Pruning Intensity and Lopping System in Fig Plants in the Brazilian Semiarid Region

Abstract

Aims: Fig plants produce fruits in branches of the year, which grow after emission of buds from the leaf armpits. And the lopping system is one of the most common practices among the green fig farmers to increase production. Thus, the present work aimed to improve the physical, chemical and productive characteristics of fig trees in the semiarid region of Brazil. Study Design: A complete randomized block design was used in a 3x2 factorial scheme (three pruning intensities: 5, 10 and 15 cm in length; and two lopping systems: with and without lopping), constituting six treatments with four replicates. Each experimental plot consisted of five plants, but only the three central plants were used. Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted in the didactic orchard of the Federal Rural University of Semiarid (UFERSA), Mossoró, RN. Methodology: The treatments were: 5 cm pruning without lopping; 5 cm pruning with lopping; 10 cm pruning without lopping; 10 cm pruning with lopping; 15 cm pruning without lopping; 15 cm pruning with lopping. The following variables were analyzed: fruit weight (g), fruit length (cm), fruit diameter (cm), pulp firmness (N), soluble solids content (ºBrix), titratable acidity (%), vitamin C content (mg ascorbic acid 100 g-1 pulp), fruit yield (number of fruits plant-1 and kg plant-1). Data were submitted to analysis of variance by the F test at 5% probability and means were grouped using the Tukey test at 5% probability. The analysis was performed using R software version 3.5.2. Conclusion: Pruning intensity 10 cm in length and the use of lopping system influenced the physical, chemical and productive characteristics of fig plants in the Brazilian semiarid region.