India ranks second in fruits with an annual production of 48.57 million tonnes, accounting for about 10.3% of the total world fruit production. However, the productivity of major fruit per hectare (11.9 tonnes/ha) is far belown compared to world average (25 tonnes/ha). Among the various biotic and abiotic factors responsible for low yield and quality is a lack of knowledge about canopy management. Time bound removal of quantitave curbs on import and other barriers to access to domestic market under World Trade Organization of which India is signatory, will require Indian horticultural produce to be competitive both in the domestic and export market. This would call for use of modern production technology i.e high density orcharding, the mechanization of orcharding system and canopy manipulation and development. The light penetration and interception in the canopy area can be improved by manipulating the canopy model. Most of the orchards are dense, over-crowded and their bearing is confined to upper periphery (tip bearing) of shoots. Further it harbours various pest and disease-causing agents due to change in micro-climate inside the canopy. The perfect canopy shape depends on the type of fruit plant and species. Keeping this in mind the present book has been shaped on various aspects of canopy management of fruit crops. This book covers all important fruits of temperate, tropical and sub-tropical.
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