Volume : 4, Issue : 7, July - 2015

CANOPY MANAGEMENT IN SAPOTA (Achras sapota L.)

Dr. B. Gopu, Dr. T. N. Balamohan

Abstract :

<p>Sapota is one of the important evergreen fruit crops grown in tropical regions of the world. Canopy management alters the tree stature, paving the way for better sunlight penetration and facilitates easy intercultural operation and harvest. Canopy management is a critical component to improve crop performance by increasing the magnitude of partitioning of dry matter towards reproductive parts. Management of canopy architecture deals with positioning and maintenance of plant’s frame work in relation to optimum productivity of quality fruits. In modern fruit production, a tree, which has not received proper canopy management, becomes inefficient with low productivity. Once the tree gets occupied their allotted spaces crowding may occur and canopies of adjacent trees begin to overlap. The horticultural methods commonly known to control tree growth are training and pruning, dwarf varieties and growth retardants, which have a close bearing on canopy management</p>