High Density Apple Farming – Planting, Spacing, Yield In India
High Density Apple Farming
An Apple is an edible fruit produced by an Apple tree and it’s scientifically called Malus Domestica. Apple is commercially the most important temperate fruit in India. The largest Apple producing country in the world is China. Apple is the fruit of the domesticated tree and one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits. In this article we also covered the below topics about high density Apple farming;
What is high density orchard
Advantages of high density planting
Is growing Apples profitable
High density Apple plantation
High density Apple orchard spacing
What is a high density orchard
High density Apple training systems
A Step by Step Guide to High Density Apple Farming and Production In India
Guide to High Density Apple Farming (Image credit: Pixabay)
High density planting (HDP) in fruit trees is to increase the plant population per unit area for increasing the production of fruit crops. It is also useful;
To overcome low productivity and
The long gestation period for early returns.
High density plantation mainly refers to the planting of the increased number of plants per unit area of land at close spacing, which is achieved by using suitable scion varieties grafted on dwarfing rootstocks. High density planting in Apple is done using dwarfing rootstocks (M9, M4, M7, and M106). The flower of most tree varieties requires cross-pollination for fertilization. When harvested, Apples are roundish, 2 to 4 inches in diameter, and some shade of red, green, or yellow; they vary in size, shape, and acidity depending on the tree variety.
High density Apple Cultivating in India
High-density plantation refers to the planting of the maximum possible number of plants per unit area to obtain maximum crop yield and profit per unit of tree volume without impairing the soil fertility status.
Apple is the important temperate fruit crop of the North-Western Indian Himalayan region. In India, Apple is cultivated in Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, hills of Uttarakhand. Apple cultivation is also extended to Nagaland, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya.
India’s share in the total Apple production of the world is 2.0 %. The total area under Apple cultivation In India is 250 thousand hectares producing 1470 thousand MT fruit with a productivity of 5.9 tonnes/ha. In Jammu and Kashmir, the total area under Apple is about 90.1 thousand hectares with a production of 909.6 thousand MT. The state of Jammu and Kashmir leads the other Apple-producing states in India, in terms of productivity with the production of 10.1 MT fruits per hectare.
High Density Apple Orchard in Himachal
In Himachal Pradesh, farmers are currently in a fight to save their Apple tracts that have been hit hard by climate change. They are adopting the new method of high-density Apple plantation being promoted by the state government.
The high density plantation is aiming at an increase in both productivity and quality. Also, it will help farmers meet the challenge of scarcity of labor.
High density farming refers to the planting of a higher number of plants per unit area than usual. Conventionally, standard Apple plants raised on seedling rootstocks are planted at a spacing of about 7.5 X 7.5 meters with a planting density of 178 trees per hectare and spur varieties on seedling rootstocks are planted at a spacing of about 5 X 5 m with a planting density of 400 plants per hectare.
The average productivity of these orchards is about 6 to 8 metric tonnes per hectare, which is much below the productivity obtained in high-density orchards 40 to 60 MT per hectare. Also, high density orchards can be developed on flat and fertile lands too the technology helps utilize land, provide ease in orchard inter-culture operations, plant protection, harvesting, and obtaining export quality of the produce.
The several Apple varieties in high-density planting are Jeromine, Red Velox, Red Cap Valtod, Scarlet Spur-II, Super Chief, Gale Gala, Redlum Gala, and Auvil Early Fuji.
High Density Apple Varieties in Kashmir
The demand for high density Apple plantation has increased in Southern districts. Imported Apple varieties that yield more fruit, consume less fertilizer and pesticide is in greater demand in southern Kashmir. The government promotes high density plantations, phasing out old plantations that have completed their economic life, giving farmers a subsidy of 50% on this re-plantation.
Proper irrigation is vital for raising this type of plantation and may need a bore well facility and contrary to traditional plantations this setup needs a drip pattern of irrigation, proper sanitation, and frequent checkups. Under high density plantation, about 4000 plants can be planted per hectare which is 250 trees under traditional farming.
High density Apples consume 70% less fertilizer and 80% less pesticide spray, adding that these Apple trees produce about 50 to 70 tons of fruit per hectare by the third year of plantation while traditional varieties produce about 10 to 15 tons.
