Introduction
Orchard is a long-term investment and needs lot of planning and expertise.
While planning and planting a new orchard, one should give utmost attention and
care to various aspects like selection of location and site, nature of soil and subsoil,
planning of suitable kinds and varieties of fruits, proper planting distance and
purchasing of plants from reliable nurseries.
Preparation of land
The land should be cleaned properly for free movement of men and
machinery.
All the trees, bushes and creepers should be removed.
The soil of the area designed for growing fruit plants needs thorough
preparation.
A virgin land requires a deep ploughing and harrowing.
The land should be repeatedly ploughed and bring the soil to a fine
tilth.
Layout plan
The marking of position of the plant in the field is referred as layout.
The layout plan of the orchard should be prepared carefully, preferably
in consultation with horticultural experts.
The orchard layout plan includes the system of planning provision for
orchard paths, roads, water channels and farm building.
A sketch of the proposed orchard should be prepared before the actual
planting is taken up.
Method of layout
For laying out an orchard, according to square system, a base line is
first established and position of the trees is marked along this line by
laying wooden stakes in the ground.
Another base line at right angle to the first base line, is then marked
along with the other edge of the field with the help of a carpenter
square or a cross staff.
The right angle can also be drawn with the help of measuring tape.
One end of this tape is fixed at three metre distance from the corner
along the first line and the tape is then stretched along the second base
line for a distance of four metre.
The diagonal distance between these two points should be five metre.
The wooden stakes are put in the ground at the desired distance along
the second line.
All the four rows are thus established and staked.
Three men, one putting the peg in the field and others correcting
alignment while moving along the base line, can easily stake the whole
field.
The marking of position of the plant in the field is called “layout”.
Aims
1. To provide adequate space to plants.
2. To accommodate more number of plants.
3. Easy intercultural operations.
4. System of planting
Planting Systems
Square system
It is the most commonly used method and
easy to layout in the field. In this system,
plant to plant and row to row distance is the
same. The plants are at the right angle to each
other, every unit of four plants forming a
square. This system facilitates the interculture
in two directions after the orchard is planted.
Advantages
1. Most easy and popular one.
2. In this row to row and plant to plant
distance is kept similar.
3. Plants are exactly at right angle to each
other.
4. Interculture operations can be done in both the
directions.
5. Adequate space for inter-cultivation of
remunerative crops like vegetables.
Rectangular system
In this system, the plot is divided into
rectangles instead of squares and trees are
planted at the four corners of the rectangle in
straight rows running at right angles.
Like square system, this system also
facilitates the interculture in two directions.
The only difference is that in this system more
plants can be accommodated in the row
keeping more space between the rows.
Advantages
1. Lay out in rectangular shape.
2. More space between row to row.
3. Inter-cultural operations can be done in
both the ways.
4. Plants get proper space and sunlight.
Hexagonal system
In hexagonal system, the trees are planted in
the corners of equilateral triangles. Six trees
thus form a hexagon with another tree at its
centre. This system, though a little difficult for
execution but accommodates 15 percent more
plants. Cultivation of land between the tree
rows is possible in three directions with this
system. This system is generally followed
where the land is costly and very fertile with
ample provision of irrigation water.
Advantages
1. Accommodates 15 % more plants than
the square system.
2. Plants are planted at the corner of
equilateral triangle.
3. Six trees are planted making a hexagon.
4. The seventh tree is planted in the centre
and called septule.
5. This requires fertile land.
Disadvantage
1. Lay out is difficult and cumbersome.
Quincunx system
This system is exactly like the square
system but one additional tree is planted
in the centre of each square.
The number of plants per acre by this
system is almost doubled than
the square system.
Fruit trees like papaya, kinnow, phalsa,
guava, peach, plum etc. can be planted
as fillers in the permanent trees provides
an additional income to the grower in
the early life of the orchard.
The filler trees are uprooted when the
main orchard trees start commercial
fruiting.
Contour system
This system is usually followed in the
hilly areas with high slopes but it is very
much similar to the square/rectangular
system.
Under such circumstances, the trees
may be well planted in lines following
the contour of the soil with only a slight
slope.
Irrigation and cultivation are then
practiced only across the slope of the
land as this practice reduces the
chances of soil erosion.
In this system layout is done as in
square/rectangular system, first by
establishing the base line at the lowest
level and then marking for the trees
should be done from the base to the
top.
Bench terraces are used where the
slope is greater than 10 per cent.
Triangular system
In this system, trees are planted as in
the square system but the plants in
the 2nd, 4th, 6th and such other
alternate rows are planted midway
between the 1st, 3rd, 5th and such
other alternative rows.
This system provides more open
space for the trees and for intercrop.
Methods of Layout
Methods of layout
For laying out an orchard, according to square system, a base line is first established and position
of the trees is marked along this line putting wooden stakes in the ground. Another base line at
right angle to the first base line, is then marked along with the other edge of the field with the help
of a carpenter square or a cross staff.
The right angle can also be drawn with the help of measuring tape. One end of this tape is
fixed at 3 metre distance from the corner along the first line and the tape is then stretched
along the second base line for a distance of 4metre. The diagonal distance between these two
points should be 5 meter. The wooden stakes are put in the ground at the desired distance
along the second line. All the four rows are thus established and staked. Three men, one
putting the peg in the field and other correcting alignment while moving along the base line,
can easily stake the whole field.
The marking of position of the plant in the field is called “layout”.
Aims of layout
1. To provide adequate space to plants.
2. To accommodate more number of plants.
3. Easy intercultural operations.
4. To improve aesthetic view of the land.
Square System
Square system
It is the most commonly used method and easy to layout in the field. In this system,
plant to plant and row to row distance is the same. The plants are at the right angle to
each other, every unit of four plants forming a square. This system facilitates the
interculture in two directions after the orchard is planted.
Advantages
1. Most easy and popular one.
2. In this row to row and plant to plant distance is kept similar.
3. Plants are exactly at right angle to each other.
4. Interculture operations can be done in both the directions.
5. Adequate space for inter-cultivation of remunerative crops
like vegetables.
Rectangular System
Rectangular system
In this system, the plot is divided into rectangles instead of squares and trees are
planted at the four corners of the rectangle in straight rows running at right
angles.
Like square system, this system also facilitates the interculture in two directions.
The only difference is that in this system more plants can be accommodated in the row
keeping more space between the rows.
Advantages
1. Lay out in rectangular shape.
2. More space between row to row.
3. Inter-cultural operations can be done in both the ways.
4. Plants get proper space and sunlight.
