Orchard soil management trials. 2. Effect of herbicides and nitrogen on growth and yield of young apple trees in permanent pasture

1971 ◽  
Vol 11 (48) ◽  
pp. 105 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Baxter ◽  
BJ Newman
Keyword(s):  
Tree Growth ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Apple Trees ◽  
Narrow Strip ◽  
Permanent Pasture ◽  
Orchard Soil ◽  
Young Apple

On two cultivars of young apple trees growing in a permanent pasture, a narrow strip was kept bare with herbicide sprays used either during spring and summer or during the entire year. This increased tree growth, fruit set, fruit yield, and fruit size. Using more nitrogen fertilizer did not compensate for the grass competition and did not increase growth or yield as much as did the herbicide sprays. Most of the applied nitrogen could be accounted for in the increased growth of grass. The herbicide simazine increased tree growth more than other herbicides.

Orchard soil management trials. 1. Effect of a weed-free or straw mulched strip on the growth and yield of young fruit trees

1970 ◽  
Vol 10 (45) ◽  
pp. 467 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Baxter
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Size ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Fruit Trees ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Apple Trees ◽  
Permanent Pasture ◽  
Orchard Soil ◽  
Total Growth ◽  
Second Year ◽  
Peach Trees

The effects of keeping a strip along the tree row bare with herbicide sprays or mulched with weed-free straw were compared with either permanent pasture or cultivation. Peach trees growing in the straw mulched strips from their second year onwards grew bigger, made more growth, and produced twice as many fruit of larger size in their fourth and fifth seasons. Apple trees growing in a 1 1/2 metre wide mulched strip also made more total growth and yielded twice the weight of fruit in their fifth and sixth seasons than trees growing under cultivation. Mean fruit size of the apples from the mulched trees was larger, and the mulched apple trees carried more blossoms following a heavy crop than did the cultivated trees. Growth and fruit bearing of the peach and apple trees in the herbicide treated plots was intermediate between the control and mulch treatments.

scholarly journals EFFECTS OF SEVERAL GROWTH CONTROLLING TECHNIQUES ON APPLE TREES

HortScience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (11) ◽  
pp. 1162c-1162
Author(s):  
Wesley R. Autio ◽  
Duane W. Greene
Keyword(s):  
Tree Growth ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Root Pruning ◽  
Apple Trees ◽  
The Third ◽  
Flesh Firmness ◽  
Bitter Pit ◽  
Spray Treatment

In 1991, experiments were conducted to assess the effects of several growth controlling techniques on tree growth and fruit set, abscision, ripening, and other qualities. The first two experiments assessed the effects of root pruning (4-8 days after petal fall, 1 m from the trunk, 30 cm deep) in commercial orchards. Compared to controls, root pruning reduced fruit abscision from mature `Cortland'/M.7A trees by 70% on 17 Sept. In another orchard, root pruning reduced fruit abscision from mature `McIntosh'/MM.106 trees by 47% on 24 Sept. The third experiment utilized vigorous `Gardiner Delicious'/MM.106 trees. Treatments included root pruning (as described above), trunk scoring (single, complete circle, approximately 40 cm from the soil), trunk ringing (single, complete circle, 1 mm wide, approximately 40 cm from the soil), ethrel spray treatment (500 ppm), and dormant-pruned and unpruned controls. Treatments were applied on 15 May, when terminal growth was 12-15 cm. No treatment affected fruit set. Trunk growth was less for ringed and scored trees than other treatments. Ringing and scoring advanced ripening compared to controls, and ethrel resulted in intermediate ripening. Treatments had no effect on fruit size, flesh firmness, or the development of bitter pit and cork spot. Fruit abscision was least from controls and root-pruned trees. Trees that were treated with ethrel in May had the most rapid abscision rate.

Cultural practices for enhanced growth of young peach trees

1989 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Glenn ◽  
W. V. Welker
Keyword(s):  
Tree Growth ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Soil Parameters ◽  
Soil Environment ◽  
Orchard Soil ◽  
Complete Fertilizer ◽  
Peach Trees

AbstractA review of orchard soil management effects on tree growth and soil parameters is presented. It shows the gap between present common practices and results achievable in other systems. An alternative soil management system for newly planted peach trees, termed “killed-sod”, is described. This system has improved soil structure and rainfall infiltration and greatly increased early tree growth and yield. A fertilization study has demonstrated that the addition of a complete fertilizer in four different soil management systems could not account for the increased growth resulting from the improved soil environment in the killed-sod system.

Orchard soil management trials. 3. Effect of soil fumigation and soil management on replanted apple trees

1977 ◽  
Vol 17 (86) ◽  
pp. 510 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Baxter
Keyword(s):  
Weed Control ◽  
Tree Growth ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Soil Fumigation ◽  
Apple Trees ◽  
Orchard Soil ◽  
Experimental Treatments ◽  
Annual Application

Apple trees were planted into soil from which old apple trees had been removed. Experimental treatments consisted of pre-plant fumigation, annual application of fungicides to the soil and four kinds of soil management. Improved tree growth and increased yield were obtained with soil fumigation and from weed control and mulching. The economics of these operations is discussed.

scholarly journals Growth and Productivity of Vigorous `Northern Spy'/MM.106 Apple Trees in Response to Annually Applied Growth Control Techniques

1990 ◽  
Vol 115 (2) ◽  
pp. 212-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.C. Elfving ◽  
R.A. Cline
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Set ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Growth Control ◽  
Shoot Length ◽  
Apple Trees ◽  
Bud Formation ◽  
Control Techniques ◽  
Terminal Bud ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Growth Regulator Treatment

Beginning in 1982, daminozide (DZ) was applied annually for 5 years to whole, 5-year-old `Northern Spy'/MM.106 (Malus domestics Borkh.) trees: a) shortly after bloom, b) together with ethephon (ETH) 6 to 7 weeks after bloom, or c) after harvest. Controls were unsprayed. One-half of the trees receiving each growth regulator treatment were summer-pruned after terminal-bud formation each year. Postharvest DZ reduced shoot numbers, mean shoot length, trunk enlargement, and fruit size, but had little or no effect on bloom, fruit set, or yield. Postbloom DZ, summer DZ plus ETH, and summer-pruning reduced vegetative growth and time required for dormant-pruning, but only postbloom DZ and summer DZ plus ETH increased spur density in the tree. Postbloom DZ and summer DZ plus ETH increased both flowering and cropping in 3 of the 5 years, with little effect on fruit set. Fruit size was reduced only in years when cropping was enhanced. Total yields (1982-86) were increased 34% and 36% by postbloom DZ and summer DZ plus ETH, respectively. Summer-pruning had no effect on fruit size in any year, but reduced yields in 1984 and 1986. Year-to-year fluctuation in yield was unaffected by any treatment. Growth-control treatments had no direct effect on foliar or fruit macronutrient concentrations. Chemical names used: butanedioic acid mono (2,2-dimethylhydrazide) (daminozide); 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (ethephon).

scholarly journals Net Enclosure of ‘Honeycrisp’ and ‘Gala’ Apple Trees at Different Bloom Stages Affects Fruit Set and Alters Seed Production

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mokhles Elsysy ◽  
Sara Serra ◽  
Phil Schwallier ◽  
Stefano Musacchi ◽  
Todd Einhorn
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Quality Attributes ◽  
Parthenocarpic Fruit ◽  
Apple Trees ◽  
Apple Production ◽  
Commercial Crop ◽  
Mature Seeds

Thinning is a critical but challenging practice in apple production, especially for organic producers. The objective of this experiment was to determine if exclusion netting, used to manage insect pests and stress, could reduce fruit set and thinning requirements of ‘Gala’ and ‘Honeycrisp’ apple trees in Michigan and Washington, U.S.A., respectively. Nets were closed around whole canopies at different timings based on a predetermined percentage of open flowers. In 2017 and 2018, netted trees set a full commercial crop regardless of percentage of open bloom at the time of netting, including prebloom enclosures. Fruit set and yield of netted ‘Honeycrisp’ trees were significantly lower than non-netted, nonthinned controls but similar to non-netted hand-thinned controls. ‘Gala’ fruit set and yield did not differ among treatments. Exclusion netting markedly reduced the number of mature seeds and increased the number of nonfertilized seeds in both cultivars. Pollinator exclusion to ‘Gala’ in a frost year increased parthenocarpic fruit set two-fold compared to non-netted trees. Fruit size, shape, and quality attributes of ‘Gala’ were were similar among treatments, but ‘Honeycrisp’ fruit were significantly smaller than hand-thinned, non-netted controls. Netting may constitute an alternative, viable strategy to manage fruit set but requires testing on different cultivars.

scholarly journals The Effect of Prohexadione-calcium on Fruit Set and Chemical Thinning of Apple Trees

HortScience ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 1361-1365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duane W. Greene
Keyword(s):  
Vegetative Growth ◽  
Fire Blight ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Load Level ◽  
Apple Trees ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Crop Load ◽  
Prohexadione Calcium ◽  
Treated Apple

Prohexadione-calcium (ProCa) has emerged as one of the most important management tools that an orchardist has available to control vegetative growth and to reduce the incidence and severity of fire blight. It has also been implicated in increased fruit set on treated apple trees. This investigation was initiated to confirm the effects of ProCa on fruit set and to evaluate different thinning strategies that might be used to appropriately thin treated trees. ProCa increased fruit set when applied at petal fall at initial rates of 125 or 250 mg·L−1 in three of the four experiments described in this article. Thinners were applied before, at the time of, and after application of ProCa. In all experiments, chemical thinners did not reduce fruit set to the same crop load level on ProCa-treated trees as they did on untreated trees. It was concluded that a different and more aggressive chemical thinning strategy must be used on trees that were treated with ProCa. Fruit size was reduced on ProCa-treated trees. This reduction was usually, but not always, related to increased fruit set. ProCa increased the number of pygmy fruit on ‘Delicious’ apple trees.

scholarly journals Effects of the Fall Foliar Urea Application on N Reserves and Fruiting Performance of Gala/M26 Apple Trees in Pot-in-Pot System

HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 796A-796
Author(s):  
Pinghai Ding* ◽  
Minggang Cui ◽  
Leslie H. Fuchigami
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Set ◽  
Foliar Application ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Fruit Crops ◽  
Apple Trees ◽  
Fruit Thinning ◽  
Tree Fruit ◽  
Dormant Season ◽  
Foliar Urea

Reserve nitrogen is an important factor for plant growth and fruiting performance in tree fruit crops. The fall foliar urea application appears to be an efficient method for increasing N reserves. The effect of fall foliar urea application on N reserves and fruiting performance were studied with four year old `Gala'/M26 trees grown in 20 gallon containers in a pot-in-pot system from 2001 to 2003 at the Lewis-Brown Horticulture Farm of Oregon State Univ.. The trees were either sprayed with 0 or 2 times 3% urea after harvest in October. Shoot and spur samples were taken at the dormant season for reserve N analysis. Fruit performance was recorded in the following growing season. The fall foliar application significantly increased spur N reserve and had the trend to increase shoot N reserve but not significantly. The fall foliar application significantly increased tree fruit set and cluster fruit set. With normal fruit thinning, fall foliar urea application has the trend to increase both tree yield and average fruit size; without fruit thinning, fall foliar urea application has the trend to increase tree yield. These results indicate that fall foliar urea application an effective method to increase reserve N for maintaining tree yield.

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