Rejuvenation of old/senile mango orchards

Dr. Parshant Bakshi Associate Prof. (Fruit Science)SKUAST-Jammu

What is senility ?Senility is a stage of the plant in

which after a long span of continuous fruiting, the ability of the branches or limbs and or whole tree to produce vigorous and efficient twigs having capacity to bear the fruit is reduced.

What is rejuvenation ?Rejuvenation is the process of

pruning and after pruning management of the plants to make them productive by utilizing the existing root system for support and absorption and existing limb / branch system to rebuilt the productive canopy

Why rejuvenation of senile plants? India is a leading fruit producing

country. Fruit production in the country is an

age old enterprise. A large acreage is under systematic

fruit plantation. The low average productivity of

orchards in India is attributed to prevalence of senile orchards

Hence, rejuvenation is required to improve the productivity of senile orchards

Predominance of long unfruitful branches and tip bearing habit

Reduction in the ability of a particular branch to produce vigorous and efficient twigs which can bear fruits

Over crowding of branches in the inner part of the canopy leading to restricted sunlight penetration

Heavy incidence of pest and disease Drastic reduction in fruit yield, size and

appearance

Characteristics of senile orchards

Principle of rejuvenation1. Trees have latent buds on their

limbs and branches which are activated to put forth new sprouts which ultimately form the canopy and fruiting area of the plant.

2. Improvement in root : shoot ratio

Considerations for rejuvenation

1. Age of the plant2. Ability of the species to coppice3. Frame of the tree4. Time and severity of

rejuvenation5. Post rejuvenation care6. Transformation of rejuvenated

juvenile shoots into productive one

7. Top working to change the variety

Advantages of rejuvenation

1. Utilization of existing root system2. Lowering the fruiting area which can be

conveniently managed3. Creation of extra space for intercropping

in the orchard4. Availability of large amount of pruned

wood which can provide additional income

5. Enhancing the productivity of plant

Methodology and operations in mango

Convincing the farmers

Marking and cutting of the trees

Heading Back &

Selection of main

branches

Pasting on cut ends

New shoot initiation on rejuvenated trees

Profuse shooting

Thinning of shoots

Keeping 8-10 well spaced shoots per branch

First flush Second flush

Fully developed canopy

Application of Paclobutrazol to restore the Canopy productivity

Year of application : Third year after pruning

Time of application : September-October

Method of application : Trunk pour method

Canopy drip area method

Uniformly distributed localized

pit method

Doses : 4-6 gram a.i. per tree (16-25 ml P333)

What is Paclobutrazol?Paclobutrazol is a growth retardant which intercepts the Gibberellins Synthesis path way and therefore known as Anti-gibberellins. With the application of Paclobutrazol, gibberellins and auxin balance in the terminal shoots changed more towards auxin which is responsible for florigin formation and ultimately the flowering in the terminal shoots

Method of application

Rejuvenated plants started flowering

in third year

The orchard intercropped with Carrot and bottle gourd

Yield of intercrops in rejuvenated orchard

Crop Area (acre)

Yield (q)

Potato 0.50 16.0

Ginger 0.25 9.0

Bottle guard

0.25 16.0

Pigeon pea

0.25 2.5

Mustard 0.25 3.5

Conclusion Rejuvenation has been found

successful in mango. It is responding in the trees having

strong shoot renewal and coppicing capacity

Efforts should be made to improve productivity of other fruit and plantation crops having similar growth habit

In crops where young shoots have economic importance, rejuvenation practice should also be tried to improve their productivity