ISHS Acta Horticulturae 254: II International Peach Symposium
PERFORMANCE OF THE 'STARK REDGOLD' NECTARINE VARIETY IN CULTIVATION AT DIFFERENT PLANTING DENSITIES |
| Authors: | G. Baroni, G. Bargioni |
| Abstract:
In an orchard established in a typical morainic, gravelled and well-drained soil in the Verona area, seedlings of PS B2, a peach rootstock selected by the Istituto di Coltivazioni Arboree, Pisa (Italy), budded with 'Stark Redgold' nectarine, were planted in Winter 1982–1983 to compare different densities: 2220 trees/ha, 1480 trees/ha, and 1110 trees/ha. Trees began to bear during the second growing season; the highest density gave the best crop yields. The biggest cumulative yield by the fourth season of growth was achieved (89.19 T/ha) with the middle density group. Poorer cumulative yields were achieved with the highest and the lowest densities. This could be due, respectively, to strong competition between the trees and to an incomplete exploitation of the distances between the trees. Though fruit quality (size and colour) was satisfactory in all groups, increasing density seems to have a negative effect on the size of the fruit. The amount of manual labour per hectare for pruning decreased from the highest to the lowest density. | |
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