abstract

The productivity and fruit quality of guava in the North Indian plains are largely affected by the adoption of suitable pruning and training systems. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to study the comparative effects of different intensities of pruning, namely, light, moderate, and hard, along with three training methods modified leader, and bush system on vegetative growth, flowering habit, yield, and fruit quality of guava. Field experiments were conducted for two consecutive seasons across the major guava-growing regions of Panjab and Haryana. The results showed that moderate pruning with the open-centre training system significantly improved the canopy aeration and increased fruit set and overall yield. However, hard pruning favoured the regeneration of new shoots and reduced the fruit size and TSS. In contrast, a bush system encouraged higher fruiting surface, though with reduced size because of high crop load conditions. Among all the treatments, the maximum yield with superior fruit quality and higher economic returns were recorded in the open-centre system with moderate pruning. An integrated approach of systematic pruning, coupled with scientifically designed training systems, substantially enhances the productivity of guava in the North Indian plains and provides a practical strategy for commercial orchard management.