Full Analysis of the Cultivation Technical Regulations for Golden Pear
Pear is one of the dominant fruit tree varieties in Wudang District, Guiyang City, with a total pear orchard area of about 0.23 million hm2. The varieties are mainly of the Japanese pear system, such as Changshilang, Jinqiuqiu, Xiangnan, etc. In recent years, the introduction of Golden Pear in the northern townships of the district has been successful. Therefore, the author believes that the main cultivar for the transformation of "Shuangde Orchard" and the development of new orchards should be Golden Pear. The author has summarized the cultivation and management techniques of Golden Pear, in order to provide relatively scientific cultivation and management technical regulations for standardizing future development and management.
1 Variety Characteristics and Economic Value
1.1 Variety Characteristics Golden Pear belongs to the sand pear system. It was bred in South Korea in the early 1980s by crossing Niitaka x 20th century, and was named in 1984. The fruit is round or oblong. The peel is yellow-green, and turns golden yellow after bagging. The peel is thin and attractive. The average single fruit weight is 350g. The flesh is tender, juicy and sweet. The soluble solids content reaches over 15%. It is the variety with the highest sugar content and the best taste in the sand pear system. The natural storage period is about 30d, and it matures from late August to early September in the northern townships of the district. Golden Pear mainly bears fruit on spurs. The branch growth is slightly weaker than that of the Japanese pear system, and the branching rate is relatively low. Other characteristics are the same as those of the sand pear system.
1.2 Economic Value For a 3-4 year old orchard, the yield per tree can reach 9kg, with an output value of 90 yuan/tree. This variety is deeply welcomed by consumers and has high promotion value and economic value.
2 Environmental Condition Requirements
Golden Pear is tolerant of high temperatures and excessive moisture, but has weak cold resistance. However, during the flowering period, in environments with frost cold and low-temperature overcast rain, the flower organs are extremely prone to freezing damage, thereby hindering pollination and fertilization, leading to reduced yield. It has relatively low requirements for soil. It can be planted in both sandy and clay soils, with deep, fertile, well-drained sandy loam being the best. If it is too dry or fertilization is insufficient, it will hinder the growth and development of shoots and fruits as well as flower bud formation. In order to inhibit excessive tree vigor and promote more flower buds, well-drained soil should be selected for planting Golden Pear as much as possible.
3 Main Cultivation and Management Techniques
3.1 Orchard Establishment and Planting
3.1.1 Flatland planting. When planting Golden Pear, attention should be paid to drainage. It is best to dig trenches for planting, with no partition walls between plants. The trench length depends on the terrain. The trench width is 1-1.2m, and the depth is 60-80cm. The trenching method is to place the surface fertile soil and subsoil separately on each side. When planting seedlings, mix the surface fertile soil with various fertilizers and return it to the bottom layer. After the fruit seedlings are planted, backfill the surface with subsoil, and improve and mature the soil year by year.
3.1.2 Sloping land planting. For gentle slopes, planting on sloping land varies with the terrain, and planting is done according to row and plant spacing. For slopes with a relatively large gradient, in order to maintain soil and water in the orchard, first process them into simple horizontal terraces, and then plant fruit seedlings according to the required plant spacing. The specifications of the planting pit are pit depth 60-80cm, bottom diameter 80cm, and mouth diameter 100cm. When digging the pit, still place the surface fertile soil and subsoil separately.
3.1.3 Plant and row spacing. Reasonable close planting and timely transplanting are advocated to increase early yield. When planted at 2m x 3m, the density is 165 trees/hm2; when planted at 1.5m x 3m, the density is 2220 trees/h2; when planted at 2.5m x 3m, the density is 1.335 trees/hm2; when planted at 2.5m x 4m, the density is 1005 trees/hm2; when planted at 3m x 3m, the density is 1110 trees/hm2.
3.1.4 Base fertilizer requirements. During backfilling, apply decomposed organic fertilizer (farmyard manure) at 22,500-30,000 kg per hectare, superphosphate 750kg, potassium sulfate compound fertilizer 450kg, ferrous sulfate 300kg, and borax 750kg, mix evenly with soil, fill the surface soil into the lower layer, backfill to 20cm from the surface, and irrigate to settle the planting trench or planting hole.
3.1.5 Pollinator varieties. According to observations in recent years, the flowering period of Golden Pear is consistent with that of Xiangnan and Changshilang. Xiangnan is the best pollinator variety, and 30-45 trees can be arranged per hectare.
3.1.6 Planting time. Planting is divided into winter planting and spring planting. Winter planting time is from pear seedling defoliation to before the Spring Festival; spring planting is from after the Spring Festival to before germination. Winter planting is advocated (because winter planting helps improve the survival rate and promote new root growth).
3.1.7 Seedling quality requirements. One-year-old, virus-free, robust, clean and well-developed root seedlings are preferred. The diameter at ground level is 0.9-1.2cm, and the plant height is 80cm. Before planting, soak the roots in clean water for about 12h, then soak in rooting powder for 10min.
3.2 Management Techniques for Young Orchards
3.2.1 Trunk heading. Immediately after planting, head the trunk. The heading height is 45cm. In the second year, select one central branch and cut back at a plump bud 70-80cm above the ground, completing the trunk heading task over 2 years.
3.2.2 Bud notching. The Golden Pear variety has relatively low branching ability. Bud notching is intended to promote the sprouting of more long branches, which is beneficial for winter pruning and shaping. The bud notching method is to use a small steel saw blade before spring bud break, starting from the 3rd bud below the cut, make a horizontal cut 0.5-1cm above the bud, deep to the xylem, and continuously notch 3-4 buds downward, or use "Chouzhibao" to dot the buds, which also has a good effect.
3.2.3 Fertilizer and water management. Young orchards can form a canopy relatively quickly, mainly with leaf canopy. At this time, fertilizer and water management in the orchard should be strengthened to meet the tree's water requirements. Topdressing should be carried out 3 times each year in mid-May, mid-to-late June, and early-to-mid August. In the early stage, nitrogen fertilizer is dominant, supplemented by phosphorus and potassium fertilizer; in the later stage, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer are dominant, with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers combined. Each topdressing should apply urea 0.1-0.2kg/tree to promote growth, and topdressing should be combined with irrigation. When spraying pesticides, foliar topdressing should be carried out 3-4 times. Commonly used foliar fertilizers include 0.2%-0.3% urea solution, 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate and 0.2%-0.3% borax.
3.2.4 Shaping and branch bending. The tree form of Golden Pear is mainly the three-main-branch open-center shape. ① Shaping. In the first year, low trunk heading should be adopted, with a trunk height of about 40cm. That is, head the trunk at about 40cm in the first year to promote 3-4 new shoots. From late June to early July, tie them to bamboo poles, with a vertical angle of 60-70° to the trunk, to promote flower bud formation so that they bear fruit the following year. During winter pruning, cut back the central branch at the heading height of 70-80cm. In the following year, notch buds at 3-4 buds below the cut to promote the sprouting of long branches. From late June to early July, bend branches according to the method of the first year. During winter pruning, select and retain 3 main branches according to different orientations, moderately cut back, and treat the rest as auxiliary branches. When the main branches and side branches form a certain yield, the skirt branches below the main branches can be gradually removed year by year as appropriate, so that the vegetative growth and reproductive growth of the tree can be organically combined. On each main branch, select and retain 3-4 side branches, with an angle of 45° between the side branches and the main branch. This tree shape can basically maintain the apical dominance of the main branches and maintain the subordinate relationship between main and side branches. ② Branch bending. Flower bud differentiation begins in mid-to-late June. From late June to early July, for vigorously growing long shoots, bamboo poles can be used to tie and bend branches to open the angle. The main branches should be opened to 60°, and auxiliary branches to 70°, to promote flower bud differentiation, facilitate flower bud formation, and promote the formation of spur groups.