Ppt on Cultivation Practices And Management Of Apple Orchards

This presentation covers the cultivation practices of apple (Malus domestica), a major temperate fruit crop. It details origin, economic importance, botany, varieties, climate and soil requirements, propagation, orchard management, plant protection, and post-harvest handling. Key concepts include varieties, propagation, orchard management, disease management, and post-harvest practices.
Introduction to Apple Cultivation
  • Apple (Malus domestica) belongs to family Rosaceae.
  • Known as the “king of temperate fruits.”
  • Major table fruit globally; widely consumed fresh and processed.
  • Originated in Central Asia; cultivated for over 4000 years.
Origin and Distribution
  • Origin: Central Asia (Kazakhstan region).
  • China is the largest producer globally.
  • In India, major states: Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland.
  • Apple is the main horticultural crop in Himachal Pradesh.
Area, Production, and Productivity (India, 2001-02)
StateArea ('000 ha)Production ('000 MT)Productivity (MT/ha)
Jammu & Kashmir90.1909.610.1
Himachal Pradesh92.8180.61.9
Uttarakhand51.859.31.1
Arunachal Pradesh6.78.51.3
Nagaland0.10.33.3
All India241.61158.34.8
Economic Importance and Nutritional Value
  • Consumed fresh; also processed into juice, jelly, cider, wine.
  • Rich in dietary fiber, vitamins (A, B1, B2, C), and minerals (P, Ca, Fe).
  • One medium apple: ~95 kcal, 0.47g protein, 4.4g fiber.
  • “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
Botanical Description
  • Deciduous tree, 1.8–4.6 m tall in cultivation.
  • Leaves: alternate, simple, serrated margins, downy underside.
  • Flowers: white with pink tinge, 5-petaled, borne in cymes.
  • Fruit: pome type, red/yellow skin, pale flesh.
Varieties and Hybrids
  • Two types: Diploids (self-fruitful) and Triploids (require pollinizers).
  • Common diploids: Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Jonathan.
  • Triploids: Baldwin, Northern Spy.
  • Indigenous: Ambri (Kashmir).
  • Important hybrids: Lal Ambri, Sunehri, Ambstarking, Ambroyal, Ambrich, Chaubattia Princess, Ambredred.
Climate Requirements
  • Requires 1000–1500 chilling hours below 7°C for dormancy break.
  • Optimal elevation: 1500–2700 m above MSL.
  • Ideal temperature: 21–24°C during growth.
  • Needs frost-free spring, adequate sunshine, 100–125 cm well-distributed rainfall.
Soil Requirements and Propagation
  • Prefers loamy, well-drained soils, pH 5.5–6.5, rich in organic matter.
  • Gentle to moderate slope; avoid waterlogging and hardpan.
  • Propagation: vegetative (budding/grafting) on crab apple or Malling rootstocks.
  • Malling IX controls vigor; Malus baccata common rootstock in India.
Planting Practices
  • Planting season: January–February.
  • Spacing varies: low (<250/ha), moderate (250–500/ha), high (500–1250/ha), ultra-high (>1250/ha).
  • Systems: square/hexagonal (valleys), contour (slopes).
  • Pits: 1m × 1m × 1m, filled with FYM, SSP, Malathion dust.
  • Irrigate immediately after planting.
Nutrient Management
  • FYM: 10 kg/tree/year; increase with age.
  • N:P:K ratio: 70:35:70 g/year/tree (increase with age).
  • After 10 years: 700:350:700 g NPK/tree/year.
  • Correct micronutrient deficiencies (Zn, B, Mn, Ca) via foliar sprays.
Irrigation and Training/Pruning
  • Annual water requirement: ~114 cm; 15–20 irrigations/year.
  • Critical period: April–August (fruit set to development).
  • Training: modified central leader system for standard trees.
  • Spindle bush system for high-density orchards.
  • Pruning maintains balance between growth and fruiting.
Intercultural Operations and Growth Regulators
  • Weed control: glyphosate, paraquat, mulching (hay, black alkathene).
  • Intercropping: green manure crops (sunflower, beans) in early years.
  • Growth regulators: carbaryl, NAA for fruit thinning and quality improvement.
Harvesting and Yield
  • Harvest at physiological maturity; apples are climacteric fruits.
  • Maturity indices: TSS, color change, seed color, fruit firmness.
  • Yield: 40–100 kg/tree at full bearing (after 5 years).
  • Productive lifespan: up to 50 years; alternate bearing common in some varieties.
Major Pests and Management
  • Woolly aphid: use resistant rootstocks (M778, MM104, MM110, etc.).
  • Biological control: Aphelinus mali, coccinellid predators.
  • Chemical control: carbofuran, chlorpyrifos, malathion, oxydemeton-methyl, quinalphos.
Major Diseases and Management
  • Apple scab: spray schedule with mancozeb, captafol, carbendazim.
  • Use stickers (Triton/Teepol) for better spray adherence.
  • Lichens: control with quick lime spray after pruning.
Post-Harvest Management
  • Pre-cooling: remove field heat before grading and packing.
  • Grading: by size, color, quality (AAA, AA, A, etc.).
  • Storage: 4–8 months at -1.1°C to 0°C, 85–90% RH.
  • Packing: wooden boxes or corrugated fiberboard cartons (10–20 kg capacity).
Summary of Apple Cultivation Practices
  • Selection of suitable varieties and rootstocks is crucial.
  • Proper site, soil, and climate are essential for high yield and quality.
  • Integrated orchard management ensures productivity and sustainability.
  • Timely pest, disease, and post-harvest management maximize returns.