*3.11.1 Pruning of young trees*

The main central axis is cut off 50–75 cm above the ground, and all laterals are cut off if these are not properly spaced along the central axis.

Pruning at the end of first growing season in winter consists in selection of five to six well-spaced laterals around the trunk. The lower branch should be about 40–45 cm, and all other laterals should be completely thinned out. All the selected laterals should be headed back to get secondary branches on them.

During the second year growth, only five to seven secondary scaffolds about breast height are retained, and others are removed.

At the end of the third year, pruning is confined to thinning of the branches which are either crossing or crowding each other for proper development of the framework and to admit sunlight in the tree centre to promote growth of the spurs.

The leader of the tree is modified after the fourth year of its age by cutting it back very close to a lateral branch.

#### *3.11.2 Pruning of bearing trees*

To produce new spurs annually and to replace the older and unproductive ones, light to moderate thinning of branches and heading back of new laterals are

**99**

**3.16 Irrigation**

*Production Technology of Peach, Plum and Apricot in India*

of March and higher hills at the end of March and April.

essential annually. In old trees when the growth becomes less, the heavier pruning is done by way of cutting back the main primary limbs and thinning of undesirable

The apricot tends to set heavily. So to produce fruits of marketable size, it must be thinned. Fruit-to-fruit spacing should be kept 4–8 cm when crop is heavy, and when crop is light, spacing may be done to 4–5 cm. Two to three fruits may be retained on each spur. Thinning should be done within 40 days after full bloom.

In apricot, usually three buds develop in the axil of a leaf at each node on a shoot and spur. The central one is a vegetative bud, and the two side buds are floral. Time of flowering and its duration vary with the variety and the prevailing weather conditions. Under midhill condition, the flowering in apricot occurs in the month

Most of the commercial cultivars of the Apricot are self fruitful and set fruits without pollinizer. However, varieties like Charmagz and Perfection have been reported self-incompatible. There is generally a good fruit set in the apricot covariants growing in appropriate climatic conditions. There is 40–60% fruit set in the cultivars commercially grown in midhills, but fruit drop is to the extent of 79% in these cultivars, which occurs mostly in the second week after fruit set. A spray of 10 ppm NAA at the beginning of pit hardening reduced the preharvest drop.

Apricot trees remove large amount of nutrients from the soil and require organic organic manures as well as chemical fertilisers for normal growth and fruit production. The manurial requirements depend upon age of tree, type of soil, climate conditions and cultural practices, which vary from region to region. FYM is applied during December–January along with full dose of P and K by broadcasting method. Nitrogen is applied in two doses via first half dose of N in spring 2–3 weeks before flowering and the remaining half N a month later, if irrigation facilities are available. Under rainfed conditions the second half dose of N should be applied at the onset of monsoon rains or through one or two foliar sprays of 0.05% urea after fruit set. Fertilisers should be broadcast on the soil surface under the spread of the trees and mixed with the soil. It should not be applied in too wet or too dry soil. In high rainfall areas with steep slopes, the band application of nitrogenous fertilisers should be preferred over broadcasting. During the initial 3–4 years of orchards' life, when the plants are young, intercropping with leguminous crops like pea, bean, soya bean, cowpea and also tomato and strawberry is recommended as they enrich

Though apricot is tolerant to dry atmosphere yet requires irrigation water especially during critical periods of fruit growth and development. Water requirement varies with the soil, tree age, climatic conditions and irrigation method. The

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92884*

secondary laterals.

**3.13 Flowering**

**3.12 Thinning of fruits**

**3.14 Pollination and fruit set**

**3.15 Manuring and fertilisers**

the soil and also give economic returns.

essential annually. In old trees when the growth becomes less, the heavier pruning is done by way of cutting back the main primary limbs and thinning of undesirable secondary laterals.
