Principles and methods
of training and pruning
Dr. Tanmoy Mondal
Dr. Tanmoy Mondal
Pruning
Pruning is the proper and judicious removal of plant parts such as
shoots, spurs, leaves, roots or terminal parts to correct or maintain
tree structure and increase its usefulness.
Dr. Tanmoy Mondal
Dr. Tanmoy Mondal
Factors affecting pruning
The severity, kind and amount of pruning to be done on a tree depend
on the:
– Plant age
– Existing framework
– Condition of bark and wood
– Growth characteristics
– Fruiting habit of the variety
– Whether tree is permanent or filler
Dr. Tanmoy Mondal
Objectives of Pruning
➢ To control the size of the plant.
➢ To control the structure of the plant which involves the number,
placement and angle of branches.
➢ Better quality fruits by better light distribution.
➢ To remove diseased, criss-crossed, dried and broken branches.
➢ To remove the non-productive parts
➢ Proper proportion of root-shoot ratio.
➢ To regulate the fruit crop.
➢ Longevity of the tree.
➢ Pruning increases fruit size, nitrogen per growing point and stimulates
growth near the cut.
Dr. Tanmoy Mondal
Principle of Pruning
• To admit more sunlight
• Remove unproductive branches which are producing few or
no fruits
• To keep the plant in its proper vigor and vitality
• To obtain optimum yields of good quality fruits.
• Pruning of larger limbs should be avoided as far as possible.
• Pruning of young trees should be done more carefully than
the yielding trees
Dr. Tanmoy Mondal
Dr. Tanmoy Mondal
Types of Pruning
1. Thinning out
2. Heading Back
3. Bulk Pruning
4. Thin wood Pruning
Bulk Pruning Dr. Tanmoy Mondal
Types of Pruning
• Thinning out: When a shoot is entirely removed from the point of its
origin and no re-growth is allowed.
• Heading back: When the terminal or lateral portion of branch/shoot
is removed and it encourages lateral growth from the remaining
shoot.
• Bulk pruning: Heavy pruning is done for good fruit production.
• Thin wood pruning: Refers to the removal of slow growing, weak,
under hanging branches or shoots which are either not fruiting or
producing fruits of low quality.
Dr. Tanmoy Mondal
Bulk pruning
Dr. Tanmoy Mondal
PRUNING ON BASED ON PURPOSE
Basically, there are three types of pruning with definite purposes. (i) Frame
pruning. (ii) Maintenance pruning. (iii) Renewal pruning.
(i) Frame pruning: This pruning is done to provide shape and form to a plant
in its formative years so that tree develops strong framework and a shape for
ease of operations.
(ii) Maintenance pruning: To maintain status- in production level and for
uniform performance this pruning is done. In some plants like grapes, apple,
pear, peach etc. (deciduous trees) it is an annual feature and in others
(evergreen like mango, sapota) it is rare confining to removal of water
sprouts and unproductive growth and opening of the tree.
(iii) Renewal pruning: This pruning is done in old trees like mangoes which
shows decline . In this case severe pruning is required.
Dr. Tanmoy Mondal
Training
➢Physical techniques that control the shape, size and direction of plant
growth are known as training.
➢Techniques like tying, staking, supporting over a trellis or pergola in a
certain fashion or pruning of some parts.
Central Leader Modified Leader Open center
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Tanmoy Mondal System System
Objectives of training
• Structural development: Training helps young trees develop a strong
framework of branches, which can improve the tree's structure and
maximize its utility.
• Improve fruit quality : Training allows more sunlight and air to reach the
center of the tree, which can improve fruit quality and expose more leaf
surface to the sun.
• Cost-effective operations: Training helps make cultural operations like
spraying and harvesting more cost-effective.
• Protection: Training protects trees from sunburn and wind damage.
• Fruit distribution: Training helps ensure that fruit-bearing parts are
distributed evenly on the main trunk.
• Space utilization: Training helps maximize space utilization, which can be
especially beneficial in orchards with limited space.
• Air circulation: Training improves air circulation around plants, which can
reduce the risk of pests and fungal diseases.
Dr. Tanmoy Mondal
Factors effecting of Training
Method of training of a plant is determined by the
• Nature of Plant
• Climate
• Purpose of Growing
• Planting Method
• Mechanization
• Intelligent Choice is Necessary
Dr. Tanmoy Mondal
Time of training
• It is very essential to give proper and timely attention to the training
of plants right from planting.
• It is only during the first 2-3 years of plant life that the permanent
framework is built up
Dr. Tanmoy Mondal
Open center system (Vase shaped):
• In this system the main stem is allowed to grow to a certain height
and the leader is cut to encourage lateral scaffold from near the
ground giving a vase shaped plant.
• This is common in peaches, apricots and ber
Dr. Tanmoy Mondal
Dr. Tanmoy Mondal
Central leader system (closed center):
• In this system the central axis of plant is
allowed to grow unhindered permitting
branches all around.
• The common in use in apple, pear, mango and
sapota
Dr. Tanmoy Mondal
Modified leader system
• This system is in between open centre and central leader system
• The central axis is allowed to grow unhindered upto 4—5 years and
then the central stem is headed back and laterals are permitted
• It is common in apple, pear, cherry, plum, guava
Dr. Tanmoy Mondal
Central Leader Modified Open center
System Central Leader system
Dr. Tanmoy Mondal
Cordon system
• This is a system wherein espalier is allowed with the help of training
on wires.
• This system is followed in vines incapable of standing on their stem.
• This can be trained in single cordon or double cordon and commonly
followed in crops like grape and passion fruit.
Dr. Tanmoy Mondal
Training on Pergola/ Bower system
• To support perennial vine crops pergola is developed by a network of
criss-cross wires supported by angle iron poles on which vines are
trained.
• This is common for crops like grape, passion fruit, small gourd,
pointed gourd and even peaches.
Dr. Tanmoy Mondal
Espalier System
• The espalier system is a technique for training plants grow flat against
a support, like a wall or trellis. The term can refer to the support, the
technique, or the method itself.
Dr. Tanmoy Mondal
Training in different shapes
• Generally ornamental bushes are trained in different shapes for the
purpose of enhancing beauty of places.
• These shapes could be vase, cone, cylindrical and rectangular
Dr. Tanmoy Mondal
Dr. Tanmoy Mondal