Severity of pruning and productivity of senile Sardar Guava orchard under the rainfed conditions of Punjab

The guava orchard losses the productivity after the 25–30 years of plantation. Severe pruning is the practice through which fruiting area can be regained. Pruning time and its varying intensities play a significant role in regaining the fruiting area with improved quality of senile Sardar Guava. Total Fruit yield (62.38 kg/tree) was increased significantly (p < 0.05) in June pruned trees than the unpruned trees during rainy and winter season crop. The pruning of guava further increased the yield efficiency as it decreased the canopy volume reduced intermingled branches and encourages new growth leading to enhanced fruit yield. Severity of pruning improved quality parameters as the fruit weight (167.7 g), TSS (11.12º Brix), total sugars (11.37%) and vitamin C (190.4 mg/100 g) content of winter season crop was found maximum in pruning treatment by removal of 40 cm of vegetative growth in the month of June. The effect of severity and time of pruning on the shifting of rainy season crop to winter season was more pronounced. The removal of 30 cm current season vegetative growth in 1^st fortnight of June can shift the crop load from rainy season to winter season crop.