Principles of orchard planning:
Principles of orchard planning:
An area in which perennial fruit crops are established in the field is known as an orchard. An orchard is a long time investment and deserves a very careful planning. Fruit trees are perennial and require proper environmental conditions and suitable management practices for their successful growing. Any mistake made initially in planning is likely to put the fruit grower to incur heavy losses throughout the life span of the orchard. It is, therefore important to plan properly before establishing an orchard. Before planning a model orchard, the selected site should be cleared of all vegetation, leveled and ploughed repeatedly and if possible, leguminous crops like sunhemp, cowpea, daincha, etc., are grown and incorporated into the soil. This helps to improve the organic content of the soil. Then the proposed orchard plan is prepared showing the area assigned to each fruit crops and marking the tree rows.
Principles of orchard planning:
Principles of orchard planning:
1. Orchard should be established in the right location and site having suitable climate and soil conditions and for disposal of the produce.
2. Selected site should be cleared of all vegetation and leveled properly after deep tillage.
3. Minimum orchard space <LATEX>\left( < 1 0 \right)</LATEX> should be allotted for roads, paths and buildings Suitable drains are laid out on either side of the roads.
4. The evergreen fruits should be planted in the front and the deciduous trees at the back.
5. Fruit trees of shorter stature should be planted in front and taller and more spreading trees behind, this will facilitate better watching of the orchard.
6. Plant the trees, which require frequent irrigation near the irrigation source.
7. Fruit varieties ripening at a time should be located in adjoining plots to facilitate proper orchard operation.
8. Fruits that attract birds and other animal pests should be located close to the watchman's shed.
9. Fertile areas of the orchard should be allocated to highly remunerative crops and heavy feeding fruit trees.
10. Adopt suitable system of planting grown either on level ground or on slopes.
11. Choice of suitable varieties should be based upon adaptability to the location with high quality.
12. Adopt optimum spacing for fruit trees.
13. Fencing around the orchard, hedges and windbreak are preferably raised before planting of trees.
14. Procurement of genuine plant materials from reliable source is essential.