ISHS Acta Horticulturae 367: VI International Symposium on Pear Growing
INFLUENCE OF SOIL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN THE EVOLUTION OF PEAR GROWTH AND CROPPING |
| Authors: | J. GOMEZ-APARISI, J. AIBAR, C. ZARAGOZA, M. CARRERA |
| Abstract:
Four soil management systems were studied during 1983–1989 in a pear orchard of 'P. Crassanne' and 'Général Leclerc' on quince A rootstock. These systems included traditional tillage (TT), non tillage with chemical weed control (NT), tillage on the alleys with herbicide applications on the lines (TH), and grass cover periodically sowed in the alleys and herbicide applications on the line (HH). The vegetative growth, the foliar nutrient status, the production and its quality were measured yearly. The different systems have affected significantly the chemical soil characteristics, with significant differences measured in salinity, pH, organic matter, phosphorous and potassium. Foliar analisys, on the other hand, have shown only significant differences for two microelements: iron (higher in HH) and manganese (higher in TT). The vegetative growth shows the vigor differences between the two cultivars. There is also a lower growth in the NT system, probably due to herbicide toxicity during the first years. Even if the growth rate increased later in this system, the trees never reached the growth level as in the other systems. The annual production shows a characteristic oscillation, mainly for 'G. Leclerc', a more productive and alternate bearing cultivar. The total production at the end of the trial shows clearly the effect of the soil management system. Thus, for both varieties HH is the best system while TT is the worst system. For both cultivars HH has been a good system as related to productive efficiency, making it recommendable for commercial orchards due to its agronomical advantages. The result of the different parameters of fruit quality do not show significant differences among the systems. | |
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