Effect of pruning on growth and bearing behaviour of mango cv. Chausa

Under north Indian conditions, Chausa is considered as an important commercial cultivar of mango, because it is a late maturing type. The tree of Chausa attains huge stature and becomes over crowded after about 35–40 years of growth. Trees were subjected to three pruning treatments, viz. T-l (heading back up to tertiary branches), T-2 (heading back up to secondary branches) and T-3 (centre opening). After eight years of experimentation, lowest tree height (4.60 m) was recorded in trees with T-1 treatment followed by 4.90 m in T-2 treatment. Canopy spread was found at par in all the treatments. New shoots emerged on trees in T-1 and T-2 treatments, showed fast growth and attained more length. Average flowering data of eight years showed that under all the pruning treatments, enhanced flowering (44.78 - 58.40%) was noticed as compared to control (36.14%). Cumulative yield data of eight years showed that maximum fruit yield (317.50 kg) was obtained from T-2 followed by T-3 (300.45 kg plant⁻¹), while lowest fruit yield (235.25 kg) was recorded in un-pruned trees. Effect of pruning treatments was also visible on fruit quality parameters. The highest average fruit weight (210.15 g) was recorded in fruits obtained from T-3 while lowest fruit weight was recorded in fruits obtained from control. Values of TSS were also found on higher scale in fruits from pruning treatments. Maximum TSS (25.10°Brix) was recorded in fruits obtained from T-3 while 23.20°Brix TSS was recorded in control.