Detailed Explanation of the Key Cultivation and Management Techniques for Pear Seedlings

If you want to prosper, plant fruit trees; if you want to prosper, learn the techniques. Pear trees have wide adaptability, are easy to bring to high yield, have a broad market, and offer a long income period, making them a fruit tree that various regions are competing to develop. However, to ensure that every area developed succeeds, management in the planting year is crucial. In the year the seedlings are planted, two things must be done well: first, ensure a high survival rate; second, promote rapid growth. To achieve the above two points, the following must be done.

1. Trenching to improve the soil. Digging continuous trenches is advocated, with a trench depth of 80-100 cm or more and a width of 80-100 cm or more. When digging the trenches, place the upper layer of mature soil and the bottom layer of raw soil separately. When backfilling, first place a layer of various dead branches, fallen leaves, straw, or weeds at the bottom of the trench, then backfill the upper layer of mature soil, and then apply sufficient organic fertilizer in 1-2 layers. Generally, apply 6000-8000 kg of barnyard manure and 150 kg of phosphate fertilizer per 667 sq m. The phosphate fertilizer must be mixed evenly with the organic fertilizer and applied as a base fertilizer, and then additionally apply mineral fertilizers that are low or lacking in the local soil. After backfilling is completed, the planting strip should be 30-50 cm above the ground. The entire trenching and soil improvement work should be completed as early as possible, so that by the time of planting the planting strip has fully settled back into place.

2. Planting. Before planting, be sure to select suitable excellent varieties (lines). For example: Jinshui No. 1, Jinshui No. 2, 115-3-1, 121-13-85, Annong No. 1, Huanghua, Xiangnan, Deshengxiang, etc. This is the prerequisite for high yield, good quality, and high efficiency. The planting time is from early December (after leaf fall) to before bud break in mid-March of the following year. Within this period, the earlier the better. When planting, the grafted bud must be exposed above the ground, and on no account should it be planted as a "dangling-air seedling." After planting is completed, immediately water thoroughly to settle the roots. If drought occurs, water again once every 15-20 days to ensure seedling survival. When planting, pollinator trees must also be arranged at a ratio of 3-4:1.

3. Management after planting. (1) Cutting the rootstock. This can be done in two stages. The first is done immediately after planting: cut and leave a short stub 10-15 cm above the grafted bud. The second is after the grafted bud begins to sprout: press the graft film and cut off the remaining part. This not only helps the grafted bud sprout and grow rapidly, but also allows the graft film to fall off on its own as the trunk thickens, so that it does not strangle the seedling.

(2) Removing sprouts. After cutting the rootstock, while the grafted bud grows rapidly, sprouts will also appear on the rootstock below the grafted bud, and these should be removed promptly to ensure that the grafted bud grows vigorously.

(3) Trunk determination. When the grafted bud grows to a height of 60-70 cm, pinch off the growing tip in time to determine the trunk, so as to promote branching, help cultivate a good tree shape, and lay the foundation for guiding the tree toward high and stable yield.

(4) Topdressing. Topdressing should follow the principle of frequent and light applications. When the grafted bud grows to more than 5 cm, consider topdressing once every 20-30 days to promote rapid branching and achieve the goal of early shaping and early fruiting. Topdressing must not be applied too close to the main trunk, to avoid burning the seedlings. The fertilizers are mainly urea and human manure and urine, with about 50 g applied per plant each time. When fertilizing, dig a shallow dish about 10 cm deep and apply before or after rain, or mix with decomposed human manure and urine and apply. The amount of fertilizer should gradually increase according to growth.

(5) Intercropping. In young pear orchards, there is still considerable unused space between the rows. Reasonable intercropping can make full use of land and light energy, increase income, and at the same time increase soil organic matter content, improve soil structure, raise the content of nutrients in the soil and the utilization rate of poorly soluble nutrients, regulate soil temperature, maintain soil moisture, and prevent weeds from growing densely, thereby combining tree growing with soil maintenance. However, intercropping must use crops that are short-statured and have low fertilizer and water requirements, to prevent dense shading and competition for fertilizer and water. For example, choose shallow-rooted vegetables, leguminous crops, or green manure crops. In short, the principle of intercropping is that it does not affect the normal growth of pear trees.

(6) Pest and disease control. During the seedling growth period, observe frequently, and if pests or diseases are found, control them promptly to ensure healthy growth of the seedlings.

(7) Cultivation and weeding. During the growing season, cultivate and weed frequently to keep the soil loose and reduce competition from weeds for fertilizer and water and the environment for pest and disease development. After rain or irrigation, when the ground is moist but not sticky, cultivate promptly to prevent soil compaction. Before topdressing, remove all weeds to improve fertilizer use efficiency. Generally, 3-4 cultivation and weeding operations should be carried out during the entire growing season.