Upgrading of a Senile Peach Orchard Through Different Pruning Intensities (Dehorning) and Nitrogen Application

Orchard replacement is not always desired because perennial crops have a long juvenile phase and it is a costly venture. On the other hand, revival of an old senile peach orchard is cost-effective and advantageous to the farmers. The orchard is given a fresh lease of life for many years. Thus, tree rejuvenation is a simple, time-saving, and cost-effective technique. A study was conducted to elucidate the influence of pruning and nitrogen treatment for the rejuvenation of senile peach cv. ‘Early White Giant’ in a farmer’s field located in Himachal Pradesh, India. Experimental trees aged 22 years were subjected to 10 treatments, viz., dehorning levels and nutrients levels. The results of this study revealed that among different dehorning levels and nitrogen applications, treatment of dehorning at 0.75 m coupled with nitrogen (N, 200%) and phosphorus and potassium (PK, 100%) produced the best results in terms of increased trunk girth, tree height, plant spread, leaf area, leaf N nutrient contents, and soil N content. However, the treatment of dehorning at 1.25 m coupled with NPK (100%) produced the best results in terms of cumulative yield, yield efficiency, best grade fruits (three-layer grade), and fruit quality characteristics.