SKUAST Journal of Research
Open Access
  • Year: 2026
  • Volume: 28
  • Issue: 1

Influence of altitudinal variation on phenology and yield characteristics of apple in Kashmir valley under changing climatic scenario

  • Author:
  • Deepasri Mohan1, Farooq Ahmad Lone1*, Areeba Aijaz1, Mahender Kumar Sharma2, Nayar Afaq Kirmani3, Javeed Iqbal Ahmad Bhat4, Farhet Ahmad Shaheen5, Immad Ahmad Shah6, Sameera Qayoom7
  • Total Page Count: 14
  • Page Number: 102 to 115

1Division of Environmental Sciences, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar-190025, Jammu and Kashmir (India)

2Division of Fruit Science, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar-190025, Jammu and Kashmir (India)

3Division of Soil Science, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar-190025, Jammu and Kashmir (India)

4Division of Basic Sciences and Humanities, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar-190025, Jammu and Kashmir (India)

5Institute of Business and Policy Research, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar-190025, Jammu and Kashmir (India)

6Division of Agricultural Statistics, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar-190025, Jammu and Kashmir (India)

7Division of Agro-Meteorology, Faculty of Horticulture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar-190025, Jammu and Kashmir (India)

*e-mail: rfarooqlone@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

Apple is one of the important temperate crops cultivated worldwide. The phenological stages that are highly responsive to the changing climatic conditions have a significant impact on crop production. This study observed the variations in phenophases in apple crop at different altitudes along with the yield and quality response curves to highlight the changes occurred under current climatic conditions in the Jammu & Kashmir UT. Two districts under the study were Baramulla and Shopian with the elevations ranging 1612–2054 m amsl and 1630–2084 m amsl, respectively. Comparison of three commercial apple varieties (Red Delicious, Royal Delicious and Golden Delicious) at different altitudes revealed that flowering occurred earlier in lower elevations. Duration of flowering ranged from 13–17 days in district Baramulla and from 16–22 days in district Shopian. However, fruit set and yield were found highest at higher elevations than at lower elevations. Fruits from lower altitudes were heavier and larger in size compared to higher altitudes. The fruits from higher altitudes had higher fruit chemical characteristics viz. TSS, total sugar content and TSS/ acidity ratio. Between the two districts, fruits from Shopian have better fruit quality traits as compared to the fruits from Baramulla. The CO2 concentration was recorded higher during winter months in both the districts. Overall, temperature showed slightly increasing trend (2.15 %) and rainfall showed decreasing trend (9.59 %) over the last four decades. Climate change seems to be inevitable, thus increase in atmospheric temperature have adverse effects on apple crop production which may result in shifting of apple cultivation belt to higher elevations in the valley. The correlation analysis revealed that temperature positively influenced RD and RYD yields, while rainfall had a negative effect and CO2 exerted a moderate positive impact, indicating differential crop responses to environmental factors.

Keywords

Altitudinal variation, apple, climate variability, phenology, yield efficiency