Long-range Yield of High-density Apple Orchard on Seedling Rootstock

Abstract

Apple orchard was planted in 1963 with treatments of 8, 6, or 4 m between rows and 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2 m between trees in the row. Pruning of trees corresponded to the space requirement imposed by each treatment. Spherical canopy seldom formed in treatments of 8 × 2,3,4, or 5 m and the size of canopy was equal to the distance between trees. In treatment of row spacing 6 or 4 m the size of the canopy across the row was 3 or 2 m, respectively, with the length of the canopy equal to the distance between the trees. Tree height was 3 m in all treatments. The cultivar was `Antonovka' on Malus sylvestris rootstock. There were four replications. Fruiting in all treatments begun at the age of 8 years. During the 25 years of productive time of the orchard, there were 7 years without fruit. During the 33 years of orchard operations fruit yield was in treatments (in t·ha–1) 8 × 8 = 301, 8 × 4 = 417, 6 × 3 = 508, 4 × 3 = 612. Yield efficiency, based on crosssection of trunks in 1995 did not depend on orchard density or orchard design.