Articles
Are 2-D orchard canopy management systems in the European plum production grown on a vigorous rootstock a step forward?
Article number
1449_37
Pages
279 – 286
Language
English
Abstract
The reasons for the intensification of plum training systems have universal significance, like other fruit species: earlier investment return, labor utilization and high yield with good fruit quality.
Finding new training systems is mainly defined by increasing their efficiency in the broadest sense of the word (better sunlight absorption, better labor utilization, mechanization of certain work operations, cost reduction in raising orchards, etc.). The aim of the work is to analyze the fruit characteristics of the cultivar ‘Empress’ – ‘Grossa di Felisio’ (Prunus domestica L.) grown in a two-dimensional training system.
The research was conducted during the period 2021–2022 at the Experimental Education Center of the Faculty of Agriculture University of Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina). The orchard was established in 2019. The rootstock was Prunus cerasifera Ehrh.
The training system is Upright Fruiting Offshoot (UFO) trained according to the principles defined in cherry production.
Control trees were trained in a plum spindle system.
The planting distance for both training systems was 4.0×2.0 m.
In total, 50 fruits were collected for fruit characteristics analysis.
This study analyzed: number of fruits per tree, yield per tree and unit area (ha), and basic fruit morphometric and chemical characteristics.
The two-dimensional shape of the UFO resulted in a larger fruit size, and thus, a higher yield per tree and unit area.
The training system had a significant influence on the fruit morphometric characteristics, whereas it was somewhat less influential on the chemical characteristics.
Two-dimensional plum training systems have a promising predisposition for mechanical pruning and easier harvesting; therefore they deserve attention in the future.
Finding new training systems is mainly defined by increasing their efficiency in the broadest sense of the word (better sunlight absorption, better labor utilization, mechanization of certain work operations, cost reduction in raising orchards, etc.). The aim of the work is to analyze the fruit characteristics of the cultivar ‘Empress’ – ‘Grossa di Felisio’ (Prunus domestica L.) grown in a two-dimensional training system.
The research was conducted during the period 2021–2022 at the Experimental Education Center of the Faculty of Agriculture University of Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina). The orchard was established in 2019. The rootstock was Prunus cerasifera Ehrh.
The training system is Upright Fruiting Offshoot (UFO) trained according to the principles defined in cherry production.
Control trees were trained in a plum spindle system.
The planting distance for both training systems was 4.0×2.0 m.
In total, 50 fruits were collected for fruit characteristics analysis.
This study analyzed: number of fruits per tree, yield per tree and unit area (ha), and basic fruit morphometric and chemical characteristics.
The two-dimensional shape of the UFO resulted in a larger fruit size, and thus, a higher yield per tree and unit area.
The training system had a significant influence on the fruit morphometric characteristics, whereas it was somewhat less influential on the chemical characteristics.
Two-dimensional plum training systems have a promising predisposition for mechanical pruning and easier harvesting; therefore they deserve attention in the future.
Publication
Authors
M. Cvetković, J.S. Cvijanović, B. Paalić
Keywords
plum, training system, efficiency, quality
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