Pruning Almond trees take place again when the tree is dormant in its second growing season. At this time, the Almond tree will likely have several lateral branches and remove narrow angled secondary branches when almond tree pruning second year trees.
Sustainable agriculture
What are the causes of Soil degradation?
The degradation of soil may be caused by the below factors:
Physical factors such as loss of fertile topsoil due to water or wind erosion.
Chemical factors such as the depletion of nutrients or the toxicity due to acidity or alkalinity or waterlogging.
Biological factors affect the micro flora and reduce the microbial activity of the soil. These biological factors reduce the yield.
What is the climate required for Chilli cultivation?
Chilli crop require a warm and humid climate for its best growth and dry weather during the maturation of fruits. A temperature ranging from 20 to 25°C is ideal for chilli. In chilli fruit development adversely affected at temperature of about 37°C or more. Heavy rainfall leads to poor fruit set and in association with high humidity leads to rotting of chilli fruits. High temperature and low relative humidity increase the transpiration during flowering resulting in shedding of buds, flowers and small fruits.
How fermentation of Cocoa is done?
Fermentation takes around 5 to7 days, will be based on the temperature and season. There are several ways in which farmers can involve in the process of Cocoa fermentation. After the Cocoa pulp and beans are removed from the husk, small holders naturally cover the heaps of Cocoa with banana or plantain leaves and let them ferment foe nearly 5 days. This traditional approach to fermentation, though is prone to environmental risk factors. Periods of intense rainfall increase the time required for the fermentation process. Droughts, temperature changes and prolonged dry seasons affect the overall quality and flavor of the product. Farmers occasionally mix the heap on the 2nd or 3rd day to allow for aeration and a more uniform fermentation. In the fermentation process, the Cocoa flavor develops and the beans turn brown.
When and how to harvest Cocoa beans?
Pods containing Cocoa beans grow from the branches and trunk of the Cocoa tree. Harvesting includes take away ripe pods from the trees and opening them to extract the wet beans. With the help of a well sharpened blade, the cocoa pods can be harvested manually done by making a clean cut through the stalk. Cocoa harvest begins when the fruits are completely ripe.
After two years of the planting of Cocoa flowers, the pods take approximately 140 to 160 days to mature and ripen. Only ripe pods to be harvested without damaging the flower cushion at regular intervals of 10 to 15 days. The Cocoa pods are harvested by cutting the stalk with the help of a sharp knife. The harvested pods must be kept for a minimum period of 2to 3 days before opening for fermentation.
What is runoff farming?
Runoff farming is the same with water harvesting but for irrigation functions. When the harvested runoff water from uncropped areas is directed to a cropped area, this technique is known as runoff farming. Soil profile acts as a water storage container, but storage in ponds or cisterns is feasible. Factors affecting the capacity of the soil storage are the depth of the soil profile, depth of plant roots, texture, structure, infiltration rate and the water holding capacity of the soil. The catchment to field ratio can vary from 1:1 and from 1: many square kilometers. The higher the aridity of an area, the larger is the necessary catchment area in relation to the cropping area for the same water yield.
How Pest, Weed and fertility management is done in Conservation agriculture?
In any agricultural system pest, weed and fertility management are critical issues. Any limitation related to pest, weed and soil fertility should be assessed and addressed before implementing conservation agriculture.
In case of a lack of resources, some solutions have been found by farmers. They are weed control, crop rotations, use of manure and other crops for soil fertility etc. Combining conservation with organic agriculture has been adopted by small scale farmers.
What is Diversified crop rotation?
Diversified crop rotation is required for providing food for the soil microorganisms along with nutrients utilization by the crops in rotation which are present in different soil layers due to leaching. It can be attained by rotating deep rooted crops with shallow rooted crops. The crop rotations which mainly involve legumes are beneficial for biological nitrogen fixation, reducing pest infestation by disruption of the pest’s life cycle and also improving biodiversity.
What is crown rot of Apple and what are the symptoms?
Crown rot disease is caused by the fungus that causes Phytophthora tot but causes decay at the tree roots or crown. Disease symptoms include delayed bud break and bark discoloration and twig die back. Carefully remove some of the soil from the plant roots, taking care not to injure the tree. Scrape away the outer bark to reveal interior wood that is reddish brown and water soaked, confirming that the apple tree is infected with crown rot. There is no cure for crown rot and the apple tree will likely eventually die. Plant apple trees in areas with good drainage, as recommended. Commercially grown apples are subject to a variety of chemical treatments because apples are prone to so many diseases and pests.
How to protect Apple trees from pests?
Pests can spread problems quickly over a singe tree or throughput an entire orchard of healthy apple fruit producers. There are few maintenance procedures to follow the apple trees growing season to keep disease spreading bugs. Before new leaves emerge in spring, spray the apple tree with non toxic horticultural oil that will smother the dormant insects along with their clusters of minuscule eggs.
Around early to mid-summer is a prime bug breading season and this is also the best time to control the insects with organic insecticides to stop them from mating and laying eggs on or near the budding fruit. Pests that attack apple trees and damage fruit and leaves contain the codling moth, maggot flies.