Abstract
Canopy-pruning is of particular importance in modern fruit growing with high tree density as one of the main agro-technical factors that prevents the periodicity of fruiting and ensures efficient fruit production. Traditional pruning methods of the fruit orchard are associated with the significant cost of manual labor and do not ensure the annual high yields of quality fruits. In the situation when labor costs rise and there is a difficulty in providing skilled workers, mechanical (contour) pruning is introduced, which optimizes the size of crowns, light conditions and fruiting of the orchards. High stable productivity is achieved with the optimum term of mechanical (contour) pruning, so it is important to study this operation in intensive apple orchards. Since mechanical pruning has not been sufficiently studied in Ukraine, the aim of this reserach is to increase the efficiency of fruit growing by optimizing the method and timing of canopy pruning of winter apple-tree cultivars on dwarf rootstock. The article presents the research results of the effect of pruning practicess and terms on the productivity and cost-effectiveness of apple production of cvs. Gala (Mitchgla), Golden Delicious (clone B) and Jonagold (Wilmuta) in the irrigated orchard on dwarf rootstock M.9 T337. The experiments were conducted in the intensive apple full fruiting orchard. Non-virus young-trees of Dutch production were planted with drop irrigation according to the scheme 4x1 m and formed according to the type of slender spindle. Soil management system was: sod-humus – between the rows, herbicide fallow – in the around-trunk strips. The experiment with pruning terms and practices was laid out in triplicate replication with five accounting trees per plot. The trees were pruned in the rest phase (winter), a pink bud, during flowering, in the early summer period (10 leaves per shoot), as well as within two weeks after harvest. Pruning practices were traditional manual and contour (mechanical, modelling) with manual correction of the space between the trees in a row. To form a crown shape, the first mechanical pruning of all variants was done in winter with a fixed width of 80 cm in the lower part and 50 cm in the upper one of a tree, and further the shoots on the outside were annually shortened. The spaces between the trees were pruned manually, highlighting the thickened areas and removing drooping, old and excessively thick branches. It has been found out that mechanical pruning with manual correction of the space between the trees helps increase the productivity of orchard with a higher crop load by 20%, and under such pruning immediately after the harvest – by 17%. On the average during the experiment, the maximum value (23.1 kg / tree) was obtained for cv. Jonagold with mechanical pruning after harvest, whereas for Gala cultivar with manual winter pruning it was almost twice less. The crop of Golden Delicious trees with mechanical pruning after harvest (with manual correction) was by 38% higher than that of Gala cultivar, but by 5% lower than that of Jonagold variety. The yield capacity of the orchards depended significantly on the factors studied and was lower on the manual pruning areas. The areas with mechanical pruning and manual correction were by 19% more productive and the yield capacity was higher by 17% for post-harvest pruning. A maximum yield of 54.3 t / ha was obtained on mechanically pruned Golden Delicious trees in the pink bud phase and after harvest, as well as for Jonagold (57.6 t / ha) after mechanical post-harvest pruning. On the average, over the time of the experiment, the yield of more vigorous Jonagold trees was by 9% higher than that of cv. Golden Delicious and it was by 37% larger than the yield of cv. Gala (the last two with average growth). As compared with manual winter pruning, under mechanical pruning and manual correction, the fruit weight was by 8% larger, it was 10% higher after pruning in the pink bud phase and 12% higher on post-harvest pruning. The tendency to increase the fruit weight in the areas with mechanical pruning at a later time was revealed. Mechanical pruning (with manual correction) does not reduce the amount of quality fruits. As compared with traditional manual pruning in winter, after mechanical pruning, the yield of marketable fruit is higher by 20% and this indicator is 13% higher in the areas pruned after the harvest. The output of commercial apples of Gala cultivar is slightly smaller than that of cvs. Golden Delicious and Jonagold, and the performance of all cultivars is significantly lower after manual winter pruning. The marketable quality of Jonagold apples was 4% higher than that of Golden Delicious and 10% higher than the quality of Gala cultivar. Manual correction after mechanical pruning requires significantly lower labor costs in the plots of all the cultivars studied. However, due to higher crop and more manual labor to harvest additional crops, the total number of man-hours differed from traditional manual pruning slightly. In general, despite some increase in production costs, mechanical pruning immediately after harvest (with manual correction) provides a better price of fruit sale, higher profitability and high economic efficiency. Due to better marketability, the price of selling apples was higher in the areas with mechanical pruning after harvest (with manual correction of space between trees). Due to higher yields, the cost of production turned out to be lower in the plots with mechanical pruning. Mechanical pruning (with manual correction), carried out immediately after the harvest, provides a higher price of sales and a level of profitability, high economic efficiency of fruit production. As compared with manual winter pruning, mechanical pruning of the trees after harvest (with manual correction) requires 2.5 – 3 times less labor costs, it provides 2.0 – 8.5% lower production costs and 1.5 times higher profits annually. In this case, the profitability of the production of Gala apples is higher by 28% points, Jonagold – by 35% and Golden Delicious – by 27% points, as compared with manual winter pruning.
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Claims 20
Claim · model-written summary
Mechanical pruning with manual correction raised orchard productivity by 20% under a higher crop load.
- Taxon
- apple
Malus domesticat0 - Treatment
- mechanical pruning with manual correctione1
- Outcome
- productivity of orcharde1
- Direction
- increasee1
- Value
- 20%e1
- Qualifier
- with a higher crop loade1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“apple orchards on rootstock M.9”
e1“mechanical pruning with manual correction of the space between the trees helps increase the productivity of orchard with a higher crop load by 20%, and under such pruning immediately after the harvest – by 17%”
Claim · model-written summary
Pruning immediately after harvest raised orchard productivity by 17%.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- pruning immediately after the harveste1
- Outcome
- productivity of orcharde1
- Direction
- increasee1
- Value
- 17%e1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“apple orchards on rootstock M.9”
e1“mechanical pruning with manual correction of the space between the trees helps increase the productivity of orchard with a higher crop load by 20%, and under such pruning immediately after the harvest – by 17%”
Claim · model-written summary
Jonagold with mechanical pruning after harvest gave the maximum average yield (23.1 kg per tree).
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Material
- cv. Jonagolde1
- Outcome
- maximum valuee1
- Value
- 23.1 kg / treee1
- Qualifier
- with mechanical pruning after harveste1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“apple orchards on rootstock M.9”
e1“the maximum value (23.1 kg / tree) was obtained for cv. Jonagold with mechanical pruning after harvest”
Claim · model-written summary
Yield capacity was lower on the manual pruning areas, with a significant effect of the factors studied.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- manual pruninge1
- Outcome
- yield capacitye1
- Direction
- lowere1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“apple orchards on rootstock M.9”
e1“The yield capacity of the orchards depended significantly on the factors studied and was lower on the manual pruning areas”
Claim · model-written summary
Areas with mechanical pruning and manual correction were 19% more productive.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- mechanical pruning and manual correctione1
- Outcome
- productivee1
- Direction
- more productivee1
- Value
- 19%e1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“apple orchards on rootstock M.9”
e1“The areas with mechanical pruning and manual correction were by 19% more productive”
Claim · model-written summary
Golden Delicious trees with mechanical pruning in the pink bud phase and after harvest gave a maximum yield of 54.3 t/ha.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Material
- Golden Deliciouse1
- Outcome
- maximum yielde1
- Value
- 54.3 t / hae1
- Qualifier
- by 38% higher than that of Gala cultivare2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“apple orchards on rootstock M.9”
e1“A maximum yield of 54.3 t / ha was obtained on mechanically pruned Golden Delicious trees in the pink bud phase and after harvest, as well as for Jonagold (57.6 t / ha) after mechanical post-harvest pruning”
e2“The crop of Golden Delicious trees with mechanical pruning after harvest (with manual correction) was by 38% higher than that of Gala cultivar, but by 5% lower than that of Jonagold variety”
Claim · model-written summary
Jonagold with mechanical post-harvest pruning gave a maximum yield of 57.6 t/ha.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Material
- Jonagolde1
- Outcome
- maximum yielde1
- Value
- 57.6 t / hae1
- Qualifier
- after mechanical post-harvest pruninge1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“apple orchards on rootstock M.9”
e1“A maximum yield of 54.3 t / ha was obtained on mechanically pruned Golden Delicious trees in the pink bud phase and after harvest, as well as for Jonagold (57.6 t / ha) after mechanical post-harvest pruning”
Claim · model-written summary
Jonagold yield was 9% higher than Golden Delicious and 37% larger than Gala on average over the experiment.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Material
- Jonagolde1
- Outcome
- yielde1
- Direction
- highere1
- Value
- 9%e1
- Qualifier
- 37% larger than the yield of cv. Galae1
- Comparator
- cv. Golden Deliciouse1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“apple orchards on rootstock M.9”
e1“On the average, over the time of the experiment, the yield of more vigorous Jonagold trees was by 9% higher than that of cv. Golden Delicious and it was by 37% larger than the yield of cv. Gala”
Claim · model-written summary
Mechanical pruning with manual correction increased fruit weight by 8% compared with manual winter pruning.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- mechanical pruning and manual correctione1
- Outcome
- fruit weighte1
- Direction
- largere1
- Value
- 8%e1
- Qualifier
- 10% higher after pruning in the pink bud phase and 12% higher on post-harvest pruninge1
- Comparator
- manual winter pruninge1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“apple orchards on rootstock M.9”
e1“As compared with manual winter pruning, under mechanical pruning and manual correction, the fruit weight was by 8% larger, it was 10% higher after pruning in the pink bud phase and 12% higher on post-harvest pruning”
Claim · model-written summary
Mechanical pruning with manual correction does not reduce the amount of quality fruits.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- Mechanical pruning (with manual correction)e1
- Outcome
- amount of quality fruitse1
- Direction
- does not reducee1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“apple orchards on rootstock M.9”
e1“Mechanical pruning (with manual correction) does not reduce the amount of quality fruits”
Claim · model-written summary
Mechanical pruning raised the yield of marketable fruit by 20% compared with manual winter pruning.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- after mechanical pruninge1
- Outcome
- yield of marketable fruite1
- Direction
- highere1
- Value
- 20%e1
- Qualifier
- 13% higher in the areas pruned after the harveste1
- Comparator
- traditional manual pruning in wintere1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“apple orchards on rootstock M.9”
e1“As compared with traditional manual pruning in winter, after mechanical pruning, the yield of marketable fruit is higher by 20% and this indicator is 13% higher in the areas pruned after the harvest”
Claim · model-written summary
Jonagold marketable quality was 4% higher than Golden Delicious and 10% higher than Gala.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Material
- Jonagolde1
- Outcome
- marketable qualitye1
- Direction
- highere1
- Value
- 4%e1
- Qualifier
- 10% higher than the quality of Gala cultivare1
- Comparator
- Golden Deliciouse1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“apple orchards on rootstock M.9”
e1“The marketable quality of Jonagold apples was 4% higher than that of Golden Delicious and 10% higher than the quality of Gala cultivar”
Claim · model-written summary
Gala commercial apple output was slightly smaller than that of Golden Delicious and Jonagold.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Material
- Gala cultivare1
- Outcome
- output of commercial applese1
- Direction
- slightly smallere1
- Comparator
- cvs. Golden Delicious and Jonagolde1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“apple orchards on rootstock M.9”
e1“The output of commercial apples of Gala cultivar is slightly smaller than that of cvs. Golden Delicious and Jonagold”
Claim · model-written summary
Performance of all cultivars was significantly lower after manual winter pruning.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- manual winter pruninge1
- Outcome
- performance of all cultivarse1
- Direction
- lowere1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“apple orchards on rootstock M.9”
e1“the performance of all cultivars is significantly lower after manual winter pruning”
Claim · model-written summary
Mechanical pruning after harvest required 2.5 to 3 times less labor than manual winter pruning, with 2.0 to 8.5% lower production costs and 1.5 times higher profits.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- mechanical pruning of the trees after harvest (with manual correction)e1
- Outcome
- labor costse1
- Direction
- lesse1
- Value
- 2.5 – 3 timese1
- Qualifier
- 2.0 – 8.5% lower production costs and 1.5 times higher profits annuallye1
- Comparator
- manual winter pruninge1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“apple orchards on rootstock M.9”
e1“As compared with manual winter pruning, mechanical pruning of the trees after harvest (with manual correction) requires 2.5 – 3 times less labor costs, it provides 2.0 – 8.5% lower production costs and 1.5 times higher profits annually”
Claim · model-written summary
Profitability of Gala apple production was 28 percentage points higher with mechanical pruning after harvest than with manual winter pruning; Jonagold 35 and Golden Delicious 27 points.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- mechanical pruning of the trees after harvest (with manual correction)e2
- Outcome
- profitability of the production of Gala applese1
- Direction
- highere1
- Value
- 28% pointse1
- Qualifier
- Jonagold – by 35% and Golden Delicious – by 27% pointse1
- Comparator
- manual winter pruninge1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“apple orchards on rootstock M.9”
e1“In this case, the profitability of the production of Gala apples is higher by 28% points, Jonagold – by 35% and Golden Delicious – by 27% points, as compared with manual winter pruning”
e2“As compared with manual winter pruning, mechanical pruning of the trees after harvest (with manual correction) requires 2.5 – 3 times less labor costs”
Claim · model-written summary
Mechanical pruning immediately after harvest gave a better fruit sale price, higher profitability and high economic efficiency despite some higher production costs.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- mechanical pruning immediately after harvest (with manual correction)e1
- Outcome
- price of fruit salee1
- Direction
- bettere1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“apple orchards on rootstock M.9”
e1“In general, despite some increase in production costs, mechanical pruning immediately after harvest (with manual correction) provides a better price of fruit sale, higher profitability and high economic efficiency”
Claim · model-written summary
Manual correction after mechanical pruning required significantly lower labor costs in all cultivars.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- Manual correction after mechanical pruninge1
- Outcome
- labor costse1
- Direction
- lowere1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“apple orchards on rootstock M.9”
e1“Manual correction after mechanical pruning requires significantly lower labor costs in the plots of all the cultivars studied”
Claim · model-written summary
Production cost was lower in the plots with mechanical pruning, owing to higher yields.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- mechanical pruninge1
- Outcome
- cost of productione1
- Direction
- lowere1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“apple orchards on rootstock M.9”
e1“Due to higher yields, the cost of production turned out to be lower in the plots with mechanical pruning”
Claim · model-written summary
Mechanical pruning showed a tendency to increase fruit weight when performed at a later time.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- mechanical pruninge1
- Outcome
- fruit weighte1
- Direction
- increasee1
- Qualifier
- tendencye1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“apple orchards on rootstock M.9”
e1“The tendency to increase the fruit weight in the areas with mechanical pruning at a later time was revealed”
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See all 147 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.