Articles
ROOTSTOCK AND PLANT SPACING INFLUENCE SWEET CHERRY GROWTH IN FOUR LOCATIONS OF PORTUGAL
Article number
795_36
Pages
267 – 272
Language
English
Abstract
In March 2003, a trial was established at four sites in the main Portuguese sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) producing areas to monitor Sweetheart and Skeena tree growth on three rootstocks (Edabriz, Gisela 5 [Gi.5] and MaxMa 14) and four in-row plant spacing.
The between-row distance was 5.5 m and in-row distances were 70, 140, 210 and 280 cm, corresponding to approximate densities of 2600, 1300, 860 and 650 trees/ha.
Trunk diameter was measured at the end of the 2nd leaf, and ANOVAs were conducted on the values for trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA). Significant growth differences were detected for rootstock, location and plant spacing.
The rootstock was the factor that influenced plant growth the most in all locations; the trees on MaxMa 14 had a TCSA of 21 cm2, whereas those on Edabriz and Gi.5 were only 59 and 45%, respectively, of the MaxMa value.
The trees at Caria grew 7, 31 and 43% more than those at C. Montenegro, Vila Real and Alcongosta, respectively. Edabriz reduced TCSA between 35% in Carrazedo de Montenegro and 46% in Caria, while Gi.5 reduced growth to 52% in Alcongosta and 60% in Caria.
Trees at the highest density (2600/ha) had the greatest TCSA reduction (17%). Overall, TCSA consistently decreased with closer in-row tree spacing; the decrease was 24, 21 and 16% on MaxMa 14, Gi.5 and Edabriz, respectively.
In summary, density affected growth reduction the most in trees planted at 70 cm because of the greater competition, mainly on the semi-dwarfing rootstock.
The between-row distance was 5.5 m and in-row distances were 70, 140, 210 and 280 cm, corresponding to approximate densities of 2600, 1300, 860 and 650 trees/ha.
Trunk diameter was measured at the end of the 2nd leaf, and ANOVAs were conducted on the values for trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA). Significant growth differences were detected for rootstock, location and plant spacing.
The rootstock was the factor that influenced plant growth the most in all locations; the trees on MaxMa 14 had a TCSA of 21 cm2, whereas those on Edabriz and Gi.5 were only 59 and 45%, respectively, of the MaxMa value.
The trees at Caria grew 7, 31 and 43% more than those at C. Montenegro, Vila Real and Alcongosta, respectively. Edabriz reduced TCSA between 35% in Carrazedo de Montenegro and 46% in Caria, while Gi.5 reduced growth to 52% in Alcongosta and 60% in Caria.
Trees at the highest density (2600/ha) had the greatest TCSA reduction (17%). Overall, TCSA consistently decreased with closer in-row tree spacing; the decrease was 24, 21 and 16% on MaxMa 14, Gi.5 and Edabriz, respectively.
In summary, density affected growth reduction the most in trees planted at 70 cm because of the greater competition, mainly on the semi-dwarfing rootstock.
Publication
Authors
A. Santos, R. Santos-Ribeiro, P. Parente, V. Cordeiro, J.L. Lousada, L. Carvalho
Keywords
Prunus avium, cultivars, plant density, training
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