Old mango orchard rejuvenation pruning canopy management top working aam productivity revival
How do I rejuvenate an old unproductive mango (aam) orchard?
MMahadev Gowda10 महीने पहले · 402 व्यू
6 जवाब
🌾Farmer.in Krishi Teamविशेषज्ञ ✓10 महीने पहले
Old crowded mango orchards lose yield because of dense interlocking canopies, dead wood, and poor light penetration, and these respond well to staged rejuvenation pruning. The usual approach is heading back overgrown trees over one to two seasons, removing dead and criss-crossing branches to open up the centre, and protecting cut ends with a paste to prevent infection. Follow up with soil improvement, balanced manuring, and pest and disease control so the new flush is healthy. Do not cut the whole orchard back hard in one go because that can shock the trees and lose multiple years of crop. Get the cutting plan and post-pruning care schedule from your local horticulture department or KVK since it depends on tree age, variety, and spacing.
MManjunath Gowda10 महीने पहले
When we headed back our old Totapuri trees in Kolar we did it just before the new flush season and pasted every big cut with Bordeaux paste. The new shoots came strong, but we had to thin those shoots later so the new frame did not get crowded again. Patience for two seasons is the key, do not expect a full crop the next year.
SSrinivasaiah B10 महीने पहले
We did this in phases, cutting back only half the trees in the first year so we still had some income from the other half. The big exposed branches sunburn badly after heavy pruning, so we white-washed the main limbs with lime to protect them. That one step saved a lot of bark splitting in our Chintamani orchard.
YYallappa Naik10 महीने पहले
If the old trees are a poor variety, consider top-working instead of just pruning, where you graft a better variety onto the cut framework. We converted some old seedling trees this way and got a marketable variety in a few years. Get the grafting done by someone experienced and follow your KVK on the right season and scion source, otherwise the take is poor.
NNingappa Hiremath10 महीने पहले
One thing we underestimated was the cost of the year of lost crop, so plan your finances before you take the saw to the orchard. We staggered the rejuvenation over three seasons so the income did not collapse in any single year. Talk to your bank or KVK about it because that planning matters as much as the pruning itself.
LLakshmamma Reddy9 महीने पहले
After heading back we found the trees pushed a lot of soft watery shoots that the borer and hopper liked, so keep a watch and protect that tender flush. We also gave a balanced manure dose and a light irrigation to support the new growth without overdoing nitrogen. Get the post-pruning feed schedule from your horticulture officer rather than guessing.