International Journal of Horticulture 2015, Vol.5, No.15, 1
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age of the tree in different cultivar of almond (Figure
-4). Maximum canopy volume was recorded in Non
Pareil cultivar (6.75 m
3
, 8.70m
3
, 12.76 m
3
and 17.90
m
3
) followed by Waris (6.45 m
3
, 8.32 m
3
, 12.25 m
3
Figure 3 Trunk cross sectional area of different varieties in
almond
Figure 4 Canopy volume of different varieties in almond
and 17.02 m
3
) in 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 and
2012-13, respectively. There is positive and linear
relationship between TCSA and canopy volume of
tree in almond. The higher TCSA and canopy volume
in Non Pareil cultivar of almond might be due to
vigorous nature of the tree growth habit. Similar
observations were reported by Kumar (2012).
Flowering
Data presented in table 1 indicated that earliest bud
burst (14.03.2012), first flowering (16.03.2012), 75%
flowering (19.03.2012), 100% flowering (22.03.2012)
and fruit set (30.03.2012) were recorded in almond
cultivar Makhdoon. Whereas, late bud burst (22.03.2012),
first flowering (23.03.2012), 75% flowering (27.03.2012),
100% flowering (31.03.2015) and fruit set (04.04.2012)
were recorded in California paper Shell cultivar of
almond. An early flowering and fruit set in Makhdoom
and late flowering and fruit set in California Paper
Shell might be due to varietal characters of a
particular cultivar.
Nut yield
Nut yield is one of the important characters for
productivity enhancement in almond. The nut yield
varied (9.81-19.66) with standard deviation (2.24) and
coefficient of variation (19.45) in almond (Table 2).
Significantly maximum nut yield (4.25 kg/tree and
2.65 t/ha; 4.71 kg/tree and 2.94 t/ha; 2.62 kg/tree and
1.64 t/ha) were recorded in 2009-10, 2010-11 and
2011-12, respectively in Pranyaj cultivar of almond.
Whereas, in 2012-13, Merced variety registered
highest nut yield (8.15 kg/tree and 5.09 t/ha) in
almond. The overall cumulative nut yield (12.28 t/ha)
was recorded in Pranyaj followed by Merced (11.09
t/ha), Makhdoom (9.57 t/ha) and Non Pareil (9.41
t/ha), respectively (Table 3).The performance of all
cultivars of almond were superior in respect to nut
yield. The higher nut yield per tree or per hectare in
Pranyaj and Merced variety might be due to inherent
character having prolific and profuse bearing habit of
this cultivar. Similar results were reported by Ahmed
and Verma (2009).
Nut and kernel characters
Nut characters varied in different cultivar of almond.
The nut weight, nut length, nut diameter and nut
length and dia ratio ranged (1.69-3.90, 31.20-48.65,
18.38-23.40 and 1.46-2.39) with standard deviation
(0.77, 5.31, 1.45 and 0.30) and coefficient of
variations (31.69, 14.32, 7.01 and 16.95) in almond
(Table 2). The kernel weight, size and ratio ranged
(1.04-2.06, 21.34-29.74, 11.24-15.15 and 1.72-2.56)
with standard deviation (0.37, 2.90, 1.36 and 0.28)
and coefficient of variations (26.72, 10.96, 10.58 and
13.51) in almond. Significantly highest nut weight
(3.90 g) and kernel weight (2.06 g) were recorded in
IXL cultivar of almond. Whereas, maximum nut and
kernel size (48.65 mm x 20.32 mm and 29.74 x 11.59
mm) and length/dia ratio of nut and kernel (2.39 and
2.56) were recorded in California Paper Shell (Table
4). The shell thickness and weight of nut is one of the
important quality characters of almond. It ranged
(1.38-2.88 and 0.55-2.02) with standard deviation
(0.50 and 0.53) and highest coefficient of variations
(25.24 and 50.38) in almond. Minimum shell
thickness (1.38 mm) and shell weight (0.54 g) were
recorded in Merced cultivar of almond. The highest
nut and kernel weight in IXL variety might be due to
inherent characters of cultivar. Nut and Kernel size
were highest in California Paper Shell might be due to
