RESPONSE OF PRUNING INTENSITIES AND FERTILIZER TREATMENTS ON YIELD, FRUIT QUALITY AND PHOTOSYNTHETIC EFFICIENCY OF PEACH

Peach (Prunus persica Batsch.) trees of cultivar July Elberta were pruned by heading back 25,50 and 75 per cent of annual shoot growth in dormant season.
Heavy pruning (75%) in combination with N₂K₂ (500 g N and 600 g K) fertilizer treatments produced significantly higher grade fruit yield.
The leaf area, total chlorophyll content, net photosynthesis (P_n), inter cell CO₂, stomatal conductance (C₂) and transpirations showed marked variation in the production of photosynthates.
The higher leaf area, total chlorophyll content, net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance were recorded in N₂K₂ (750 g N and 900 g K) while inter cell CO₂ and transpiration in N₁K₁ (250 g N and 600 g K) treatment respectively.
The interaction between pruning and fertilizer treatments also influenced photosynthetic efficiency of peach leaves significantly.

VII International Symposium on Temperate Zone Fruits in the Tropics and Subtropics

D.P. Sharma, J.S. Chauhan

peach, pruning, fertilizer application, photosynthesis

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.662.34