Abstract

This 4-year study at the Kivik research station, southeastern Sweden (approximate to 55 degrees N), investigated optimal orchard management procedures to improve tree growth, yield, fruit quality, and storability in the important early season apple cultivar 'Katja'. Two procedures (one standard, one novel) were applied within pruning, weed control, fertigation, and thinning, yielding a total of 16 different combinations (treatments). Tree vegetative growth, yield, fruit size, fruit color, firmness, soluble solids concentration, malic acid, nitrogen and calcium content, and percentage fruit with storage rot (Pezicula malicorticis) were evaluated for all 16 treatments. Changing to the novel alternative in only one or two of the areas did not produce significant improvements in all investigated parameters. The optimal treatment consisted of radical winter pruning + summer pruning (novel), bark mulching (novel), fertigation with 0.13 g N (standard), and hand thinning after full bloom (novel).

Keywords

apple (Malus domestica); pruning; bark mulching; fertigation; Pezicula malicorticis

Published in

HortScience
2008, Volume: 43, number: 3, pages: 725-729
Publisher: AMER SOC HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE

SLU Authors

• Tahir, Ibrahim

  • Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Johansson, Eva

  • Department of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Olsson, Marie

  • Horticulture, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Horticulture


Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/18184