What are the key techniques for improving the quality and increasing the yield of Dongkui bayberry? (Part 2)
Key techniques for improving the quality and yield of Dongkui bayberry (Part 2)
2. Keep the tree vigor moderate
(1) Tree vigor: neither strong nor weak. Keep the tree vigor between strong and weak.
(2) Branches and leaves: neither dense nor sparse. Keep the canopy open and airy.
(3) Leaf color: neither dark green nor yellow-green. The leaves should be green.
3. Manage according to the tree
Managing according to the tree means that in the same orchard, different management requirements are applied to trees with different tree vigor from plant to plant.
4. Open canopy
The canopy of Dongkui bayberry is round-headed, and its shoots are vigorous, so it very easily forms a closed canopy. A closed canopy causes many adverse consequences for flowering and fruiting. A closed canopy has poor light transmission, and the shoots in the inner part of the canopy easily weaken or wither, forming a hollow interior and reducing the fruiting volume. Therefore, pruning should be used to change the canopy of Dongkui bayberry from a closed state to an open state.
5. Retain slanted shoots
Because Dongkui bayberry also has strong shoot overgrowth, its apical dominance is especially obvious. Due to the influence of apical dominance in Dongkui bayberry, the nutrients (including endogenous hormones) in various parts of the canopy easily become imbalanced. Therefore, to change the effectiveness of apical dominance in Dongkui bayberry, artificial control of its apical dominance is needed. The most effective way to change the apical dominance of Dongkui bayberry is: remove upright branches and choose slanted branches.
6. Suppress shoots
The so-called suppressing shoots means controlling the shoots, that is, suppressing the shoots so they do not elongate. For Dongkui bayberry, fruiting branches below 15 cm are good, about 10 cm is best, and even short fruiting branches of about 5 cm are acceptable. Long fruiting branches or overgrowth fruiting branches above 15 cm have poor fruiting performance, and the incidence of deformed fruit is also high.
7. Thin flowers and protect fruit
Adult fruiting trees of Dongkui bayberry have a very large number of flowers. Excessive flowering consumes a large amount of nutrients and also causes a large amount of flower and fruit drop, affecting yield. If there are too many young fruit, more deformed fruit will also appear. Therefore, for high-quality and high-yield Dongkui bayberry, thinning flowers and protecting fruit are very necessary.
8. Apply nutrient solution with caution
There are many nutrient solutions on the market, but they should be selected for use. After use by many fruit growers, they have had different effects.
9. Focus on potassium fertilizer
Potassium fertilizer has many effects on Dongkui bayberry, and Dongkui bayberry also greatly needs potassium, so attention should be paid to applying potassium fertilizer. Because Dongkui bayberry has mycorrhizal symbiosis, it can fix nitrogen and provide nitrogen to the tree body, so under general conditions nitrogen fertilizer may not be applied. Phosphorus is only needed when promoting growth of young trees; adult trees need very little phosphorus; and too much phosphorus instead affects the growth and fruiting of adult Dongkui bayberry trees. Therefore, phosphorus fertilizer may also be omitted.
10. Prevent and control diseases and pests
The main diseases and pests of Dongkui bayberry are: brown spot disease, cancer swelling disease, dieback disease, root rot, white rot, boron deficiency, and termites, fruit flies, aphids, scale insects, leaf roller moths, etc. They should be discovered in time and controlled early, and prevention should be emphasized over treatment.
(1) Tree vigor: neither strong nor weak. Keep the tree vigor between strong and weak.
(2) Branches and leaves: neither dense nor sparse. Keep the canopy open and airy.
(3) Leaf color: neither dark green nor yellow-green. The leaves should be green.
3. Manage according to the tree
Managing according to the tree means that in the same orchard, different management requirements are applied to trees with different tree vigor from plant to plant.
4. Open canopy
The canopy of Dongkui bayberry is round-headed, and its shoots are vigorous, so it very easily forms a closed canopy. A closed canopy causes many adverse consequences for flowering and fruiting. A closed canopy has poor light transmission, and the shoots in the inner part of the canopy easily weaken or wither, forming a hollow interior and reducing the fruiting volume. Therefore, pruning should be used to change the canopy of Dongkui bayberry from a closed state to an open state.
5. Retain slanted shoots
Because Dongkui bayberry also has strong shoot overgrowth, its apical dominance is especially obvious. Due to the influence of apical dominance in Dongkui bayberry, the nutrients (including endogenous hormones) in various parts of the canopy easily become imbalanced. Therefore, to change the effectiveness of apical dominance in Dongkui bayberry, artificial control of its apical dominance is needed. The most effective way to change the apical dominance of Dongkui bayberry is: remove upright branches and choose slanted branches.
6. Suppress shoots
The so-called suppressing shoots means controlling the shoots, that is, suppressing the shoots so they do not elongate. For Dongkui bayberry, fruiting branches below 15 cm are good, about 10 cm is best, and even short fruiting branches of about 5 cm are acceptable. Long fruiting branches or overgrowth fruiting branches above 15 cm have poor fruiting performance, and the incidence of deformed fruit is also high.
7. Thin flowers and protect fruit
Adult fruiting trees of Dongkui bayberry have a very large number of flowers. Excessive flowering consumes a large amount of nutrients and also causes a large amount of flower and fruit drop, affecting yield. If there are too many young fruit, more deformed fruit will also appear. Therefore, for high-quality and high-yield Dongkui bayberry, thinning flowers and protecting fruit are very necessary.
8. Apply nutrient solution with caution
There are many nutrient solutions on the market, but they should be selected for use. After use by many fruit growers, they have had different effects.
9. Focus on potassium fertilizer
Potassium fertilizer has many effects on Dongkui bayberry, and Dongkui bayberry also greatly needs potassium, so attention should be paid to applying potassium fertilizer. Because Dongkui bayberry has mycorrhizal symbiosis, it can fix nitrogen and provide nitrogen to the tree body, so under general conditions nitrogen fertilizer may not be applied. Phosphorus is only needed when promoting growth of young trees; adult trees need very little phosphorus; and too much phosphorus instead affects the growth and fruiting of adult Dongkui bayberry trees. Therefore, phosphorus fertilizer may also be omitted.
10. Prevent and control diseases and pests
The main diseases and pests of Dongkui bayberry are: brown spot disease, cancer swelling disease, dieback disease, root rot, white rot, boron deficiency, and termites, fruit flies, aphids, scale insects, leaf roller moths, etc. They should be discovered in time and controlled early, and prevention should be emphasized over treatment.