Meadow
Orchard System is a new concept of guava planting which has been developed for
the first time in India at Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture,
Lucknow. The planting is done at 2.0 m (row to row) x 1.0 m (plant to
plant), which gives a density of 5000 plants per ha. The trees are pruned and
trained to allow maximum production of quality fruits during the first year. A single trunk
tree with no interfering branches up to 30 - 40 cm from the ground level is
desirable to make dwarf tree architecture. After a period of 1-2 months of planting,
all the trees are topped at a uniform height of 30-40 cm from the ground level
for initiation of new growth below the cut ends. This is done to make a single trunk
straight up to 40 cm height. After 15-20 days of topping, new shoots emerge. In
general, 3-4 shoots are retained from below the cut point after topping. As
shoots mature generally after a period of 3-4 months, they are reduced by 50
per cent of their total length so that new shoots emerge below the cut point.
This is done to attain the desired tree canopy architecture and strong
framework. The emerged shoots are allowed to grow for 3 - 4 months before they
are again pruned by 50 per cent. After pruning, new shoots emerge on which
flowering takes place.It is emphasized that shoot pruning is done thrice a
year. This leads to desired canopy development. Though fruiting starts, in the
same year, one can not expect fruits on each and every shoot. Pruning is
continued so that plants remain dwarf. After a year, pruning operation is done
especially in May-June, September-October and January-February.Harvesting of
fruits is generally done in January-February from the May-June pruned shoots. After
harvest, the pruning is done above fruiting points. New shoots emerge after
pruning of shoots during January-February. On these shoots, flowering takes
place and fruiting is obtained during July-September. Second time pruning is
done in May-June. After pruning, once again shoots emerge and flowering takes place,
which yields fruits during December-February. These shoots are further pruned
for the third time in September - October. This is the technique for
maintaining a meadow orchard for optimum production and dwarf tree size. The
height of plants is restricted to 1.0 m, while an average production of 10-12
kg fruits plant-1 is obtained every year. As harvesting is easy in a meadow
orchard, no damage occurs to the fruits. Seven guava varieties, viz. Allahabad
Safeda, Sardar, Shweta, Lalit, CISH-G-5, CISH -G-6 and hybrid (Lalit x Shweta)
evaluated under meadow orchard system showed positive impact of the technology.
