Articles
Narrow vertical planar orchard canopy for European plum (Prunus domestica L.) grown on vigorous rootstocks – advantages and limitations
Article number
1457_8
Pages
63 – 70
Language
English
Abstract
The European plum (Prunus domestica L.) in Bosnia and Herzegovina is exclusively grown on the cherry plum rootstock (Prunus cerasifra Ehr.). In the new, more intensive orchards, spindle training systems are the most common (plum spindle, improved pyramid). The proper training and management of these systems is possible with significant engagement from educated labor, which has become a serious problem in recent years.
In order to raise the level of efficiency in plum production, during the period 2019-2023, preliminary research was conducted to assess the possibility of training plum trees in a narrow orchard canopy system (vertical multileader double cordon). The research was carried out with cultivars with a dominant short (‘Stanley’) and long (‘Grossa di Felisio’ – ‘Empress’) fruiting shoots.
The paper presents the key advantages and limitations of the aforementioned training systems in plum production.
The vigor of cherry plum as a rootstock, with pronounced acrotonic growth of new shoots, enables a relatively simple and correct system training, the vitality of the trees, and a very successful replacement of the fruiting branches.
The initial yield is achieved in the third growing season, and in the fourth, the first economically significant yield.
The fruit quality is high regardless of the cultivar, and the fruit uniformity is very high.
Pruning is simplified, pathogen protection is easier, and harvest is highly efficient, thereby increasing production cost-effectiveness.
For the successful training of two-dimensional systems, an adequate trellis system in the orchard and increased participation in summer pruning are necessary.
Due to greater tree vigor in the orchard, about 80% of manual operations can be carried out from the ground.
Two-dimensional training systems can be important for enhancing labor efficiency, mechanization, digitalization, and robotization in production processes, thereby significantly increasing production efficiency.
In order to raise the level of efficiency in plum production, during the period 2019-2023, preliminary research was conducted to assess the possibility of training plum trees in a narrow orchard canopy system (vertical multileader double cordon). The research was carried out with cultivars with a dominant short (‘Stanley’) and long (‘Grossa di Felisio’ – ‘Empress’) fruiting shoots.
The paper presents the key advantages and limitations of the aforementioned training systems in plum production.
The vigor of cherry plum as a rootstock, with pronounced acrotonic growth of new shoots, enables a relatively simple and correct system training, the vitality of the trees, and a very successful replacement of the fruiting branches.
The initial yield is achieved in the third growing season, and in the fourth, the first economically significant yield.
The fruit quality is high regardless of the cultivar, and the fruit uniformity is very high.
Pruning is simplified, pathogen protection is easier, and harvest is highly efficient, thereby increasing production cost-effectiveness.
For the successful training of two-dimensional systems, an adequate trellis system in the orchard and increased participation in summer pruning are necessary.
Due to greater tree vigor in the orchard, about 80% of manual operations can be carried out from the ground.
Two-dimensional training systems can be important for enhancing labor efficiency, mechanization, digitalization, and robotization in production processes, thereby significantly increasing production efficiency.
Publication
Authors
M. Cvetković, J.S. Cvijanović
Keywords
training system, production, quality, efficiency
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