The transplanting of fruit trees is a more time consuming operation, particularly if budded or grafted trees are being transplanted from containers or nursery beds to the field or orchard.
After marking out the area with pegs to ensure that the trees will be spaced at the correct planting distances, holes up to 80 x 80 x 80 cm deep should be prepared, depending on the size of the root system of the tree to be transplanted.
Large planting holes are essential, even for fairly small trees, so that the roots can develop rapidly and eveniy. The extra time and effort given to preparing large holes will be repaid by the rapid
growth and early yields obtained.
All the soil should be excavated to the required depth, the topsoil being placed on one side of the hole and the subsoil on the other. The bottom of the hole
should be loosened with a digging fork or forked hoe and any stones removed.
A layer of compost or fym should be placed at the bottom of the hole to assist in retaining water and the topsoil, preferably mixed with more compost or manure and up to 100 g of NPK fertiliser, is returned to the hole. After every few headpans or spadefuls of soil have been poured into the planting hole, the surface should be well firmed by treading, until the space left in the hole is just large enough for the roots of the plant to be transplanted to spread out evenly, with the base of the stem at the same soil level as it had been in the nursery or container. The refilling and firming operation is then
continued until the planting hole is filled.
A small depression should be left around the base of the plant to allow for water to penetrate into the soil immediately around the root zone.
Mulch can also be applied around the base of the tree and plants which
are liable to be affected by strong sun should be shaded by erecting a thatch of grass or leaves over them, supported by canes or sticks. Trees which have an
extensive branch system may be pruned back after they have been transplanted to reduce the leaf area
and so limit excessive transpiration until new leaves have been formed.
Grafting
The main types of graft union used in West Africa are the side graft, crown graft and saddle graft. The principles involved in selecting compatible material, and the need for sharp tools and skill in performing the operation are similar to those used in budding.
Side grafting The stock and scion are prepared and united as shown in Fig. 3.13. This type of graft is sometimes used with avocado pear.
Crown grafting This may be used where it is required to alter the fruiting characteristics of a tree so that it
produces fruit of a different selection or cultivar from that with which it was originally budded or grafted, or
it may be used on mature stocks which are too old for budding.
In this instance, the scion is grafted on to the wood of an existing mature branch.
Saddle grafting This is a graft which is used on avocado pear but which is not widely used in West Africa. The scion and stock are prepared and united
as shown in Fig. 3.13.
Approach grafting This is rarely used, since it is a time-consuming operation. With some mangoes which
are difficult to propagate by budding, seedlings of a vigorous selection are raised in containers, preferably
polythene pots.
These are then raised,on a supporting framework, to the level of the branch of the tree of a high quality type which is to be propagated. Two identical longitudinal cuts are made in the stems of both seedling and branch, removing a portion of stem about 4 cm in length. These cut surfaces are then bound together until the cambial layers of both stems have united.
The top of the seedling is then removed, leaving the stock united to the new tissue from the parent tree, known as the scion. The scion is detached from the parent tree, Leaving the new portion of the high quality parent grafted on to the stock of a
vigorous, but probably poor quality stock.
The main types of graft union used in West Africa are the side graft, crown graft and saddle graft. The principles involved in selecting compatible material, and the need for sharp tools and skill in performing the operation are similar to those used in budding.
Side grafting The stock and scion are prepared and united as shown in Fig. 3.13. This type of graft is sometimes used with avocado pear.
Crown grafting This may be used where it is required to alter the fruiting characteristics of a tree so that it
produces fruit of a different selection or cultivar from that with which it was originally budded or grafted, or
it may be used on mature stocks which are too old for budding.
In this instance, the scion is grafted on to the wood of an existing mature branch.
Saddle grafting This is a graft which is used on avocado pear but which is not widely used in West Africa. The scion and stock are prepared and united
as shown in Fig. 3.13.
Approach grafting This is rarely used, since it is a time-consuming operation. With some mangoes which
polythene pots.
These are then raised,on a supporting framework, to the level of the branch of the tree of a high quality type which is to be propagated. Two identical longitudinal cuts are made in the stems of both seedling and branch, removing a portion of stem about 4 cm in length. These cut surfaces are then bound together until the cambial layers of both stems have united.
The top of the seedling is then removed, leaving the stock united to the new tissue from the parent tree, known as the scion. The scion is detached from the parent tree, Leaving the new portion of the high quality parent grafted on to the stock of a
vigorous, but probably poor quality stock.
