A Comparison of Hedgerow and Bush Tree Orchard Systems at Different Within-Row Spacings with Four Apple Cultivars

Abstract

SummaryThe effects of different within-row spacings on dwarf bush and spindle-bush trees of cvs Cox’s Orange Pippin, Discovery and Tydeman’s Late Orange apples grown on M.26 rootstocks and of cv Egremont Russet on MM. 106 were studied over a 10-year period on an area of variable site quality. Large bush trees on MM.111 rootstocks were included for comparison. The highest total production of fruit in each case, averaged over all sites, was obtained from the closest spacing, equivalent to 1922 trees ha−1. With Cox and Tydeman’s there was a close relationship between total yield and total stem sectional area ha−1 (basal area) which was not affected by either the system of management or the quality of the site. These cultivars showed very little reduction in cropping efficiency at high density, the yield increasing with basal areas up to at least 10 m2 ha−1. The effect on yield of increased site vigour was indistinguishable from the effects of increased density. Cvs Discovery and Egremont reached a peak yield...