We have incorporated the technique of Grafting in propagation of our Guava species in the RC by placing a portion of one plant (bud or scion) into or on a stem, root, or branch of another (stock) in such a way that a union will be formed, and the partners will continue to grow.
The part of the combination that provides the root is called the stock; the added piece is called the scion.
It is a type of grafting and is frequently used when the stem of a young tree (or houseplant) has been damaged or girdled by insects, frost, or root system disease.
We have been using Grafting with inarching to replace the root system on the damaged tree.
Ultra-High Density Plantation
We use ultra high-density plantation to significantly conserve water and land resources by using drip irrigation for mango trees in the RC.
This type of plantation in mango increases productivity up to 2-3 times, reduces water used for irrigation up to 50 % and increases fertilizer uptake by plants when fertigation is practiced. The trees in this plantation method are not allowed to grow beyond 7 feet by the process of regular pruning. This leads to orchards attaining their full potential in 3 to 4 years as compared to the 7 to 8 years taken by traditional methods of cultivation.
This system warrants the adoption of certain important technologies like formative pruning in the initial years, proper canopy management annually to encourage vegetative growth immediately after the harvest, stopping of the vegetative growth during to favour fruit bud initiation and differentiation.
High-density plantation generally refers to planting at a closer spacing than the normally recommended spacing. UHDP in synergy with other sustainable agricultural techniques can yield up to 200% more crop than the traditional methods of cultivation. Besides, it ensures a uniform shape and colour of the fruit while maintaining its flavour and freshness.
The research center has species of mango, lemon, guava, amla, papaya, kinnow, litchi, avocado, pomegranate, custard apple and sapota growing under ultra high density plantation.
We encourage the use of plug trays or portrays by the farmers and nursery managers to produce healthy seedlings.
Soilless media with coco-peat, vermiculite and the microbial consortium is usually used for sowing the seeds and the rooting media.
Sowing is either done manually or with a seed sowing machine.