High-yield cultivation techniques for Jinxiu yellow peach: reasonable pruning brings higher yields

AbstractOrchard site: it is advisable to choose a high-lying area rich in organic matter, deep and well-drained, with convenient transportation for planting. Soil: sandy loam or yellow loam is preferred. Planting: it is best completed before the end of February, with density controlled at 30 plants/mu. Watering: water promptly in the dry season, and do a good job of drainage in the rainy season. Pruning: reasonable pruning is an important step in increasing yields, and pruning should be done reasonably each year according to conditions. Flowers and fruits: scientific fertilization during the flowering and fruiting period. Bagging: carried out 6-7 weeks after flower drop, with active prevention and control of pests and diseases.

1. Orchard site selection

Plant in a place with relatively high terrain, a relatively low groundwater table, rich in organic matter, deep and well-drained, and with convenient transportation; sandy loam or yellow loam is preferred for the soil. If building an orchard on a hillside, first cut down the trees, clear the mountain and build terraces, ensuring the terrace surface is level, with the inner side low and the outer side high; for flatland planting, dig the drainage ditches deeper, preferably with the strip ditch 60cm deep, the waist ditch 80cm deep, and the main ditch 100cm deep, to avoid waterlogging.

2. Planting

Dig planting holes in the orchard that are 90-100cm long, wide and deep respectively. Before planting, apply base fertilizer in the holes, generally 1500-2000 kg of decomposed pig or cattle manure per mu, 100-150 kg of organic fertilizer, and 50-100 kg of superphosphate; mix the topsoil with the base fertilizer evenly and fill it into the lower layer, and pile the subsoil into a tree disk that is slightly raised. Planting is best completed before the end of February, with a plant-row spacing controlled at 4×4.5-5m, and a planting density controlled at 30 plants/mu. When planting seedlings, prune off diseased and pest-damaged branches and damaged roots, etc., so that the root system spreads naturally in the hole; control the planting depth so that the graft union is about 5cm above the soil surface, cover with fine soil and then press firmly, and water thoroughly to settle the roots.

3. Daily management

Peach trees have a relatively high demand for nutrients; adjust fertilizer application according to their different growth stages to promote normal growth of the peach trees and increase yields. During the young tree stage, in the spring and summer seedling growth season, leguminous crops or vegetables can be interplanted in the orchard, which helps improve soil fertility and soil quality; however, do not plant tall-stemmed crops, to prevent them from affecting peach tree growth. In autumn and winter, carry out 40cm deep plowing to improve the soil, and do a good job of weeding.

4. Watering

Jinxiu yellow peach is afraid of flooding; even short-term water accumulation will affect their growth, so drainage work must be done well; in the dry seasons of spring and autumn, do a good job of drought resistance, water promptly, and ensure sufficient moisture. Especially during the fruit enlargement period, the water requirement is relatively high; if high temperature and drought occur, irrigate promptly, generally in the morning and evening.

5. Pruning

Reasonable pruning is one of the important steps to increase the yield of Jinxiu yellow peach. Generally, after planting, head the tree back at 50-70cm above the ground, and within 25-30cm below the heading cut there should be 5-6 plump buds; when the shoots grow to 30-35cm, select 3 branches that are robust in growth, extend upward at a base angle of 45°, have a branch spacing of 10cm, and form an angle of about 120° between branches as the main branches; if the main branches do not meet the standard, use methods such as bending, propping, and hanging to correct them.

In the first year of pruning, select 3 main branches and do not pinch them, allowing them to grow quickly, while performing multiple pinching or twisting on other vigorously growing branches to control growth; in winter, shorten the extension branches of the main branches, leaving 55-60cm, cut off the terminal bud, and keep the outer bud.

In the second year of pruning, shorten the extension branches of each main branch by leaving 60cm, select and keep the first-level side branch at a place 40-50cm from the main branch, and shorten the selected side branch at 40cm.

In the third year of pruning, continue to shorten the extension branches on the main branches, and select and keep the second-level side branch at a place 50cm from the first side branch. The same-level side branches selected on each main branch should be on the same side in orientation, and the upper and lower level side branches on the same main branch should be on opposite sides; the growth vigor of the side branches should be weaker than the extension branches of the main branch, and their length should also be shorter than the extension branches of the main branch.

From then on, continuously strengthen reasonable pruning of the tree shape each year, retain drooping branches, and thin out vigorous upright branches, ensuring a bumper fruit crop the following year.

6. Flower and fruit management

When the flower buds show red, during the flowering period, and when the young fruits are the size of soybeans, spray amino acid foliar fertilizer once each time to increase the fruit-setting rate. Apply less fertilizer before flowering to prevent excessive shoot growth; in summer, carry out supplementary pruning and apply fertilizer appropriately; in the rainy season, pay attention to drainage to prevent pest and disease damage. Fruit thinning is best carried out from two weeks after flower drop to before the pit-hardening stage, following the method of first the inner then the outer, first the upper then the lower, first thinning small fruits, deformed fruits, diseased and pest-damaged fruits, and fruits on leaf-less fruiting branches, and selecting and keeping fruits on both sides of the fruiting branch and those growing downward.

7. Bagging

Bagging is generally carried out 6-7 weeks after flower drop; if there is an orchard harmed by peach fruit borer, it should be done before the peach fruit borer lays eggs. Choose to bag when there is no rain or dew. First open the bag mouth, lift the bag bottom, let the ventilation and drainage opening at the bag bottom open, then put the young fruit into the bag, and tie the bag mouth tightly to the fruiting branch. After bagging, gently lift the middle of the bag bottom upward with your hand to make the fruit bag bulge, so that the young fruit hangs suspended in the fruit bag and does not stick to the bag wall.

8. Pest and disease control

The main pests and diseases harming Jinxiu yellow peach are: anthracnose, bacterial shot hole disease, gummosis, scab, aphids, longhorn beetles, peach fruit borer, etc. To improve quality, integrated control measures combining agricultural control, biological control, and chemical control are adopted.

Strengthen integrated agricultural control of pests and diseases, reduce pesticide use from the source, and improve the quality of yellow peach. Apply less chemical fertilizer and more organic fertilizer during planting; prune reasonably, maintain good ventilation and light transmission conditions in the tree canopy, and improve disease resistance; clean the orchard in winter, remove diseased and pest-damaged branches and pupae, and spray 1-2 times with 45% lime sulfur mixture crystal at 50-100 times dilution to reduce sources of pest and disease occurrence; keep drainage ditches unobstructed to prevent diseases caused by water accumulation.