Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
ASPHC Baner

Vol. 22 No. 4 (2023)

Articles

Application of living mulch in rows of the apple trees on several rootstocks – long-term evaluation

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/asphc.2023.4172
Submitted: May 20, 2021
Published: 2023-08-31

Abstract

The long-term influence of several living mulches on apple tree growth, nutrient status, yield, and fruit quality concerning the year of cover crop sowing in tree rows was evaluated in the Lower Silesia region in the southwestern part of Poland. The estimation was conducted in six apple tree ‘Ligol’ populations differentiated by the rootstock: M.26, M.9, P 60, P 2, P 16, and P 22. In experiment no. 1, one-year-old nursery stock was planted, and perennial living mulches were sown: colonial bent grass (Agrostis vulgaris With.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in the same year and blue fescue (Festuca ovina L.) in the following year. In experiment no. 2, which involved two-year-old stock, the sowing of blue fescue was delayed until the second, third, fourth, and fifth years following orchard planting.

The presence of the cover crop significantly affected young tree growth when one-year-old trees were planted. The sowing of the living mulch in the first or the second year after tree planting led to a significant reduction in the cumulative yield obtained from the young trees. The living mulch improved the red coloration of the fruit skin in the young orchard, but it caused a reduction in the mean fruit weight and size. However, it also contributed to decreased nitrogen concentration in the leaves of the apple trees, and the tree tolerance to living mulch increased as the orchard aged. A choice of semidwarf rootstock, postponed sowing of cover crop, and high-quality nursery stock were recognized as the most important factors for fostering apple tree tolerance to living mulches in tree rows.

References

  1. Adamski, Z., Breś, W., Golcz, A., Komosa, A., Kozik, E., Tyksiński W. (1997). Nawożenie roślin ogrodniczych, część I. Diagnostyka potrzeb nawozowych. [Fertilization of horticultural plants, part I. Diagnostics of fertilization needs]. Akademia Rolnicza. Poznań [in Polish].
  2. Andersen, L., Kühn, B.F., Bertelsen, M., Bruus, M., Larsen, S.E., Strandberg, M. (2013). Alternatives to herbicides in an apple orchard, effects on yield, earthworms and plant diversity. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ., 172, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2013.04.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2013.04.004
  3. Atucha, A., Merwin, I.A., Brown, M.G. (2011). Long-term effects of four groundcover management systems in an apple orchard. HortSci., 46(8), 1176–1183. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.46.8.1176 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.46.8.1176
  4. Bielicki, P., Czynczyk, A., Nowakowski, S. (2002). Influence of plant material quality on growth and yield of two apple cultivars. Sodinink. Daržinink., 21(4), 33−38.
  5. Czynczyk, A., Bielicki, P., Bartosiewicz, B. (2009). Results of growing tree apple cultivars grafted on a number of Polish and English rootstocks and their subclones. J. Fruit Ornam. Plant Res., 17(2), 73−83.
  6. Granatstein, D., Mullinix, K. (2008). Mulching options for northwest organic and conventional orchards. HortSci., 43(1), 45−50. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.43.1.45 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.43.1.45
  7. Granatstein, D., Sánchez, E. (2009). Research knowledge and needs for orchard floor management in organic tree fruit systems. Inter. J. Fruit Scie. 9, 257–281. https://doi.org/10.1080/15538360903245212 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15538360903245212
  8. Gut, D., Barben, E., Riesen, W. (1996). Critical period for weed competition in apple orchards: preliminary results. Acta Hortic., 422, 273–278. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1996.422.49 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1996.422.49
  9. Harrington, K., Hartley, M., Rahman, A., James, T., James, T.K. (2005). Long term ground cover options for apple orchards. New Zealand Plant Protec., 58, 164–168. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30843/nzpp.2005.58.4323
  10. Hoagland, L., Carpenter-Boggs, L., Granatstein, D., Mazzola, M., Smith J., Peryea, F., Reganold, J.P. (2008). Orchard floor management effects on nitrogen fertility and soil biological activity in a newly established organic apple orchard. Biol. Fertil. Soils, 45, 11–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-008-0304-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-008-0304-4
  11. Hogue, E.J., Cline, J.A., Neilsen, G., Neilsen, D. (2010). Growth and yield responses to mulches and cover crops under low potassium conditions in drip-irrigated apple orchards on coarse soils. HortSci., 45(12), 1866–1871. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.45.12.1866 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.45.12.1866
  12. Hornig, R., Bünemann, G. (1995). Baumstreifenbegrünung und Fertigation im integrierten Apfelanbau. I. Wachstum, Ertrag und Fruchtqualität. [Ground covers and fertigation in apple orchards with integrated production I. growth, yield, and fruit quality]. Die Gartenbauwissenschaft, 60(5), 262−268 [in German].
  13. Kłossowski, W., Lechman, J. (1976). Wpływ murawy i czarnego ugoru na plon jabłoni, jego jakość oraz właściwości gleby [Effect of permanent sod and clean cultivation on magnitude and quality of apple yields and on soil properties]. Rocz. Gleb., 27(1), 61–70 [in Polish].
  14. Licznar-Małańczuk, M. (2012). Zastosowanie żywych ściółek w sadzie jako alternatywnego sposobu pielęgnacji gleby w porównaniu z ugorem herbicydowym [Application of living mulches in apple tree rows as an alternative method of orchard floor management in comparison to herbicide fallow]. UP we Wrocławiu, Wrocław, 1–130 [in Polish].
  15. Licznar-Małańczuk, M. (2015). Suitability of blue fescue (Festuca ovina L.) as living mulch in an apple orchard – preliminary evaluation. Acta Sci. Pol., Hort. Cult., 14(6), 163–174.
  16. Licznar-Małańczuk, M. (2020). Occurrence of weeds in an orchard due to cultivation of long-term perennial living mulches. Acta Agrobot., 73, 7326. https://doi.org/10.558 6/aa.7326 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5586/aa.7326
  17. Merwin, I.A., Stiles, W.C. (1994). Orchard groundcover management impacts on apple tree growth and yield, and nutrient availability and uptake. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci., 119(2), 209−215. https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS.119.2.209 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS.119.2.209
  18. Mia, M.J., Massetan, F., Murr, G., Neri, D. (2020). Sustainable alternatives to chemicals for weed control in the orchard – a review. Hort. Sci. (Prague), 47(1), 1−12. https://doi.org/10.17221/29/2019-HORTSCI DOI: https://doi.org/10.17221/29/2019-HORTSCI
  19. Mika, A., Krzewińska, D., Olszewski, T. (1998). Effect of mulches, herbicides and cultivation as orchard groundcover management systems in young apple tree orchard. J. Fruit Ornam. Plant Res., 6(1), 1−13.
  20. Robinson, T.L., Lakso, A.N., Ren, Z. (1991). Modifying apple tree canopies for improved production efficiency. HortSci., 26(8), 1005–1012. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.26.8.1005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.26.8.1005
  21. Shribbs, J.M., Skroch, W.A. (1986). Influence of 12 ground cover systems on young ‘Smoothee Golden Delicious’ apple trees: I. Growth. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci., 111(4), 525–528. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS.111.4.525
  22. Slatnar, A., Licznar-Malanczuk, M., Mikulic-Petkovsek, M., Stampar, F., Veberic, R. (2014). Long-term experiment with orchard floor management systems: Influence on apple yield and chemical composition. J. Agric. Food Chem., 62(18), 4095–4103. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf500846r DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jf500846r
  23. Sobiczewski, P. (ed.). (2020). Metodyka integrowanej produkcji jabłek [Methodology of integrated apple production]. Instytut Ogrodnictwa, Skierniewice [in Polish].
  24. Sosna, I., Licznar-Małańczuk, M., Czaplicka, M. (2009). Wstępna ocena wpływu żywych ściółek na wzrost i owocowanie drzew jabłoni i gruszy [The influence of living mulches on growth and fruiting pear and apple trees - preliminary results]. Zesz. Prob. Post. Nauk Roln., 536, 197‒203 [in Polish].
  25. Tahir, I.I., Svensson, S.-E., Hansson, D. (2015). Floor management systems in an organic apple orchard affect fruit quality and storage life. HortSci., 50(3), 434–441. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.50.3.434 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.50.3.434
  26. TerAvest, D., Smith J.L., Carpenter-Boggs, L., Hoagland, L., Granatstein, D., Reganold, J.P. (2010). Influence of orchard floor management and compost application timing on nitrogen partitioning in apple trees. HortSci., 45(4), 637–642. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.45.4.637 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.45.4.637
  27. Treutter, D. (2001). Biosynthesis of phenolic compounds and its regulation in apple. Plant Growth Regul., 34, 71−89. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013378702940 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013378702940
  28. Tworkoski, T.J., Glenn, D.M. (2012). Weed suppression by grasses for orchard floor management. Weed Technol., 26, 559–565. https://doi.org/10.1614/WT-D-11-00044.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1614/WT-D-11-00044.1
  29. Yao, S., Merwin, I.A., Bird, G.W., Abawi, G.S., Thies, J.E. (2005). Orchard floor management practices that maintain vegetative or biomass groundcover stimulate soil microbial activity and alter soil microbial community composition. Plant Soil, 271(1–2), 377–389. https://doi.org/10.1007/sl 1104-004-3610-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-004-3610-0

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Similar Articles

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.