inefficient light utilization, is an obvious problem with older orchards, if trees are not well managed. The internal bearing capacity of trees also decreases with time, due to overshadowing of internal bearing wood. Requirement of rejuvenation of Senile orchard: The orchards required...