INFLUENCE OF CULTURAL PRACTICES ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF YOUNG APPLE TREES PLANTED IN REPLANT DISEASE SOIL

The influence of three fertilizers and three irrigation methods on the growth and fruit yield of "macspur" on MM.106 rootstock apple trees planted in replant soil was determined under orchard conditions in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia.
This study has shown that ammonium nitrate applied as a single dose at 240 g/tree/year, as a fertigation at 7.5 g/tree/wk for 10 wk/year, and monoammonium phosphate applied at 1 g/l of soil as a planting hole treatment significantly reduced trunk cross-sectional area.
Similarly, ammonium nitrate applied as a single dose in spring at 240 g/tree/year, and as a split dose at 120 g/tree each in spring and early fall significantly reduced the fruit yield.
There was no significant difference for growth and fruit yield between the untreated control and treatment with urea applied as a foliar spray at 1.0 kg/100 l of water in spring and early fall.
It was also observed that trunk cross-sectional area and fruit yield of "Macspur" on MM.106 apple trees were significantly lower for trees watered by microjet and drip irrigation systems compared with two durations of sprinkler irrigation systems.
No significant differences were observed between microjet and drip, and between two durations of sprinkler irrigation systems for trunk cross-sectional area and fruit yield.
Significant correlations were observed between trunk cross-sectional area and fruit yield for all five years.

IV International Symposium on Replant Problems

R.S. Utkhede

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1998.477.3