Prioritization of sub-tropical fruit plants for the frost prone low hill region of Himachal Pradesh.
Sharma S. K., Badiyala S. D.
Author Affiliation: Dr. Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Regional Horticultural and Forestry Research Station, Neri, P. O. Khagal, Distt. Hamirpur - 177 001, Himachal Pradesh, India.
Natural Product Radiance 7 : 347-353
Abstract : Frost-prone sites in Himachal Pradesh, India, and crops most suitable for cultivation in these areas were studied from 2002 to 2007. Low-lying areas surrounded by small or medium hills/hillocks were highly prone to frost up to an altitude of 700 m. At higher altitudes, the intensity of frost was lower. Sites that were just above the basin area (up to approximately 40-80 m) experienced heavy to medium frost. The upper portion of the slopes generally did not have frost, as well as the very upper portions of the slope or top of the hills/hillocks. Hill slopes were also frost-free. The sites were classified into (I) low-lying areas (productive, with very heavy to heavy frost); (II) lower portions of hills/hillocks (moderately productive, with heavy to medium frost); (III) upper portions of hills/hillocks (less productive, with medium to low frost); (IV) top of hills/hillocks (moderately productive, with low frost or without frost); (V) hill/hillock slopes (700 m at the basin level; less productive with low frost); and (VI) basin area surrounded by hills in the upland region (700 m in altitude; productive, with medium to low frost). Sites I, II, V and VI were prone to frost, whereas sites III and IV were the least affected by frost. Loquat, citrus and guava were the least affected by frost, whereas pawpaw and mango were severely affected by frost.