Effect of pruning intensities and fruit load on growth, yield and quality of guava (psidium guajava l.) cv. allahabad safeda under high density planting

Pruning of guava cv. Allahabad Safeda under high density planting was done in the third week of June, 2012 with three pruning intensities i.e. leaving 10 cm, 20 cm and 30 cm from base of the shoot and retaining 30, 40 and 50 fruits per tree. Ten centimeter (10 cm) pruning intensity has advanced the vegetative bud appearance, recorded maximum cumulative length of new shoots, maximum fruit diameter at harvest, average fruit weight and fruit yield. Pruning intensity of 30 cm has increased the number of vegetative buds per pruned shoot and number new shoots per pruned shoot along with early harvesting at colour turning stage. Thirty (30) fruit load per tree recorded the minimum number of days taken for harvesting at colour turning stage and maximum average fruit weight at harvest. Maximum fruit yield was noticed with 50 fruit load per tree. Pruning intensity of 30 cm with 30 fruit load has advanced the harvesting at colour turning stage but 10 cm pruning intensity with 30 fruit load per tree has recorded the maximum fruit diameter. However, the quality of fruits in control and other treatments was also at par.