ISHS Acta Horticulturae 69: II International Symposium on Pear Growing
EFFECT OF HEDGEROW ORIENTATION ON PEAR FRUITING |
| Authors: | P.B. Lombard, M.N. Westwood |
| Abstract:
Hedgerows of 'Williams' and 'Anjou' pear trees planted in 1969 were oriented north-south and east-west to study the effect on fruiting. Central leader trees were spaced 1.2 x 3.7 m and trained to a tree wall 3.7 m high x 1.8 m wide at the base with a wall angle of 17° from vertical. Location is near 42°N latitude in high radiation and hot dry climate. Maximum bearing surface was attained by the 5th year during the first year of cropping. Accumulated yield in the 5th, 6th, and 7th year showed an increase in the north-south rows of 48% for 'Anjou' and 34% for 'Williams' over that of the east-west row. The lower yield was attributed to the reduced solar radiation on the north side where radiation was less than the minimum requirement of 240 g cal/m2 in the first meter above ground. Observations in 1976 pointed to a reduction in bloom density on the north side, but no reduction in fruit set. Fruit set was greater on the north side of 'Anjou' trees because of more favorable pollination weather due to a 4–5 day bloom delay. Row orientation had no marked influence on fruit maturity and quality. Increased solar heating on the south side was found to deharden fruit buds to frost injury on both the south and north sides prior to bloom which advanced bloom on the south side but not the north side. This led to twice the frost injury of floral buds on the north and south sides than either east or west sides of the north-south rows. The influence of the hedgerow orientation on fruiting depends both on the microclimate and the yield efficiency of the pear scion-rootstock combination. | |
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