Yield and quality performance of apples under varied summer pruning intensities in the North-Western Himalayan region

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of varied intensities of summer pruning on five predominant apple cultivars in ultra-high-density planting systems on yield and quality performance at harvest. The experiment was carried out during 2021-22 and 2022-23 growing seasons under the Kulgam district of J&K (UT) in the North-Western Himalayan region of India. Experimental plants were evaluated at harvest for yield and quality performance. The economic value of various treatments was calculated by estimating total costs (Rs/tree), gross income (Rs/tree), and Net income (Rs/tree) by framing questionnaires and collecting requisite information. Results revealed that summer pruning showed varied results in terms of various observations due to different genetic makeup, growing habits, bearing patterns, market price, and fruit quality. Significantly at par highest average yields/tree was obtained in Red Fuji (49.741kg) and Jeromine (49.268 kg) while the lowest value was obtained in Red Chief (27.919kg). However, Redlum Gala excelled over other cultivars in terms of Fancy (4.148kg), A-grade (27.517kg), and B-grade (4.158kg) although its yield was 42.313kg/tree which was lower as compared to Red Fuji and Jeromine. Maximum C-grade apples were obtained in the case of Red Fuji (23.998 kg/tree) and minimum in Red Chief cultivar (2.267 kg/tree). Mild summer pruning resulted in significantly the highest yield (47.076kg/tree) as compared to other summer pruning intensities. Summer pruning significantly affected the quantity of various apple grades. The maximum quantity of Fancy-grade apples (3.451kg/tree) was obtained in medium summer pruning whereas, mild summer pruning resulted in the highest A-grade (25.465kg/tree). Results revealed that the highest average yield was obtained in the mediumly pruned Red Fuji cultivar (57.53kg/tree) which was significantly at par with mildly pruned Jeromine (56.48 kg/tree). Better results in terms of Fancy-grade apples were obtained in mediumly pruned Redlum Gala (5.69 kg/tree) as compared to other treatment combinations. Similarly, mildly pruned Jeromine excelled in other treatment combinations in terms of A-grade apple yield (36.78 kg/tree). Similarly, various treatment combinations varied in terms of B-grade and C-grade apple yield. A negative correlation was observed between the crop yield (t/ha) and pruning severity in almost all cultivars excluding Red Fuji. A strong linear negative correlation (-0.99) between summer pruning and crop yield was observed in the Red Chief variety. A slight positive correlation was observed in the case of Red Fuji. The economic viability of various treatment combinations varied and was found better in terms of BC ratio in mediumly pruned and severely pruned Jeromine cultivar (3.67) followed by mediumly pruned Red Chief cultivar (3.57) and the lowest in unpruned Red Fuji (0.80).