Autumn Management Methods and Technical Points for Apricot Trees
Autumn is the nutrient storage period for apricot trees. The key to autumn management of apricot trees is to maintain the assimilation function of the leaves, prevent early defoliation, improve the cold resistance of apricot trees, promote root growth, and accelerate flower bud differentiation.
1. Soil, fertilizer and water management
Apply base fertilizer in autumn. Carry out around the Autumn Equinox. In production, fertilize according to the tree, that is, determine the amount of fertilizer based on tree age, tree vigor, amount of fruit set, soil conditions, etc., but generally apply 1 to 2 kg of fertilizer per 1 kg of fruit, mainly decomposed organic fertilizer; the fertilization depth is generally 40 to 60 cm; use semi-ring-shaped trenches or radial trenches, and alternately open trenches around the outer edge of the canopy for fertilization.
Foliar spraying. For apricot trees with weaker growth or those entering full fruit-bearing stage, start after fruit harvest and spray once a month with 0.2 to 0.4% urea and 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate.
Irrigation and drainage. Autumn is the late stage of vegetative growth. Reasonable irrigation is beneficial to the production and accumulation of nutrients and to flower bud formation. At the same time, attention should also be paid to drainage to prevent apricot trees from becoming diseased due to waterlogging.
Deep plowing and expanding the tree disk. Autumn plowing is carried out from August to November, before the soil freezes, with a depth of about 20 cm. Deep turning can be done for a single tree by digging a ring-shaped trench vertically on the ground at the edge of the canopy, or by digging strip trenches between rows, with a depth of about 60 cm. When expanding the tree disk, do not cut off thick roots, and pile topsoil and subsoil separately. When backfilling, mix the topsoil with rotten leaves, weeds, dry stalks or other farmyard manure and place it in the lower half of the trench, and put the original subsoil in the upper half of the trench. The tree disk can be expanded according to the extension of the apricot tree root system.
2. Training and pruning
After apricot harvest, pull and spread vigorous branches to open the angle, so as to moderate tree vigor and promote flower formation; pinch the new shoots twice to promote branching and develop branch groups; properly retract fruiting branches that have become significantly weakened and drooping after fruiting; for water sprouts sprouting inside the canopy, take measures such as pinching and twisting shoots to control their vegetative growth; for water sprouts with no growth space, remove them in time. For apricot orchards with excessively vigorous growth, spray paclobutrazol or the growth regulator PBO to control tree vigor, so as to facilitate the formation of more flower buds.
3. Pest and disease control
After fruit harvest, apricot trees are often harmed by pests and diseases. According to actual conditions, spray pesticides in a timely manner to protect leaves and increase nutrient accumulation in the tree. Fenvalerate 100-fold solution can be sprayed to control aphids; 40% dicofol emulsifiable concentrate 1500 to 2000-fold solution or 1000-fold solution pyridaben can be sprayed to control red spiders. Spray fenpropathrin 800 to 1000-fold solution or fenpropathrin to control tent caterpillars and boat-shaped caterpillars.