Influence of spacing and pruning on growth, yield and economics of off-season long melon (Cucumis melo)

Abstract

Long melon [Cucumis melo var. utilissimus (Roxb.) Duthie & Fuller] cultivation in open field condition in northern India is hampered due to extremes of the temperature from September to January. Therefore, the present study was carried out to explore possibility for off-season production of long melon under protected conditions at Center for Protected Cultivation Technology (CPCT), ICAR-IARI, New Delhi in 2016–17 and 2017–18. Seedlings were transplanted as per five different spacing and branch pruning methods. The combination of closer spacing with maximum branch node pruning method under polyhouse structure was found better for off-season long melon production. Flowering appeared earlier by 4.02 days, first fruit picking by 5 days, additional number of pickings (5 times) and harvesting period extended by 60 days in polyhouse compared to insect proof net-house structure. The closer spacing S1 (50 cm × 20 cm) exhibited maximum weight of fruits, fruit yield, gross income as well as net-income and B: C ratio. Among pruning methods, complete branch pruning method P1 (single stem cultivation or branch less cultivation) contributed positively significant effect on all parameters of long melon. The combination of polyhouse structure with closer spacing (50 cm × 20 cm) and optimum branch pruning (after one node cutting) gave highest yield and net income per unit area for off-season cultivation of long melon.

Effect of Plant Growth Regulators on Yield and Quality of Winter Season Guava (Psidium Guajava L.) Cv. L-49

“…Higher quantity of soluble carbohydrates in the cell sap and higher glucose concentration in fruits treated with NAA was due to marked increase in carbon assimilation, thereby favoring better electrolytic composition. The result of the present investigation is in agreement with the findings of Dodiya et al (2018), Sharma and Tiwari (2015), Abbas et al (2014), Iqbal et al (2009), Singh and Bal (2006), Dubey et al (2002) and Yadav et al (2001) in guava, Sharma et al (2005) in litchi, Dhakad et al (2020) in mulberry and Yadav et al (2010), Kumar et al (2017) in aonla.…”

“…This increase in total sugars with the application NAA might be due to the fact that NAA is helpful in the process of photosynthesis, which leads to the accumulations of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides in higher amounts besides this also regulates the enzymatic activity and the enzymes that metabolize the carbohydrates into simple sugars. The result of the present investigation is in agreement with the findings of Dodiya et al (2018), Sharma and Tiwari (2015), Abbas et al (2014), Iqbal et al (2009), Singh and Bal (2006), Dubey et al (2002) and Yadav et al (2001) in guava, Sharma et al (2005) in litchi, Dhakad et al (2020) in mulberry and Yadav et al (2010), Kumar et al (2017) in aonla.…”

Studied the growth, yield and quality attributes of guava as influenced by Canopy management practices: A review

“…During the rainy season, pruning treatments (10cm and 20cm) on guava cv. Allahabad Safeda resulted in the largest fruit size (Singh and Bal, 2006) [91] . According to Brar et al (2007) [16] , pruning at 45 cm increased fruit weight.…”

“…Because of the orientation of sunlight, Singh and Bal (2006) [91] observed that canopy spreading in an east-west direction was better than in a north-south direction. Lian et al (2019) [50] observed the effects of pruning months (mid-April, mid-May and mid-June) and pruning severity (pruning of 25%, 50% and 75% of shoot length from tip) on growth and yield of guava cv.…”

“…Bagchi et al (2008) [6] investigated biochemical changes in the leaf and bark of guava during offseason flowering and found that varied bending and pruning treatments resulted in enhanced overall fruit output. Shoot pruning can assist you manage your tree's size and fruit production (Singh and Bal, 2006) [91] . Plants with pruning treatments produce more fruit (Shigeura and Bulloc, 1976) [81] .…”