ISHS Acta Horticulturae 160: III International Symposium on Research and Development on Orchard and Plantation Systems
COMPARISON OF SINGLE-ROW AND MULTI-ROW PLANTING SYSTEMS WITH APPLE, WITH REGARD TO PRODUCTIVITY, FRUIT SIZE AND COLOUR, AND LIGHT CONDITIONS |
| Authors: | S.J. Wertheim, A. de Jager, M.J.J.P. Duyzens |
| Abstract:
Several intensive planting systems (single rows, three and six-row beds, full-field systems) with apple trees on M.9 rootstock were compared for six years. Two tree shapes (slender and North-Holland spindles) were involved and winter pruning was compared with winter plus additional summer pruning. Increasing tree density per ha caused a decrease in yield per tree but an increase in accumulated ha production, which was accompanied by an increase in light interception and leaf-area index. Arrangement of the trees, too, had an effect: single rows and full-field systems came out relatively well, three-row systems not. Neither the density nor the system had much effect on fruit size or colour. Slender spindles produced more than North-Holland spindles, and allowed for slightly more fruit colour. The slender spindle was further characterized by a larger tree volume, a slightly better light penetration, a higher leaf-area index, a lower leaf area density and a lower production per unit of tree volume. Summer pruning decreased yield per tree in slender spindles, but not in North-Holland spindles. Summer pruning had no effect on fruit size, but increased fruit colour through better light penetration in the trees. | |
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