Latest Technical Methods and Tutorial for Flower Promotion Management in Apples
Flower bud differentiation is the foundation of apple flowering and fruiting. Both apple yield and quality need high-quality flower buds as a guarantee, but in production many fruit trees have few flowers, or even no flowers, and serious alternate bearing. Therefore, adopting reasonable flower promotion techniques to create the best conditions for flower bud differentiation and ensure the quality of flower bud differentiation has an obvious effect on improving both yield and quality. Let's learn about it together.
1. Pay attention to fertilizer and water management
In the early stage, it is necessary to promote the growth of branches and leaves of the fruit tree, which is beneficial to the synthesis and accumulation of photosynthetic products. Especially for heavy-crop trees with a large fruit load, fertilizer should be applied in a timely manner during the critical period of flower bud differentiation in June, focusing on phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, applying less nitrogen fertilizer, and moderately controlling water at the same time. However, when there is excessive drought and the leaves wilt from water loss at noon, a small amount of water should be irrigated appropriately, which is beneficial to flower bud differentiation.
2. Site selection and orchard establishment
It is advisable to choose a high-altitude site sheltered from the wind and facing the sun to establish the orchard. At the same time, rational close planting should be carried out. Generally, standard trees are planted at 22-33 plants per mu, with a main trunk form in years 1-7, a modified central leader form in years 8-111, and an open-center form completed in years 12-15. For semi-dwarf and spur-type trees, 44-55 plants are planted per mu, and the tree form should be improved to a spindle shape; dwarf trees are planted at 66-83 plants per mu, and the tree form should be maintained as a slender spindle. After pruning to standardize the tree form, suitable ventilation and light conditions are created for flower bud differentiation.
3. Strengthen pruning during the growing season
Pruning of fruit trees during the growing season is mainly aimed at young vigorous trees. One should use hands more and pruning shears less, and pruning should mainly be light pruning to balance tree vigor. For vigorous trees, branch bending should be used; for weak trees, renewal pruning should be used; for those with excessively dense branches and leaves, thinning should be used; for those with longer branches and leaves, heading back should be used. In spring, before bud break, supplementary pruning and bud removal should be carried out; in summer, pinching and ringing can be used; in autumn, branch bending and thinning should be used, reducing the amount of branch removal of the fruit tree to a minimum, turning waste branches into branch groups, turning long branches into medium and short branches, and turning leaf buds into flower buds.
4. Flower and fruit thinning
Heavy-crop trees should have flowers and fruits thinned early, and the yield per mu should be controlled at about 3000 kg. This can not only prevent excessive nutrient consumption and improve fruit quality, but also overcome the main contradiction between fruits, seeds and flower buds, which is beneficial to flower bud formation and prevents the occurrence of alternate bearing.
The above is an introduction to apple flower promotion management techniques. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please keep following us.