Reasons for low fruit set in pear trees and solutions
In recent years, the pear planting area in China has increased, so pear production has also improved to a certain extent. However, many people are asking why some pear trees have a very low fruit set rate, resulting in low yields every year, and whether there are solutions. In fact, there are many reasons for low fruit set in pear trees, and as long as adjustments are made according to different situations, the fruit set rate can be improved. Below are some solutions for improving the fruit set rate based on different situations from Qinnong Network, and we hope they can help everyone.
1. Improve planting conditions
The environment suitable for pear tree growth is generally flat land with relatively fertile soil. Of course, it can also be in mountainous areas, but we need to improve its growing environment. First, we must ensure that the soil in the planting site is relatively loose. Second, increase the nutrients in the soil. Third, the temperature suitable for pear tree growth is around 25 degrees, and the lowest temperature cannot be lower than 10 degrees, so we need to manage the temperature. There should not be too much water in the field, as it will cause pear trees to develop disease. The soil temperature should be kept at around 55.
2. Reasonable matching of pollinator trees
Sometimes you may feel that pear trees bloom especially heavily, but in the end the fruit set rate is not ideal. That is because the matching of pollinator trees is unreasonable. So when planting pear trees, it is best to plant them in a herringbone pattern, which is more conducive to pollination during the flowering season. This planting method is greatly beneficial to insect pollination and mutual pollination between pear trees, and can basically ensure an 80 percent pollination rate, thus basically solving the phenomenon of low fruit set rate.
3. Scientific fertilizer and water management
When planting, sufficient base fertilizer needs to be applied, which can lay the foundation for high yield. Second, fertilizer and water management during the seedling stage is also relatively important. We mainly use urea to promote the growth and development of the fruit trees. Then for mature fruit trees, we need to pay even more attention to fertilizer and water management. Each spring, fertilization is needed once, mainly to allow the pear trees to sprout quickly and enter the flowering stage. Second, when flowering, we should apply heavy phosphorus fertilizer, mixed with an appropriate amount of compound fertilizer. At this time, water management is also very important. If there is too little water, it will cause flower drop, so there must be sufficient water. After fruit set, we need to increase the application of potassium fertilizer and boron fertilizer, which is beneficial for fruit retention, can reduce fruit drop, and thus allow the fruit to truly survive.
4. Artificial supplementary pollination
Low fruit set is in many cases basically caused by uneven pollination or pollination not being carried out properly, so we can carry out artificial supplementary pollination to increase the fruit set rate. On a sunny day two days after pear flowers bloom, we can collect the pollen, then after treatment with a liquid, leave it for one day, and then at 8 a.m. the next day we can go to the field for artificial pollination. The pollination method can use equipment for spraying, or it can be applied manually. No matter which method is used, pollination must be even, so that the survival rate can be improved.
5. Reasonable flower and fruit thinning
Under normal circumstances, pear trees bloom relatively abundantly every year, and the influence of various external factors is relatively small, so many well-set small fruits will appear everywhere. However, if flower and fruit thinning are not carried out, many pears will not grow large and will become deformed. In severe cases, this can cause the tree not to bloom the following year. So we need to thin flowers and fruits. The best way to thin flowers is to remove the central flower of the fruit tree and keep the flowers beside it, while the best way to thin fruits is to keep one fruit every 15 to 20 cm and knock off the remaining relatively weak or diseased fruits. Only in this way can the pear tree maintain normal growth and provide sufficient nutrients to the fruits.