3G CUTTING Meaning : The Complete and easy guide!

Are you curious to know 3G cutting meaning, if yes then you are on the right page, know how it can increase yield by reading this article published by Agriculture Review.

The meaning of “3G” is Third Generation. In simple terms, it means third-generation branches. You must have seen a plant growing tall by developing the main branch along with other lateral branches. The main branch is the 1G branch that means the first generation branch.

The lateral branch growing directly from the main branch or 1G branch is called a 2G branch. There can be many 2G branches arising from the main branch. The branches that arise from 2G branches are 3G branches.

What Is 3G Cutting?

In normal conditions, the plant mainly produces 1G branch and 2G branches. These branches bear mostly male flowers and fewer female flowers. At this stage, the ratio of male: female flowers is found to be 14:1. 

Before 3g cutting, the male to female ratio remains: 14:1

But, after 3g cutting at appropriate stages it becomes: 1:2

i.e., the number of female flower increases. This results is increased chances of pollination.

3G Cutting Meaning

3g Cutting is a technique in which with the help of controlled pruning and trimming of branches we get more numbers of 3G branches that bears female flowers.

It helps to balance the male and female flower ratio in the plant, and hence increases yield. Moreover, it also increases the flower production due to which chance of fruit formation increases.

This helps to increase fruit formation in the plant that results to get higher yield. Higher fruit formation is due to the production of nearly equal number of male and female flowers. This increases the probability of pollination and hence fruit formation. 

However, even after you adopt this technique, poor pollination that occurs due to a lack of natural pollinators can be the reason for less fruit formation.

In this case, try hand pollination for better results or grow specific flowering plants around the main plant that attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies. 

If you adopt 3G cutting technique in your farm or garden then it will surely help you to increase overall production. You can share this information with every farmer or gardener friend. This will help in increasing knowledge about this technique. And will help them to increase their crop yield.

Here is a list of Plants in which you can do 3G cutting successfully:

• Bottle Gourd
• Ridge Gourd 
• Ash Gourd
• Bitter Gourd
• Pumpkin
• Cucumber
• Eggplant
• Lady’s Finger
• Chilli
• Grapes
• Tomato

By reading this list, you must be sure that this technique to get a higher yield per plant is mostly used by members of the Cucurbitaceae family. In plants such as eggplant, okra, chilli, tomato, etc., it helps to increase flower production, thus increasing yield. 

There are a few points that have to be kept in mind to try this technique in your plants.

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Important Points

Do not allow growth of any side branch till your plant reaches 5 to 6 leaved stage from the ground.

Maintain adequate moisture while cutting tips of the branches. Do not let the soil to dry during the process.

Make sure that your plant remains healthy and not bushy.

This is to ensure enough sunlight to the plant to increase the vegetative growth after 3G cutting. It also helps in preventing fungal growth.

Tip cutting of 1G Branch should be done only when your plant has reached 8 to 10 feet in length. This is mostly for Cucurbitaceae crops. In tomatoes or eggplant, this length can vary.

3g Cutting In Gourds

Maintain healthy growth of the plant. And let it grow up to 6 to 8 feet in height.

Do not forget to follow the important points. Prune out the growth of any side branches below the height of first 5 leaves in the plant.

After this height you can allow the growth of side branches.

Pinch out the growing tip of the main branch once your plant reaches 6 to 8 feet in height.

This cutting of 1g branch will promote the growth of many 2g branches.

Let the 2g branch grow up to 1 to 2 feet long. Once it reaches the desired length then cut the tip of 2g branches.

After few days you will start noticing the growth of many 3g branches. They will bear good number of female flower. And hence will result in increased yield.

Advantages of 3G Cutting

3g cutting is a new developed technique in agriculture. Hence many researchers working on this technique have found these wonderful advantages.

You can increase overall crop yield very easily. Without using chemical fertilizers and practicing this technique alone can help to increase overall crop yield.

If you are a farmer who loves to practice organic farming then 3g cutting technique can be very useful for you.

A farmer having a small land holding can also increase the crop production. Many farmers in developing countries owns small land holdings.

Hence they can not plant crop in large area to earn good profit. Hence to get higher yields they can practice this technique in the crops growing in same area.

Due to increase in overall production, the net profit also increases. It can also lead to better livelihood of rural farmers.

Although many urban farmers have also started adopting this technique to get higher yield and profit from small land holdings.

To carry out this process, you do need to spend any money on raw materials.

Hence, you will be able to increase overall yield without investing extra money, except skilled labour( in case of large farms).

Carrying out this technique in plants helps to improve fruit size and quality.

Many farmers have reported increased fruit size and quality after practicing 3g cutting.


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Disadvantages of 3G Cutting

Well, it goes without saying that after so many advantages, there are few disadvantages too. And knowing them is also very important.

To carry out 3G cutting, the person must have technical knowledge of the process.

Without technical knowledge a person can also harm the crop. Hence it can do much harm than benefit. Therefore learning the complete process becomes very necessary.

Time of flowering and fruit formation can be delayed as the vegetative growth occurs rapidly. More number of branches are produced.

Hence, you will have to wait a little to see the amazing result.

It is not easy to practice 3g cutting in a large farm. The job can be tough and will require proper attention and time.

Hence the farmers with large land holdings can not practice this technique very easily. If labour will be hired then too, they should be skilled enough to carry out the process correctly.

Due to pruning and trimming of branches, there is a chance of disease and pest attack. Mainly fungal infection can occur. Therefore, proper care and prevention should be taken.

If you are practicing this technique in garden then you must ensure pollination. For this purpose you can plant pollinator attracting plants such as zinnia, sunflower, or sadabahar. However you can also try hand pollination. This is because generally in city gardens natural pollinators are not present.