Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Rejuvenation of an orchard refers to the process of restoring the productive capacity of old, senile, or unproductive fruit trees.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Orchards of crops like mango, guava, and citrus often show a decline in yield and quality after 30 to 40 years. This decline is due to over-crowded canopies, pest infestations, and reduced physiological activity.
Rejuvenation addresses this problem through several key aspects:
- Restoration of vigour (A): Rejuvenation involves severe pruning or heading back of the primary and secondary scaffold branches. This triggers the growth of new, healthy, and highly vigorous vegetative shoots. Thus, (A) is correct.
- Enhancement in yield and quality (B): The newly formed canopy allows better light penetration and air circulation. This results in abundant flowering, higher fruit set, and better quality fruits. Thus, (B) is correct.
- Sustainability and economic feasibility (C): Instead of completely uprooting the old orchard and replanting—which is expensive and leads to a long gestation period—rejuvenating the existing rootstocks is highly cost-effective and sustainable. Thus, (C) is correct.
- Old unproductive and senile trees (D): The technology is specifically designed and applied to old, unproductive, and senile orchards to make them highly productive again. Thus, (D) is correct.
Since all four statements are correct, option (C) is the right choice.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Rejuvenation involves all four aspects: restoration of vigor, enhancement in yield/quality, sustainability, and targeting old senile trees.