EFFECT OF THE TIME AND SEVERITY OF PRUNING ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY IN MULBERRY (Morus alba L.)

PAWAN¹, J.R. SHARMA², SATPAL BALODA³*, SURINDER SINGH⁴, MUKESH KUMAR^5
1Department of Horticulture, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana 125004
²Department of Horticulture, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana 125004
³Department of Horticulture, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana 125004
⁴Department of Horticulture, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana 125004
⁵Department of Horticulture, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana 125004
* Corresponding Author : s_baloda@rediffmail.com

Received : 09-10-2017     Accepted : 23-10-2017     Published : 30-10-2017
Volume : 9     Issue : 50       Pages : 4861 - 4863
Int J Agr Sci 9.50 (2017):4861-4863

Keywords : Time, Severity, Growth, Yield, Quality, Mulberry
Academic Editor : Sapna Singh
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Sincere and gratitude thanks to Prof. and Head, Department of Horticulture, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana 125004, for possible help and extraordinary effort during the achievement of this investigation and his guidance and encouragement during the extraordinary effort during this work
Author Contribution : All author equally contributed

Experiment was laid out with Randomized Block Design consisting of three pruning times i.e. first week of January, third week of January and first week of February and four pruning severities i.e. control, 20 per cent, 40 per cent and 60 per cent removal of previous season growth comprising 12 treatment combinations altogether. During the course of studies, it was found that pruning time did not affect any parameter significantly except time taken for fruit ripening. Early fruit ripening observed with the delay in pruning time. Among different treatment combitions the minimum (83) days for fruit ripening were recorded in trees pruned at 60 per cent severity in 1st week of February. The minimum days to sprouting (30.2), time taken for flower initiation (38.9 days) and acidity (0.271 %) were observed under 60 per cent pruning severity. The maximum bud sprouting percentage (83.9 %), shoot length (282 cm), shoot diameter (2.64 cm), number of leaves per shoot (15.4) and leaf area were observed under 60 per cent severity of pruning. The maximum yield (20.5kg) was recorded in plants pruned at 40 per cent of previous season growth. Pruning severity had also significant effect on fruit size and fruit quality. Highest fruit size (fruit length and diameter), TSS (28.8 %), total sugar (18.3 %), reducing sugar (12.0 %) and ascorbic acid (49.3 mg/100g) were observed under pruning level of 60 per cent whereas these values were minimum in control.

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