SOME CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT HIGH DENSITY ORCHARDS DESIGN

Since 1978, the Catedra de Fruticultura (Universidad Politecnica de Madrid) has been working in a research program about the commercial possibilities of high density apple and pear orchards treated with growth retardants (ALAR was used till 1986, and CULTAR since that year till now), in different fruit growing areas of Spain.

The initial experimental plots were established on the basis of "meadow orchard" system (Hudson 1971 and Luckwill 1973); in 1981, we modified the original "meadow orchard" concept, by planting the trees at wider spacings, and instead of de-heading every two years we have attempted to control growth and cropping by growth retardant sprays and light winter pruning.

The final objectives of this program, have been:

1. To observe the results of the high density orchards in typical fruit growing areas in spain.

2. To study the behaviour of a range of cultivars, rootstocks and planting densities in this system.

3. To prepare field recomendations about establishment, cultural practices and PGR treatments in commercial cultivation.

V International Symposium on Orchard and Plantation Systems

F. Gil-Albert

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1993.349.10