ADAPTATION OF THE PEACH TO THE MEADOW ORCHARD SYSTEM

‘Sunred’ nectarine trees were grown in a meadow orchard system at 19 000 plants per hectare, 1 200 trees per experimental plot.
The trees flowered and bore fruit in the first year.
Immediately after cropping in June, the entire tree top was cut back down to the lowest 5 cm of one-year-old-wood.
Renewed growth was initiated, flowers differentiated, and the original size of the well-feathered tree was recovered by the end of the growing season in December.
Thus annual cropping was obtained with a rhythmic change in tree size between two constant levels.
Four such consecutive cycles were completed with no sign of tree decline.
Bud opening and hence fruit ripening were delayed by 2 to 3 weeks in comparison with trees in a conventional orchard.
A commercial yield of 12 t/ha was obtained in the first year and of over 20 t/ha in subsequent years.
Fruit size was smaller and ripening more uniform than in the adult conventional orchard.
The possibility of growing peach in a meadow orchard based on scion hardwood cuttings was examined.
The overall behaviour of the rooted trees was similar to that of grafted trees.
Suitable environmental conditions and cultivars are required for the successful use of this system.

Symposium on High Density Planting

A. Erez

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1978.65.34