what is pruning, its method, principles & object

Pruning:

Pruning is the removal of any excess or undesirable part of the plant with certain objectives. In some fruit trees fruit are borne on current flushes like Grapes, Ber, Phalsa, Apple, etc.

Principles of pruning:-

1. Remove dead, diseased, weak, and branches with crotch angle with priority.
2. Remove the branches which are very close to Earth. Bordo or Chobatiya paste should be applied to the wound.
3. Remove all branches that arise from rootstock for good development of the scion.

Objectives of pruning-

1.  To provide an artificial rest to plant
2. To separate unproductive and infected plants.
3. To transfer the energy from one part to another.
4. To maintain a balance between vegetative growth and the production of fruits.
5. To obtain high-quality fruits
6. To increase the C: N ratio

Method of pruning –

• Root pruning: –  It is done with the roots of plants viz. Apple rose. It regulates vegetable development and increases production (fruiting).
• Shoot pruning:-  It is done at the aerial part of plants. There are six important methods of pruning.

1. Thinning out:- When all branches are removed entirely from the inception point (point of origin) so new shoot arises from that place. It is referred to as thinning out.

•Thinning is the removal practice of shoots arising from unwanted places, diseased or dense.

•The size of the fruit increases but TSS and acid content decrease as a result of Thinning

2. Heading back: When the branches grow tall and vigorously without producing flowers. They are slashed almost to the base. Leaving a few inches of stump. Carrying a few buds.

3. Pinching (Nipping):– Removal tine tip of the shoot with two or three leaves to encourage the growth of lateral bud is called pinching or tipping   chrysanthemum and dahlia

4. Desuckering:– Removal of undesired suckers is called Desuckering ex. banana.

5. Disbudding:- Removal of bud is called disbudding to increase the production. It is mainly performed  in chrysanthemum and dahlia

6. Girdling:- The 25 cm bark of a fruit tree is removed to improve fruiting is called girdling or ringing.