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FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON HIGH-DENSITY NECTARINE PLANTINGS.
Training systems used were "free spindle" at 2 222, 1 480 and 1 111 trees/ha, and "free palmetta" at 888 and 740 trees/ha respectively.
The first four years of observations reveal the evident influence of planting distances on tree growth.
In the second year, canopy volume was least in "free spindle" trees planted at distances of 4.5 x 1.0 m, and reached its maximum in those trained to "free palmetta" at distances of 4.5 x 3.0 m.
The difference between these two extremes widened over subsequent years: trees planted at the highest density showed 23% less growth in 1985 and 56% less growth in 1987. The same trend was observed in the increase of trunk growth, which showed a direct relationship to planting distances.
Cumulative yield per tree also proved directly related to planting distances and thus to tree growth, ranging from 31 Kg at the density of 2 222 trees/ha to 46 Kg at 1 111 trees/ha, and to 64 Kg at 740 trees/ha.
As regards yield per hectare, the highest values were obtained at the highest planting densities over the first years of production, but the fruits tended to be slightly smaller with graduated ripening.
Larger fruits with a higher soluble solids content were found in the upper and east facing parts of the canopy of both training systems.
In general, the best results were given by the "free spindle" trees at 4.5 x 2.0 m and "free palmetta" trees at both planting densities.