Kiwifruit Cultivation Management Techniques and Methods

Choose a site in a mountainous area with convenient transportation, ample sunlight, close to a water source, moderate rainfall, slightly high humidity, loose and well-aerated sandy loam or sandy soil, or loose humus-rich soil on hilly or mountainous land as the orchard site. After the site is determined, first plan the roads, drainage and irrigation system, and fertilizer management building, etc., then plan the aeration underground drains in the planting area.

The main trellis methods used in kiwifruit cultivation include: T-shaped trellis, espalier trellis, tripod trellis, and large greenhouse trellis, etc. The flat-topped large greenhouse trellis is mostly used; existing small-diameter trees on site can be used as living posts, plus some replaceable bamboo or wood posts, with concrete posts used at key positions. The on-site trellis height is 1.8 m, with No. 10-12 iron wire crossed vertically and horizontally in a ”well” shaped network, with wire spacing of about 60 cm.

Fertilization: The amount of fertilizer applied is determined according to the kiwifruit variety, the planned yield to be achieved, and the soil fertility status. Before planting, 2.5 kg of fruit tree fertilizer can be applied per plant at one time in the pit or trench; for young trees, the method of applying small amounts multiple times is used. Thereafter, fertilizer is generally applied 3 times each year: 1 basal application and 2 topdressings.

The basal fertilizer, also known as winter fertilizer, is applied after the fruit is harvested, with 20 kg of organic fertilizer per plant, mixed with 1.5 kg of phosphate fertilizer. The first topdressing is applied after bud break, with 2 kg of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer per plant, to strengthen the spring shoots and fruiting trees; the second is applied before the vigorous growth period, and fruit tree fertilizer or compound fertilizer may be applied. Because the roots of kiwifruit are fleshy roots, chemical fertilizers should be applied in shallow trenches some distance from the roots and then covered with soil, so as to avoid burning the roots. After fertilizing in the dry season, irrigation must be carried out.

Shaping, pruning, and fruit thinning: Branch shaping depends on the trellis method, and the trellis surface should be fully utilized so that the branches are evenly distributed, thereby achieving the goal of high yield and high quality. Kiwifruit pruning is divided into winter pruning, summer pruning, and male plant pruning. Winter pruning is carried out from after leaf fall to 1 month before early spring bud break, mainly by thinning, with appropriate heading back. Keep more main canes and fruiting mother branches, and cut out overly dense large branches.

Thin and weak branches, crossing branches, and diseased and pest-damaged branches. Summer pruning is mainly carried out from mid-May to early July, including removal of sprouts, pinching, thinning, and tying, promptly removing sprouts on the main trunk and arranging space for branches and canes. Male plant pruning is carried out after flowering in May-June. Keep 3-4 branches per plant, keep 4-6 buds per branch, and pinch when the new shoot grows to 1 m. Fruit thinning is generally carried out 1 month after flowering. Keep the middle fruit and thin the side fruit, so as to leave 1 fruit per 4-5 leaves. On normal branches, leave 1-2 fruits per 20 cm; on weak branches, leave 5-6 fruits per 20-25 cm. For a yield of 50 kg per plant, 500-600 fruits should be retained.

Pest and disease control: The main diseases harming kiwifruit include anthracnose, root-knot nematode disease, damping-off, seedling blight, root rot, and fruit soft rot, etc. Among them, anthracnose harms both stems and leaves as well as fruits, and can be controlled by spraying 800 times carbendazim 2-3 times at bud break. For root-knot nematode disease, fertilizer and water management should be strengthened, and isofenphos-methyl or 30% carbofuran poisonous soil should be used for control.

 The main insect pests of kiwifruit include white peach scale, curculio scale, cutworms, scarab beetles, leafhoppers, and fruit-piercing noctuid moths, etc. For overwintering scale insects, use omethoate or 1500-2000 times liquid of Supesha for control; for underground pests, mix roasted bran with carbofuran at a ratio of 10:1 and broadcast it on the ground. For scarab beetles, spray with trichlorfon or malathion 1000 times liquid in the evening from late March to early April, or use pyrethroid insecticides.

For leafhoppers, use 50% phoxim emulsifiable concentrate or 1000 times liquid of fenitrothion for control. Fruit-piercing noctuid moths occur in September when the sugar content of the fruit begins to increase, coming out at night to harm the fruit, causing fruit drop or forming hard lumps in the damaged parts. They can be controlled by bagging, black light lamps, or trapping with sugar-vinegar liquid (1:1), or by spraying with methomyl or 3000 times Baode once every 10-15 days, starting from late August until harvest is finished.