Regional Fruit Research Station, Punjab Agricultural University, Abohar 152 116.
During the first four bearing seasons, starting from 5th year of age, Kinnow mandarin trees in close spacing (6 x 3 m) were upright and tall. They formed a thick hedge in between two trees within each row and gave a crowded appearance. Growth in 6 x 6 m, 6.7 x 6.7 m and 7.6 x 7:6 m spaced trees was balanced with higher percentage of healthy trees. Cumulative yield/acre was the maximum (141.9 q) from 6 x 3 m and the minimum (66.24 q) from 7.6 x 7.6 m spacing trees with significant differences. Fruits sampled from 6 x 3 m spaced trees were large sized and with maximum TSS/acid ratio. The trees with 6 x 3 m spacing have been found to be good both for yield and fruit quality during the first four fruiting seasons.
