The effect of organic mulches and mycorrhizal substrate on growth, yield and quality of Gold Milenium apples on M.9 rootstock

Abstract

Sas-Paszt, L., Pruski, K., Zurawicz, E., Sumorok, B., Derkowska, E. and Gluszek, S. 2014. The effect of organic mulches and mycorrhizal substrate on growth, yield and quality of Gold Milenium apples on M.9 rootstock. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 281-291. A 3-yr study was conducted to evaluate the effects of organic mulches and mycorrhizal substrate on growth and yield of apple cv. Gold Milenium grown on M.9 rootstock. Straw (rye), pine bark, conifer tree sawdust, compost (plant debris), cow manure, peat moss substrate (commercial), and mycorrhiza substrate (Mykoflor®, containing mycorrhizal fungi: Glomus intraradices, G. mosseae, G. etunicatum) were applied in spring of each year. All the applied treatments did not affect significantly the tree growth. Mulches did not have a positive effect on total soluble solids of the fruit and the number of fruits in different size categories. Only sawdust mulch significantly increased the number of fruit in size diameter class of 7.0-7.5 cm compared with the control. The u...