Articles
COMPARISON BETWEEN VERTICAL AXIS AND Y-SHAPED APRICOT TRAINING SYSTEMS
However, this technique results that require expensive pruning, fruit thinning and harvesting operations of large trees.
Hence, a trial comparing spindle and Y-shape at the same spacing (4.5×1.5m 1481 trees/ha) was established in spring 1984.
The Y-shaped system was trained with permanent tutors without wires.
After 10 years, the total yield per hectare was higher for the spindle (102.1 t) than for the Y-shaped system (66,0 t).
Tree growth was greater for the spindle than for the Y-shape, which also had a lower productive efficiency.
No significant differences were observed between the two training systems relative to fruit size.
A new trial was set up in 1993 to compare the following three different planting systems, using the varieties Tirynthos and S. Castrese grafted on myrobolan:
- Y-shape (1.5×4.5 m; 1481 trees per hectare): vertical scion pruned at 35 cm.
- X-shape (1.5×4.5 m; 1481×2 trees per hectare): two obliques unpruned scions close together.
- Inclined shape (1.0×5.0 m; 2000 trees per hectare): two alternate obliques unpruned scions.
The Y-system after 4 years gave the highest cumulated yield per tree (44.2 kg) followed by the X-system (31.2 kg) and the inclined shape (24.8 kg).
Trunk growth for b) and c) was significantly reduced (25%) compared to a), but crop efficiency was higher in a). It is premature to judge the different planting systems, but the preliminary results confirm the limits of very high planting densities.