Pruning response to shoot growth, fruit set and yield in peach

Pruning treatments showed a favourable response on shoot growth, measured in term of shoot length and thickness. At final measurement, before the growth ceased (September), the maximum shoot length and thickness were found with the severely pruned shoots, while unpruned trees produced least shoot length and thickness. Fruit set percentage reduced with increasing pruning intensities and maximum fruit set of 76.30% was recorded in unpruned trees. A declining trend in fruit yield was also observed with the increasing pruning levels and unpruned trees produced the maximum fruit yield of 28.55 kg/tree, while the lowest fruit yield (18.73 kg/tree) was registered in the 60% pruning treatment. Over the unpruned control, a reduction in fruit set and yield upto the extent of 11.20% and 34.30%, respectively was estimated.