The cherry root system is shallow and poor at withstanding drought and wind; what soil management and care measures are there?

    Cherry trees have a relatively shallow root system and are not drought-tolerant, waterlogging-tolerant, or wind-resistant; therefore, cherry trees have relatively high requirements for soil management and care.

Loosening the soil for cherries

    Ridge cultivation: planting cherries on ridges with drainage furrows between ridges can prevent waterlogging and drought. Generally, the ridge width is 150-200 cm and the ridge height is 20-25 cm, connected with the drainage branch ditches and main drainage ditches at the outer edge of the orchard so that accumulated water can be drained away promptly.

    Mounding soil around the trunk: cherry roots are shallow, so after planting, mound soil about 30 cm high at the base of the trunk. This can strengthen the tree's stability, increase the root absorption area, and also help resist drought and preserve soil moisture. Mounding is generally done in early spring, and in autumn the mound is opened again; if disease is found, treat it promptly. The top of the mound should fit tightly against the trunk to prevent rainwater from flowing down along the trunk and causing waterlogging.

    Deep plowing and hole expansion: in the autumn of the 1st to 2nd years after planting, deep plowing and hole expansion should begin to facilitate root extension. Deep plowing and hole expansion can be done in all four seasons, but autumn (September to October) is best because at this time air and soil temperatures are relatively high, broken roots heal easily, and the most new roots form in the following spring, which can enhance nutrient absorption. Combined with hole expansion, basal fertilizer can be applied in autumn. If the orchard soil is clay, in addition to applying more crop straw and livestock manure, sand should also be mixed in to improve soil aeration.

    Intertillage and soil loosening: carry this out after irrigation and rain. After each irrigation, intertillage and loosen the soil; on one hand, this can conserve water and prevent soil compaction, and on the other hand, it can eliminate weeds. After the rainy season begins, rainfall becomes more frequent and weeds grow faster, so hoeing should be done appropriately several more times, to a depth of about 5 cm, to avoid damaging thick roots.

    Orchard intercropping: during the young tree period, economic crops can be appropriately intercropped between cherry rows. Intercropped crops should be short, have a short growing period, absorb little water and nutrients, have fertilizer and water demand times that differ from those of cherry trees, have relatively shallow root systems, have fewer pests and diseases, and have no pests or diseases in common with cherries or not be intermediate hosts of cherry pests and diseases. Legumes, melons and vegetables, medicinal plants, green manure crops, and similar plants are preferable; wheat, corn, sweet potato, and similar crops are not suitable for intercropping. When intercropping, leave enough tree. The intercropping duration should be determined according to planting density and tree growth conditions, with the principle of not affecting tree growth, generally 1-2 years.

    Soil turning and digging: it is best to turn and dig the soil after autumn basal fertilizer application or in combination with it. Turning and digging to a depth of about 15 cm is appropriate, and around the trunk it should be dug shallower to avoid damaging large roots. Combined with leveling the ground, make the ground within the canopy slightly higher to prevent waterlogging in the rainy season from damaging the roots.

    Orchard grass growing: when the orchard is not covered and no economic crops are intercropped, orchard grass growing can be carried out. It saves labor and time, and can also increase soil organic matter content, prevent soil erosion, regulate ground temperature, and reduce freeze damage and sunscald. Shallow-rooted, low-growing grasses of the Poaceae or Fabaceae families or green manure crops are best, such as clover and alfalfa. During the grass growing season, pay attention to applying additional chemical fertilizer to prevent the grass from competing with cherry trees for nutrients. In summer, when the grass grows to 20-30 cm high, cut it promptly and remove tall-stemmed grasses between rows.

    Terraced field maintenance: for cherry orchards on hilly terraces, repair the terraces once each year in autumn and spring in combination with digging the orchard, or this can also be done in the rainy season. Repair the embankments and reinforce the earthen ridges with soil. Clear silt, broken grass, rotten leaves, and similar material from bamboo-node ditches, silt settling pits, and water storage ponds, and turn these sediments onto the ground surface.

Covering cherries with plastic film

    Plastic film mulching: choose the film according to the purpose of use. For example, colorless transparent film is best for maintaining soil moisture and increasing temperature; black film is relatively good for moisture conservation, heat preservation, and weed control; silver reflective film has the effect of heat insulation and reflecting sunlight. It should be covered just before cherries begin to color, in order to increase light intensity inside the canopy and improve quality.

    Orchard grass mulching: grass can be applied before the rainy season arrives; rain can fix the grass in place, and at the same time rainwater can promote the decomposition of the mulched grass. Spread the grass evenly under the canopy, leaving a 20 cm ventilation opening at the root crown area. The mulch thickness is 20 cm, and the required amount of grass is 2000-3000 kg per mu. If the grass source is insufficient, mainly mulch the tree. After mulching, press on a small amount of sparse soil on top to prevent the grass from being blown away by wind. Orchards with grass mulching should strengthen control of underground rodent damage, pay attention to fire prevention in winter, and open drainage paths in the rainy season to facilitate drainage. Tree mulching is most suitable for mountain orchards; flatland cherry orchards with heavy clay soil and waterlogged lowlands are not recommended for grass mulching, because after mulching water accumulates easily and causes waterlogging damage. When controlling pests and spraying pesticides, also take the mulch into account to eliminate pests hiding in the grass.