ISHS Acta Horticulturae 662: VII International Symposium on Temperate Zone Fruits in the Tropics and Subtropics
EFFECT OF BEE POLLINATION AND POLLINISER PROPORTION ON APPLE PRODUCTIVITY |
| Authors: | H.K. Sharma, J.K. Gupta, J.R. Thakur |
| Keywords: | Apis cerana, polliniser proportion, bee pollination, apple |
| Abstract:
Honeybees are known to be the most important pollinating insects in apple orchards as they form the great majority of pollinating insects. The recommended proportion of the pollinizing trees in apple orchards is 33.33 per cent. However, most of the orchards in the state are having low polliniser proportion. Therefore, the present studies were aimed at to see the effect of bee pollination and polliniser proportion on apple productivity. In order to assess the effect of placement of bee colonies on apple productivity, A. cerana colonies were kept in apple orchards at two locations viz. Seobagh and Larankelo. At each location, recommended number of A. cerana colonies were kept in two different orchards, one with insufficient polliniser proportion and another with sufficient polliniser proportion. Observation pertaining to increase in bee visits, fruit set and fruit yield in comparison to apple orchards with natural crop pollination were recorded. The observations revealed that there was increase in the bee visits in experimental orchards along with significant increase in fruit set and fruit yield. However, increase in fruit set and fruit yield was significantly higher in the orchards with sufficient pollinisers as compared to the polliniser deficient orchards. There was significant increase in apple yield in the orchards where bees were kept. At Larankelo, an increase of 108.3 and 53.8 per cent in apple yield, respectively was recorded during 2000 in the orchards having sufficient and insufficient polliniser proportion due to placement of A. cerana colonies. In 2001, an increase of 39.50 and 24.40 per cent was recorded, respectively in apple orchards with sufficient and insufficient pollinisers. | |
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