A Detailed Guide to the Latest Drought-Resistance Techniques for Orchards in the Hot Season

After entering August, temperatures rise another notch, and people can hardly stand it once they step outside. This is exactly the growth period and fruit-swelling period for many fruit trees, and high temperatures have a major impact on their growth. High temperatures make water evaporate quickly, and orchards are prone to drought, so how should orchards resist drought in the hot season? Come take a look with the editor.

1. Mulching with film

Orchard film mulching is generally carried out during the 3-4 months of spring when it is dry and windy. The film can be laid under the tree canopy. On one hand, orchard film mulching can optimize the soil environment and improve soil fertility; on the other hand, it can suppress weed growth around the root system and reduce weeding costs.

2. Mulching with weeds

To resist drought effectively, orchards can be mulched with materials such as weeds, wheat straw, leaves and wheat chaff. This method can be used all year round, but attention must be paid to the mulching method. Generally, mulching is concentrated around the tree canopy, and a gap of about 20cm should be kept around the trunk so that after rainfall, water can quickly seep into the soil along the trunk and the beds. The recommended mulching thickness is within 15-20cm.

3. Water-saving irrigation

Because of drought, the groundwater level drops and irrigation water is scarce. Therefore, to ensure the water needed for normal fruit tree growth, water-saving irrigation should be carried out during the spring bud-break and flowering period of fruit trees. The amount of irrigation should be enough to moisten a soil layer of 60-70 cm. After a long drought, watering should be increased gradually from little to more, to prevent mechanical damage to the fruit trees and avoid the opposite effect. Drip irrigation can also be adopted. Compared with traditional irrigation methods, this method can save more than 50% of water, and it is also one of the more commonly used irrigation methods in orchards today.

4. Reasonable pruning

For vigorously growing trees, pruning should be done appropriately. When pruning, heading back should be minimized as much as possible, with the aim of moderating tree vigor and reducing the large water consumption caused by vegetative growth. For trees with weakened vigor, appropriate renewal pruning should be carried out so that the tree vigor and branches become stronger. During the fruit tree growth period, excess sprouts should be removed in time, excess branches should be thinned out, and water sprouts and excessively vigorous branches should be thinned to reduce water evaporation. To minimize the impact of drought on orchards to the greatest extent, it is also necessary to start with daily management, improve the thickness and sturdiness of the soil, and promote the formation of a deep root system in fruit trees so they can absorb water from deeper layers.

The above is an introduction to drought-resistance techniques for orchards in the hot season. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.