scholarly journals Effect of Preplant Fertilization, Annual Fertilization, Irrigation, and Fertigation on `Empire' Apple Fruit Size and Yield

HortScience ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 582c-582
Author(s):  
Terence L. Robinson ◽  
Warren C Stiles
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Tree Growth ◽  
Shoot Growth ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Fertilizer Treatment ◽  
Eastern United States ◽  
Trickle Irrigation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Yield Efficiency

A field experiment was established in 1992 with `Empire' apple trees on either M.7 or M.9 rootstock. Preplant fertilization with NPKB plus lime compared to the lime only control did not increase tree growth during the first 4 years, but did increase cumulative yield (10%) and average fruit size (7%). The addition of annual applications of ground-applied NKB after planting increased total shoot growth 17%, as well as yield (26%) and fruit size (14%) compared to the lime only control. Trickle irrigation significantly increased trunk cross-sectional area (17%), shoot growth (16%), yield (18%), fruit size (5%), and yield efficiency (7%). The interaction of ground fertilization and trickle irrigation showed that trickle irrigation increased the benefits of ground applied fertilizers. Without trickle irrigation, ground-applied fertilizers increased shoot growth only 6% and yield 14% compared to the unfertilized controls, but, with the addition of trickle irrigation, the ground-applied fertilizers increased shoot growth 21% and yield 21% over the irrigated but unfertilized control. Ground fertilization increased yield efficiency and fruit size by the percentage by whether or not trickle irrigation was present. Fertigation gave similar results as the trickle plus ground fertilizer treatment on tree growth, yield, fruit size, and yield efficiency. Our results indicate that trickle irrigation in the eastern United States can improve tree growth, yield, and fruit size in the first few years after planting. The addition of ground-applied fertilizer or fertigation can improve tree performance even more. However, in the humid New York climate, there does not appear to be a significant benefit from injecting the fertilizer into the trickle water compared to applying the fertilizer on the ground.

scholarly journals 503 Effect of Source and Timing of Potassium Fertilizer on `Empire' Apple Tree Growth, Yield, and Fruit Quality

HortScience ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 481C-481
Author(s):  
Terence L. Robinson ◽  
Warren Stiles
Keyword(s):  
Tree Growth ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Sectional Area ◽  
Potassium Fertilizer ◽  
Trickle Irrigation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Early Season ◽  
Red Color ◽  
Area Increase

A field experiment was established in 1993 in a 3-year-old `Empire'/M.9 apple orchard. An incomplete factorial treatment design compared nitrogen only fertilization with nitrogen plus potassium fertilizer applied either on the ground with and without trickle irrigation or through the trickle irrigation system. Timing of potassium fertigation treatments compared season-long K fertigation to early season or late-season K fertigation. Results of main effects showed that K fertilization reduced trunk cross-sectional area increase, but increased yield, fruit size, and fruit red color. There was no benefit of fertigation compared to ground application of fertilizers plus trickle irrigation. There was no effect of source of K fertilizer (KCl vs KNO3) on tree growth, yield, fruit size, or color. Time of K fertigation showed that late-season K fertigation resulted in greater trunk cross-sectional area increase compared to early season fertigation or season-long fertigation. Fruit size was greatest when K fertigation was done in the early season. There was no effect of time of fertigation on yield or fruit red color. Potassium fertilization increased leaf K levels and reduced leaf Mg levels. Time of fertigation did not affect leaf K levels, but early season fertigation resulted in higher leaf N levels.

scholarly journals 068 EFFECT OF PRUNING SEVERITY ON APPLE TREE GROWTH, YIELD AND YIELD EFFICIENCY

HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 437f-437
Author(s):  
Terence L. Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Light Interception ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Yield Efficiency ◽  
Unit Increase ◽  
Efficiency Conversion ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Reduced Light

`Empire'/M.26 apple trees which were planted in 1978 and trained to a Y-trellis were pruned differentially from 1989-1993. Trees were dormant pruned by removing from 1-4 scaffold limbs. The annual increase in trunk cross-sectional area (TCA), and the number and length of shoots removed during summer pruning increased linearly as the severity of pruning increased. The number of shoots removed during summer pruning from the most severe pruning treatment was more than double that of the least severe treatment Cumulative fruit number and yield were reduced linearly with increasing severity of pruning while average fruit size was increased only slightly by severity of pruning. Light interception was reduced with increasing severity of pruning. Tree efficiency of converting light energy into fruit (g fruit/MJ PAR intercepted) was linearly reduced with increasing pruning severity. Most of the reduction in conversion efficiency appeared to be due to reduced partitioning of resources into fruit since partitioning index (g fruit/unit increase in TCA) was more highly correlated to pruning severity than to conversion efficiency. Conversion efficiency and partitioning index accounted for a greater portion of the yield variation than did light interception indicating that the influence of pruning on yield was more a function of changing internal physiology than reduced light interception.

Effect of Canopy Angle and Row Spacing on Tree Growth, Yield, Light Interception, and Fruit Quality of Y-trellis-trained Apple Trees

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 547d-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terence L. Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Size ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Free Standing ◽  
Apple Trees ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Yield Efficiency ◽  
Strong Positive Relationship ◽  
Canopy Volume ◽  
The Relationship

`Empire'/M.9/MM.106 and `Ace Delicious'/MM.106 apple trees were planted in 1985 at three between row spacings (3.0 m, 4.25 m and 5.5 m) and were trained as either free standing central leaders or as Y-shaped hedgerows for 13 years. The Y hedgerow arms had varying angles from 40° to 80° above the horizontal. Final scaffold length, canopy volume, trunk cross-sectional area, and above-ground canopy weight were positively correlated to the angle of the Y arms. As the angle of the Y arms became more horizontal, the amount of growth removed during summer pruning increased. At the flattest angle (40° above horizontal), terminal growth of both cultivars ceased and excessive vertical sucker growth resulted. As the angle of the Y arms became more vertical, more terminal growth was obtained and less shoot growth had to be removed during summer pruning. Cumulative yields of the Y-shaped trees were generally greater than those of the central-leader-trained trees. Exceptions were the most horizontal and the most vertical canopy angles, which had the lowest yields. The relationship between angle of Y arms and yield showed a broad optimum between 50° and 70° above the horizontal. There was also a strong positive relationship between tree density and yield. `Empire' fruit size was smaller from the Y-shaped trees than from the central-leader trees. The optimum angles for fruit size were the intermediate angles. Fruit color was poorest on the flattest angles and best on the most-vertical angles. The best yield efficiency was at intermediate angles (50° 70°). This resulted in the best balance of vegetative growth and cropping.

scholarly journals The Importance of Apple Rootstocks on Tree Growth, Yield, Fruit Quality, Leaf Nutrition, and Photosynthesis with an Emphasis on `Fuji'

2002 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esmaeil Fallahi ◽  
W. Michael Colt ◽  
Bahar Fallahi ◽  
Ik-Jo Chun
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Tree Growth ◽  
Mineral Nutrition ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Net Photosynthesis ◽  
Apple Rootstocks ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Yield Efficiency ◽  
Long Term Study ◽  
Adverse Environmental Conditions

Tree fruit rootstocks are used to influence precocity, tree size, fruit quality, yield efficiency, mineral uptake, and to withstand adverse environmental conditions. In this paper, we will briefly discuss the history and literature of apple (Malus domestica) rootstocks and their effects on scion tree growth, yield, fruit quality, leaf mineral nutrition, and photosynthesis. Then, the results of our long-term study on the effects of rootstocks on tree growth, yield, fruit quality and leaf mineral nutrition, and one season of photosynthesis measurement in `BC-2 Fuji' will be presented and discussed. In this study, `Fuji' trees on `Malling 9 NAKBAT337' (M.9) rootstock had the smallest trunk cross-sectional area (TCA), highest yield efficiency, and were the most precocious followed by those on `East Malling-Long Ashton 26' (M.26 EMLA) and `East Malling-Long Ashton 7' (M.7 EMLA). Trees on M.7 EMLA often had larger fruit with less color than those on M.9 and M.26 EMLA. Trees on M.7 EMLA frequently had greater leaf K than those on other rootstocks. Trees on M.26 EMLA always had greater leaf Mg than those on other rootstocks. Leaves from the current terminal shoots (CTS) of trees on M.9 had higher net photosynthesis and transpiration than those on M.7 EMLA rootstock during 1998 growing season.

scholarly journals Interaction of Irrigation and Soil Management on Sweet Cherry Productivity and Fruit Quality at Different Crop Loads that Simulate Those Occurring by Environmental Extremes

HortScience ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerry H. Neilsen ◽  
Denise Neilsen ◽  
Frank Kappel ◽  
T. Forge
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Sweet Cherry ◽  
Prunus Avium ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Cold Climate ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Irrigation Frequency ◽  
Cross Sectional

‘Cristalina’ and ‘Skeena’ sweet cherry cultivars (Prunus avium L.) on Gisela 6 (Prunus cerasus × Prunus canescens) rootstock planted in 2005 were maintained since 2006 in a randomly blocked split-split plot experimental design with six blocks of two irrigation frequency main plot treatments within which two cultivar subplots and three soil management sub-subplots were randomly applied. The focus of this study was the growth, yield, and fruit quality response of sweet cherry to water and soil management over three successive fruiting seasons, 2009–11, in a cold climate production area. The final 2 years of the study period were characterized by cool, wet springs resulting in low yield and yield efficiency across all treatments. Soil moisture content (0- to 20-cm depth) during the growing season was often higher in soils that received high-frequency irrigation (HFI) compared with low-frequency irrigation (LFI). HFI and LFI received the same amount of water, but water was applied four times daily in the HFI treatment but every other day in the LFI treatment. Consequently, larger trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA) and higher yield were found on HFI compared with LFI trees. Soil management strategies involving annual bloom time phosphorus (P) fertigation and wood waste mulching did not affect tree vigor and yield. Increased soluble solids concentration (SSC) occurred with LFI. Decreased SSC occurred with delayed harvest maturity in trees receiving P fertigation at bloom. The largest fruit size was correlated for both cultivars with low crop loads ranging from 100 to 200 g fruit/cm2 TCSA. Overall cool, wet spring weather strongly affected annual yield and fruit quality, often overriding cultivar and soil and water management effects.

Growth, yield and preliminary selection of seedling guavas in Queensland

1981 ◽  
Vol 21 (108) ◽  
pp. 119
Author(s):  
KR Chapman ◽  
B Paxton ◽  
J Saranah ◽  
PD Scudamore-Smith
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yields ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Cross Sectional Area ◽  
Planting Density ◽  
Sectional Area ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Fruit Number ◽  
Quality Aspects ◽  
Preliminary Selection

Five guava seedlines of Hawaiian origin, namely GA9-37, GA12-1 6, GA10-48, GA11-56 and GA9-39 were yield tested in coastal sub-tropical south-eastern Queensland. The work demonstrated that seedling guavas produce attractive yields comparable with overseas countries. First crop mean yields were 30.72 kg/tree after 18 months in the field, demonstrating the precocious bearing of the guava. Yields for second and third cropping years were 45.6 and 77.9 kg/tree. These yields equate to 24.7, 37.2 and 61.5 tonnes ha-1 at a planting density of 805 trees ha-1. Third crop yields give the attractive gross returns of around $15,000 ha-1, at current prices paid by processors in Queensland. No differences were found between seedlines in annual yields, accumulated crop yields, fruit Number/tree, annual yield per unit cross sectional area of butt (an index of fruitfulness) and accumulated yield per unit cross sectional area of butt. Within seedline, variability masked differential response and these aspects are discussed. Fruit yields and relative increase in butt cross sectional area of butt varied with cropping year. Fruit. number per tree and yield per unit cross sectional area of butt varied with years, as did fruit number per kg (an index of fruit size). The latter also varied with seedlines. These effects were attributed to water rationing in spring of the second crop year. Preliminary selection based on fruit quality aspects of individuals identified four individuals which are undergoing detailed processing assessment, namely GA9-39R1T2, GA11-56T7, GA11-56R5T2 and GA1 1-56R5T1. Two further individuals were selected for fresh fruit market testing, namely GA11-56T3 and GA11 -56R1T1. We believe that market development rather than horticultural problems to be overcome will dictate the success of the guava as a crop for Australia, since the guava is comparatively easy to grow and manage.

scholarly journals Irrigation and Rootstock Influence on Water Use, Tree Growth, Yield, and Fruit Quality at Harvest at Different Ages of Trees in ‘Pacific Gala’ Apple

HortScience ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 588-593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esmaeil Fallahi ◽  
Bahar Fallahi ◽  
Bahman Shafii
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Tree Growth ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Starch Degradation ◽  
Yield Efficiency

During various ages of tree between 2002 and 2007, the effects of four rootstocks and two irrigation systems using a crop evapotranspiration-based (ETc) water scheduling on water use, tree growth, yield, and fruit quality at harvest in ‘Pacific Gala’ apple [(Malus ×domestica) Borkh] were studied. The use of ETc when a precise crop coefficient value (Kc), modified by percentage of ground shade (GS) and tree canopy maturity (M) was used, provided a reliable tool for irrigation scheduling of ‘Pacific Gala’ apple. Young trees with a full sprinkler (FS) system received an average of 872.3 mm (5616.8 L/tree), whereas those with full drip (FD) received 448.9 mm (2921.1 L/tree). However, when trees were mature, trees with a FS system received an average of 994 mm (6461.7 L/tree), whereas trees with a FD received 614.1 mm (3996 L/tree) of irrigation water per growing season. Trees on ‘Budagovsky 9’ (‘B.9’) had smaller trunk cross-sectional area (TCA) and higher yield efficiency, whereas those on ‘Supporter4’ (‘Sup.4’) had larger TCA and lower yield efficiency than those on other rootstocks in all years of the study. Trees on ‘Nic.9’ (‘RN29’) always had higher yield per tree as compared with those on other rootstocks. Trees on ‘RN29’ often had higher but trees on ‘B.9’ had lower fruit weight than did those on other rootstocks. Trees on ‘Sup.4’, despite their lower yields, had smaller fruits than those on ‘RN29’ every year and thus were not suitable for planting. Fruit from trees on ‘B.9’ and ‘Cornell-Geneva30’ (‘G.30’) often had higher soluble solids concentration (SSC) and starch degradation pattern (SDP) than those other rootstocks. Fruits from trees on ‘G.30’ also had lower firmness and higher stem-end cracking, suggesting that this rootstock advances maturity in ‘Pacific Gala’ apple. Trees with FS irrigation had higher TCA than those with the FD system. Trees with the FD system were more precocious and had higher yield per tree, yield efficiency, and fruit weight than trees with the FS system when they were young. However, these differences were not significant when trees matured. ‘Pacific Gala’ fruit from trees with FS consistently had better color than those with the FD system every year. Fruits from young trees with the FD system often had higher SDP and lower firmness than those from FS irrigation.

scholarly journals Management of Fire Blight Using Pre-bloom Application of Prohexadione-Calcium

Plant Disease ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 104 (4) ◽  
pp. 1048-1054
Author(s):  
Anna E. Wallis ◽  
Kerik D. Cox
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Tree Growth ◽  
Cell Walls ◽  
Fire Blight ◽  
Shoot Growth ◽  
New York State ◽  
Bacterial Disease ◽  
Cortical Parenchyma ◽  
Shoot Blight ◽  
Prohexadione Calcium

Fire blight, a bacterial disease of rosaceous plants caused by Erwinia amylovora, is one of the most important diseases affecting commercial apple production worldwide. Antibiotics, applied at bloom to protect against blossom infection, are the most effective means of management but raise concern due to the potential for antibiotic resistance in both the pathogen population and nontarget organisms. In addition, most fire blight outbreaks in New York State often emerge in late June to July as shoot blight, calling into question the role of blossom infections and the antibiotic applications made to manage them. Prohexadione-calcium (PhCa) is a gibberellic acid inhibitor used post-bloom to control shoot vigor and to manage shoot blight. However, the magnitude of shoot blight management is directly related to the suppression of shoot growth, which is undesirable, especially in young orchards during establishment years. PhCa is believed to control shoot blight by thickening cell walls in cortical parenchyma, preventing invasion of host tissues by E. amylovora. We hypothesize that PhCa applied pre-bloom could similarly prevent invasion of blossom pedicels following infection, leading to reduced disease incidence. We evaluated novel pre-bloom PhCa programs for their effects on disease management (blossom and shoot blight) as well as their impact on shoot growth for three years in a mature ‘Gala’ orchard in New York. In all three years of the study, all PhCa programs resulted in less than 27% incidence (71% control) of blossom blight and less than 13% incidence (77% control) of shoot blight with minimal effect on tree growth. Inclusion of a biopesticide during bloom further reduced the incidence of blossom blight in one year of three. Using light microscopy, we found that cell walls in the cortical parenchyma of fruitlet pedicels on trees receiving pre-bloom PhCa applications were significantly thicker than those of untreated trees 40 days after full bloom and inoculation. Overall, we found that pre-bloom applications of PhCa had utility in reducing blossom blight and shoot blight with minimal impacts on tree growth. These pre-bloom programs would fit with standard production practices and may contribute toward the development of fire blight management programs without the use of antibiotics.

scholarly journals The influence of rootstocks on the growth, yield and fruit quality of the plum cultivar Cacanska rana

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-174
Author(s):  
Dragan Milatovic ◽  
Mirjana Radovic ◽  
Gordan Zec ◽  
Djordje Boskov
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Planting Density ◽  
Total Acid ◽  
Danube Basin ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Yield Efficiency

The paper examines the influence of three clonal rootstocks ('Pixy', 'Fereley' and 'St. Julien A') along with seedlings of Myrobalan (control) on the growth, yield and fruit quality of the plum cultivar 'Cacanska Rana'. Research was conducted in the area of the Belgrade Danube basin for the six-year period (2013-2018). In comparison to control, all three clonal rootstocks have shown a significant effect on the decrease of vigor expressed as a trunk cross-sectional area. The lowest vigor was found in trees on the 'Pixy' rootstock, then on 'Fereley' and 'St. Julien A' rootstocks. Regarding the rootstocks 'Fereley' and 'St. Julien A', significantly higher fruit set and yields were achieved in comparison to control. Clonal rootstocks induced an increase in the yield per hectare ranging from 72% to 93% compared to Myrobalan. The highest yield efficiency was found in the trees on the 'Fereley' rootstock, followed by the yields observed in the trees on the 'Pixy' and 'St. Julien A' rootstocks. Significantly higher fruit weight compared to control was obtained in the trees on the 'Fereley' rootstock. Rootstocks did not show any significant effect on the soluble solids and total acid contents of the fruit. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that all three clonal rootstocks showed better results than Myrobalan, and can be recommended for establishing intensive plum plantations with higher planting density. The best results in terms of yield and fruit quality were obtained with the 'Fereley' rootstock.

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