Current Key Points of Pear Tree Cultivation and Management and a Detailed Explanation of the Benefits of Heavy Fertilization

The pear is a fruit with high water content and high sweetness, and there are many varieties, with common ones including the snow pear, the fragrant pear, the Crown pear, the Akizuki pear, and so on, each with its own characteristics. Pears have the effect of moistening the lungs and lubricating the intestines, but do not eat too many at one time. Pear tree cultivation is relatively widespread. In the process of pear tree cultivation, what are the key points of management? What are the benefits of heavy fertilization?

I. What are the current key points of pear tree cultivation and management?

1. Shaping and pruning

The pruning time is from early December to before mid-February of the following year. According to the varietal characteristics of the pear tree and the planting density, the trunk is trained into forms such as the central leader form, the natural open-center form, and the Y form. The pruning principle is to determine long-branch pruning, short-branch pruning, or a combination of long- and short-branch pruning according to the varietal characteristics of the pear tree. For young trees or mature trees, water sprouts or vigorous branches are bent down, and water sprouts on the back, diseased and pest-infested branches, and overly dense branches are thinned out.

2. Fertilization and topdressing

Deep plowing can effectively kill overwintering insect eggs in the soil or reduce their survival rate, increase organic fertilizer to improve the soil, increase the accumulation of nutrients in the tree body, and promote high quality and high yield of pear trees in the coming year; under the vertical projection line of the canopy, dig ring-shaped trenches 30~40 cm deep and wide, and the trench length and the number of trenches per tree depend on the size of the tree body. According to the size of the tree body, apply different amounts of decomposed barnyard manure, weeds, and other organic fertilizers, as well as special compound fertilizer for fruit trees to each tree, generally following the principle of “one jin of fruit, one jin of fertilizer,” and then cover with soil in time.

3. Mulching and protection

Protect the roots and cover with grass in time. After winter, evenly cover the orchard between the rows of fruit trees with wheat straw, rice straw, corn stalks, and so on, which can not only block cold wind from invading the roots and stems and reduce freezing damage, but also reduce soil moisture evaporation and play a role in preserving moisture and increasing temperature. Moreover, after the mulch decomposes, it can also become organic fertilizer for tree growth.

4. Soil plowing

Plow the orchard soil to eliminate diseases and pests that overwinter in the soil. The plowing depth should preferably be about 20~30 cm. Note that near the trunk, shallow plowing should be carried out, and the main root system of the fruit tree must not be damaged.

5. Clearing ditches

Clearing ditches can facilitate orchard drainage and irrigation and enhance soil aeration and root activity.

II. What are the benefits of heavy fertilization for pear trees?

Fertilization of pear trees should be based mainly on basal fertilizer. The best time to apply basal fertilizer is in autumn. Early-maturing varieties are treated after the fruit is harvested; mid- and late-maturing varieties can be treated before the fruit is harvested.

1. According to observations of the root growth pattern, pear tree roots have two growth peaks in a year, one from March to May in spring and one from September to November. Applying basal fertilizer in early autumn from August to September after harvest just meets the autumn root growth peak. Before the soil freezes, the roots have a growth period of 2~3 months, which can make wounded roots heal earlier and promote the emergence of a large number of new absorbing roots.

2. These new absorbing roots produced after autumn can promote autumn root absorption and autumn leaf photosynthesis, increase the level of stored nutrients, improve flower bud quality and branch bud plumpness, and thereby improve cold resistance, with excellent results.

3. Most importantly, roots grown in autumn begin activity earlier than roots newly grown the following spring and absorb fertilizer earlier, promoting the spring growth peak of the root system, which is very beneficial for sprouting, leaf expansion, flowering, fruit setting, and young fruit growth. The effect is especially obvious for the expansion and photosynthesis of early leaves on middle and short branches.

4. The application period of topdressing varies to some extent depending on tree vigor, and is generally carried out before sprouting, during the flowering period, and during the fruit enlargement period.