Orchard Floor Management Practices Research Articles

Weed management in kinnow mandarin (Citrus nobilis × Citrus deliciosa) orchards using various orchard floor management practices in sub-mountainous region of Punjab, India

Weed management in kinnow mandarin (Citrus nobilis × Citrus deliciosa) orchards using various orchard floor management practices in sub-mountainous region of Punjab, India

Soil temperature and horticultural traits as influenced by mulching materials and orchard floor management practices in ber (Zizypus mauritiana Lamk.)


 Different type of mulches viz. paddy straw mulch (PSM), black polythene mulch (BPM), and white polythene mulch (WPM) were spreaded under the canopies of Indian ber (Zizypus mauritiana Lamk.) trees in second fortnight of October. The treatments of inter-cultivation (IC) and chemical weed management (CWM), and control trees were also kept for comparative analysis. The daily soil temperature recorded at 0900, 1200, 1400 and 1700 hours from October to April months during 2018-19 and 2019-20 revealed significant variations under different treatments. The respective soil temperature variation during 1st and 2nd year was minimum (9.2 and 9.9 oC) under PSM as compared to 16.5 oC in control plots throughout the investigation period. The soil temperature under PSM was higher during extreme winters whereas, it was comparatively lower during pre and post-winter season as compared to other treatments.The variations in intra-day average soil temperature during the months of October-November and again in March-April was higher than in December-February; the period of extreme winters. Significant reduction in physiological fruit drop was recorded under all the treatments with minimum fruit drop under PSM followed by BPM, while it was maximum in control trees. Likewise, fruit weight and fruit yield was also recorded highest under PSM followed by BPM treatments. The microbes in the rhizopshere of mulched trees with PSM followed by BPM exhibited highest and sustained activity from from Otober to April month under North-West Indian conditions.

A Review of Potassium-Rich Crop Residues Used as Organic Matter Amendments in Tree Crop Agroecosystems

Ecosystem-based approaches to nutrient management are needed to satisfy crop nutrient requirements while minimizing environmental impacts of fertilizer use. Applying crop residues as soil amendments can provide essential crop nutrient inputs from organic sources while improving nutrient retention, soil health, water conservation, and crop performance. Tree crop hulls, husks, and shells have been found to contain high concentrations of potassium across species including almond, cacao, coffee, pecan, and hazelnut. The objective of this review is to characterize organic sources of potassium focusing on lignocellulosic pericarps and discuss reported effects of surface application on potassium cycling, water dynamics, soil functionality, and crop yield. Research indicates potassium ions solubilize readily from plant material into soil solution due to potassium’s high mobility as a predominately unbound monatomic cation in plant tissues. Studies evaluating tree crop nutshells, field crop residues, and forest ecosystem litter layers indicate this process of potassium release is driven primarily by water and is not strongly limited by decomposition. Research suggests orchard floor management practices can be tailored to maximize the soil and plant benefits provided by this practice. Contextual factors influencing practice adoption and areas for future study are discussed.

Orchard floor management effect on soil free-living nematode communities

Context Although both plant cover and mulch are considered for erosion control in arid and semi-arid regions, they have divergent impacts on soil ecology. Aim We examined the effects of orchard floor management practices on the density and diversity of soil free-living nematode communities and relevant soil abiotic properties. Methods Soils were sampled in winter in a citrus orchard in the Sharon region of Israel from plots that for 6 years had been under (1) annual native species; or (2) Avena sativa and Vicia villosa, planted between tree rows; or (3) woodchip mulching along tree rows. There were two control sites: (4) bare soil between tree rows and (5) bare soil along the tree rows (both common practice). Key results Nematode communities and their trophic diversity were significantly impacted by floor management. Significant increases in soil moisture under plant cover, and higher organic matter and water-holding capacity for all covered orchard floors could be related to nematode changes. Shifts in nematode feeding group structure suggest a shift in the type and availability of soil carbon pools. Conclusions There was a strong association between orchard floor management and soil free-living nematode communities, indicating a shift in the soil food-web structure and functionality. Bare soil harboured fewer nematodes, but more complex communities dominated by persisters, while seeded plant cover had a greater nematode abundance dominated by coloniser communities, indicating increased availability of resources. Implications Results reveal the importance of integrating biological information in performance index determinations for improving soil management decisions, suggesting these relationships as sensitive bio-indicators of soil health.

Soil Nitrogen and Weed Biodiversity: An Assessment under Two Orchard Floor Management Practices in a Nitrogen Vulnerable Zone in Italy

Nowadays, understory vegetation along the tree row is considered a vital source of agroecosystem services and functional biodiversity improvement in the fruit orchard. Hence, current orchard floor management systems encourage practicing a more sustainable approach that supports vegetation cover rather than keeping bare soil herbicide use, or tillage. A two-year field trial was conducted using two different ground management techniques; integrated mowing (mower and brush or disc) and herbicide (glyphosate) in two commercial apple and peach orchards in a nitrogen vulnerable zone (NVZ) of the Marche region, Italy. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of these practices on soil N status, weed abundance, percent of soil cover, and dry weed biomass production. Weed management systems had no significant effect on soil organic matter and N availability; however, an improvement was noticed under integrated mowing when compared to the one treated with herbicides. Integrated mowing had a significant effect on species richness, soil coverage, and weed biomass production, which was approximately 2-times higher than in the herbicide-treated plots. The overall results showed that integrated mowing maintained a balance in the soil N status of both orchards, while supporting above-ground weed biodiversity and soil protection.

Weed Management in Apple Cv. Royal Delicious by Using Different Orchard Floor management Practices

ABSTRACT In this study, 19-year-old apple orchard at Arabal, Shalimar, Jammu and Kashmir, India, was selected during 2015 and 2016. Forty-five trees were treated with paddy straw mulch, paddy straw mulch followed by glyphosate @ 2.0 l ha−1, oxyflourfen @ 1.0 l ha−1, oxyflourfen @ 1.0 l ha−1 followed by glyphosate @ 2.0 l ha−1, atrazine @ 3.0 kg ha−1, atrazine @ 3.0 kg ha−1 followed by glyphosate @ 2.0 l ha−1, pendimethalin @ 2.0 l ha−1, pendimethalin @ 2.0 l ha−1 followed by glyphosate @ 2.0 l ha−1, bicolor polythene mulch, cowpea, white clover, clean cultivation, farmer practices, zero weeds and control. Three replications were maintained in a randomized complete block design. Minimum weeds (0.0) and weed control efficiency (100%) were recorded in zero weeds, bicolor polythene mulch and in paddy straw mulch followed by glyphosate. High levels of soil nutrients, large annual shoot extension (49.3 and 50.2 cm) and leaf area (77.83 and 78.57 cm−2) with maximum fruit yield (82.03 and 80.60 kg/tree) were recorded in paddy straw mulch followed by glyphosate during 2015 and 2016, respectively. Paddy straw mulch followed by glyphosate can be used for effective weed control with improved yield and growth characters of apple.

Appraisal of different floor management practices for weed management in ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk.) orchards

Glyphosate was the commonly used herbicide in ber orchards in Punjab, India. This herbicide has been banned by State Government recently in the state. Therefore, there is a dire need to develop non- chemical approaches to check weeds in ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk.) orchard. An experiment was conducted to study the influence of different orchard floor management practices on weed biomass, fruit yield and quality of ber at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (India). Different floor management practices, viz. mulching (rice straw, white polythene, black polythene), mechanical, glyphosate and weedy check were evaluated. Weed biomass recorded at monthly intervals from November to March under all floor management practices exhibited a significant reduction in weed growth as compared to the weedy check. White polythene mulch recorded higher weed growth with reduced weed biomass as compared to black polythene mulch due to the penetration of solar radiation leading to weed emergence and disintegration of white polythene sheet. The weed biomass in inter-cultivation and herbicide treatments was increased up to January, however, with second cultivation and herbicide spray, the growth of weeds under these treatments was checked up to February and again showed an increasing trend. Although, glyphosate suppressed the weeds and mechanical weeding reduced the weed density but the resurgence of weeds resulted in comparatively higher weed biomass, while, rice straw mulch exhibited promising results, with 87.1 and 91.2% reduction in total weed biomass during 1st and 2nd year, respectively. Application of rice straw mulch at 12.5 t/ha may help in weed management in ber orchards.

Effect of orchard floor management practices on growth, yield, leaf and soil nutrients in nectarine (Prunus persica)

The present investigation was carried out to assess the impact of different orchard floor management practices on growth, yield, leaf and soil nutrients in nectarine cv. Snow Queen. The maximum increase in annual shoot growth (65.05 cm), trunk girth (11.17%), tree height (13.25%), tree volume (41.10%), yield (59.59% was recorded under black polythene mulch. Maximum leaf area (31.40 cm2) and total chlorophyll (2.62 mg/g fresh weight) were observed under bicolour polythene mulch. Maximum leaf macro nutrient [N (2.73 %), P (0.22%), K (2.17%), Ca (1.90%), Mg (0.59%), soil nutrient [available N (355.92 kg/ha), P (40.74 kg/ha), K (367.78 kg/ha), exchangeable Ca (2.86 cmol (P+)/kg) and Mg (2.91 cmol (P+) /kg)] and soil organic carbon (2.09%) content were recorded under grass mulch. Black polythene mulch and bicolour polythene mulches are the best orchard floor management options for rainfed areas of Himachal Pradesh.

Response of orchard floor management treatments to soil hydrothermal regimes in nectarine

Being the second important stone fruit crop of Himachal Pradesh, nectarine still requires a great improvisation in floor management. Keeping this objective, a two year study was conducted with various orchard floor management practices on eight year old ‘Snow Queen’ nectarine trees during 2014 and 2015. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design, having seven treatments including control and replicated four times. Among all treatments soil hydrothermal regimes were maintained effectively under grass mulch and black polythene mulch. Grass mulch recorded maximum increase in annual shoot growth (148.25 cm), per cent increase in trunk girth (11.49%), per cent increase in tree height (14.46%) and per cent increase in tree volume (40.84%). Maximum fruit set (74.38%) and fruit yield (26.09 kg/tree) was recorded under nylon mulch mat while minimum fruit drop (16.37%) under grass mulch. Bicolour polythene mulch recorded fruit size (56.90 mm), fruit weight (100.97 g), fruit volume (102.94 cc), pulp to stone ratio (14.65), TSS (12.91 oBrix), total sugars (9.58%) and reducing sugars (4.10%) along with maximum proportion (82.25%) of “A” grade fruits.

Relationship between orchard soil management practices, fruit drop and economic aspects in Kinnow mandarin

The study comprised of eight orchard floor management practices viz., rotavation, disc harrowing andchemical method of weed control singly and their combinations on Kinnow mandarin. Determinations were made to compare effectiveness of the management practices in terms of fruit set, fruit drop, fruit harvest, fruit weight, yield, expenditure incurred and economic aspects. The data indicated that all the growth parameters responded significantly to management practices. The results indicated superiority of mowing over conventionalorchard floor management practices giving higher yield and economic returns per unit area. The maximumyield (112.39 kg/plant) was found in T8 (mowing of weeds) with 6.64 per cent fruit set and 612 fruits per plant. The cost of intercultural operations in this treatment came out to be Rs 1, 200/-and net income Rs. 1, 59, 884/-.

Effect of different orchard management practices on the growth and production of rejuvenated of pomegranates (Punica granatum L.) cv. Kandhari Kabuli

Orchard management practices are the most important cultural tools for successful and sustainable cultivation of any fruit crop including pomegranate. Orchard management systems have an effect on growth, yield and fruit quality through their smoothening effects on the availability of nutrients, conservation of moisture and reduction of weed competition. Orchard management practices treatments viz., five orchard floor management treatments viz., T1: Grass mulch (10 cm thick), T2: Black polythene mulch, T3: Clean basin + Herbicidal treatment (Glyphosate 7ml/ litre), T4: Ridge basin + Grass mulch and T5: Control (No mulching). The results of the experiment, black several that polythene mulch proved to be most effective in increasing plant growth (51.80 cm), yield (13.05 kg/plant) of superior fruits and also in conservation of soil moisture. Grass mulch was better when compared to other orchard floor man-agement practices in terms of growth (47.00 cm) and yield (12.35 kg). The orders of the orchard floor management practices in moisture conservation are: black polythene mulch 13.51 %> grass mulch 12.38 % > ridge basin + grass mulch 9.31% > clean basin + Herbicidal treatment (Glyphosate 7 ml/litre) 9.20 %> control 7.64 %. Orchard floor management treatments did not exert any significant effect in controlling bacterial blight disease on leaf and fruit surface.

Weed management in guava orchards

The comparative efficacy of orchard soil management practices like mulching (paddy straw, white polythene, black polythene) and weed control methods (mechanical and chemical) were evaluated for managing weeds growth in guava orchard. A weedy plot was also kept as control for comparative assessment of different orchard floor management practices. The results revealed a significant effect of different treatments on grassy as well as broad-leaf weeds in the orchard. Although the black polythene mulch kept the area weed free throughout the season, the paddy straw mulch exhibited promising results, with 69.1 and 93.2% reduction in total weed biomass during first and second year of application, respectively. The white polythene was poor performer as it resulted in heavy weed growth under the mulch and tearing of polythene sheet. Chemical weed management as well as mechanical weeding also reduced the intensity of weeds but resurgence of weeds resulted significantly higher weed biomass compared to paddy straw mulch. The paddy straw mulch exhibited potential to manage weeds in guava orchard.

Effect of orchard floor management practices on soil physical properties, growth and yield of ‘Kinnow’ mandarin (Citrus reticulataBlanco)

Effect of orchard floor management practices on soil physical properties, growth and yield of ‘Kinnow’ mandarin (<i>Citrus reticulata</i>Blanco)

Quantifying the potential contribution of soil carbon to orchard carbon footprints

Increasing soil carbon is promoted to growers as a means of increasing soil function and mitigating climate change. However, the importance of soil carbon is not yet fully acknowledged in life cycle assessment guidelines. Because of their perennial nature and deep rooting systems, orchards have the potential to increase subsoil carbon stocks below 0.3 m depth. Quantifying soil carbon stocks at the orchard scale, however, requires sampling protocols that incorporate the spatial variability of carbon in orchards. We have investigated soil carbon stocks to 1 m depth in apple orchards in Australia and New Zealand and found that total carbon stocks were maintained over four to 12 years. Orchard floor management practices can create a spatial distribution of shallow soil carbon stocks, and we observed a trend for decreasing surface-soil carbon stocks under the alley. Additionally, we determined soil carbon stocks to 9 m depth in a New Zealand kiwifruit orchard and calculated an increase of 190 t C ha-1 after 30 years compared with that in the nearby pasture soil that was the antecedent land-use. This increase in soil carbon equates to 42% of the carbon footprint of New Zealand kiwifruit on United Kingdom supermarket shelves. Therefore, accurately quantifying soil carbon stock changes under orchard systems presents a potential opportunity to reduce horticultural carbon footprints.

Cost and return analysis of different treatments of mulching and herbicide application on Peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) cv. Shan-e-Punjab

The trees of peach cv. Shan-e-Punjab were treated with different orchard floor management practices (mulching and herbicidal treatment) in the month of February 2014. In all, there were 14 treatments including mulches viz., black polythene, paddy straw, saw dust, white polythene and herbicides viz., atrazine 50 WP (1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 Kg a.i. per hectare), oxyflurofen 23.5 EC (0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 l a.i. per ha) and pendimethalin 30 EC (1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 l a.i. per ha) and control which were replicated thrice. The total cost of cultivation per hectare was found to be highest ( 207480.00) in treatments T1 and T2 i.e. black polythene mulch and white polythene mulch, respectively whereas, it was found to be lowest of 185240.00 in the treatment (T14) i.e. control. Among all the treatments, the benefit: cost ratio was found highest with black polythene mulch (1:1.89) followed by atrazine 2.0 kg a.i/ha (1:1.86) and lowest in control (1:1.55). Thus, for improving growth, yield and fruit quality of peach cv Shan-e-Punjab, black polythene mulch and atrazine 2.0 kg a.i/ha are found to be most suitable and economically feasible under the Jammu sub- tropics.

Variation in urease and β-glucosidase activities with soil depth and root density in a ‘Cripp's Pink’/M7 apple orchard under conventional and organic management

The effects of conventional (CON; utilising synthetic fertiliser and herbicide) and organic (ORG; nutrients supplied in compost, weeds controlled with straw mulch) orchard floor management practices on depth-wise variation in urease and β-glucosidase activities in tree-row soils were compared in a Western Cape ‘Cripp's Pink’/M7 apple orchard. Urease and β-glucosidase activities were determined spectrophotometrically in soils from five depth intervals from the walls of trenches excavated across the tree rows after seven years of treatment application. Soil pH, organic carbon, nitrate (NO3 ) and ammonium (NH4 ) nitrogen were also determined, as was root density. Enzyme activities were higher in the ORG than the CON topsoils but did not differ significantly (p = 0.05) at depths >30 cm. The positive effects of the ORG treatments were attributed to the liming effect and carbon and nitrogen contributions of the compost. Urease and β-glucosidase activities correlated strongly. Activities of both enzymes correlated significantly and positively with carbon, NO3− and pH, with urease correlated more strongly than β-glucosidase. Only urease correlated with root density. Organic orchard floor management practices may be more effective than CON practices in promoting microbial enzyme activities in the 0–30 cm soil depth intervals of Western Cape apple orchard soils.

Effect of conventional and organic orchard floor management practices on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a ‘Cripp’s Pink’/M7 apple orchard soil

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are key components of agricultural soil–plant systems, which may be affected by agricultural practices. In organically managed (ORG) orchards, nutrients are supplied in the form of compost, and weeds are suppressed with mulches, whereas synthetic fertilizers and herbicides are used for these respective purposes in conventional (CON) orchards. The effects of ORG and CON orchard floor management practices on native AM fungi in apple orchards were investigated in a randomized field trial. AM root colonization, spore abundance, infectivity potentials and soil glomalin contents were determined in the 0–30cm soil depth interval, in tree rows, over consecutive seasons. Root colonization was higher in the ORG than the CON treatments, but intermediate where straw mulch was substituted for green work-row covers. Glomalin levels were not affected by the treatments. Root colonization by AM fungi increased with increasing soil pH, P, C, K, Zn, and Mn concentrations, but were suppressed by Cu. Colonization correlated positively with leaf P, Ca and Mg, and with stem circumference, but negatively with leaf N and yield. ORG orchard floor management practices therefore, promoted functional AM associations more effectively than CON practices.

Effect of conventional and organic orchard floor management practices on enzyme activities and microbial counts in a ‘Cripp's Pink’/M7 apple orchard

Organic (ORG) production practices are increasingly being used in South African apple orchards. Whether ORG orchard floor management practices differ in their effects on soil enzyme activities and microbial populations from conventional (CON) practices have not been adequately investigated, particularly with regard to soil chemical characteristics and orchard performance. To seek clarification a randomised field trial was carried out in the winter rainfall region of the Western Cape. In this trial ‘Cripps Pink’/M7 apple trees received straw mulch with compost (ORG) or synthetic fertiliser and herbicide (CON) in the tree rows. Soil microbial enzyme activities and microbial counts were determined by colorimetric assays and dilution plating, respectively. Activities of β-glucosidase, acid phosphatase and urease, and actinobacteria counts tended to be greater in the ORG than the CON treatments. Activities correlated positively with soil zinc and manganese concentrations and with leaf zinc, but negatively with soil copper. β-glucosidase and acid phosphatase activities also correlated negatively with ammonium and nitrate nitrogen in the soil, and with leaf nitrogen concentration. Yields decreased with increasing β-glucosidase and acid phosphatase activities. Therefore, although ORG practices increased soil microbiological activity relative to CON management, they did not improve yield.

Studies on the effect of orchard floor management practices on quality parameters and leaf nutrient status in apricot (Prunus armeniacaL.) cv. New Castle

An experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of Department of Pomology,Dr. Y. S. Parmar Univetsity of Horticulture and Foresty Nauni, Solan (H.P.) to study the effect of different orchard floor management practices on apricot fruit quality and leaf nutrient status. The application of grass mulch improved physico-chemical parameters of apricot fruits (fruit weight, fruit size, TSS, total sugars, reducing sugars, ascorbic acid, soluble proteins, total phenols and carotenoids) of apricot fruits as compared to all other treatments. Among the different orchard floor management practices the treatment of grass mulch increased the leaf macro (N,P,K and Mg) and micro (Fe,Cu,Zn and B) nutrient contents but the effect on Ca and Mn was found to be non-significant.

Effect of organic and conventional practices on carbon-substrate utilisation by the soil microbial community in a ‘Cripps Pink’/M7 apple orchard

Changes in microbial community metabolic profiles potentially can be used to identify differences in soil characteristics caused by dissimilar orchard floor management practices. The impacts of orchard floor management practices on the microbial community metabolic diversity (CMD) were examined in apple orchard soils subjected to two conventional (CON) and three organic (ORG) orchard floor management practices. The CMD, as indicated by carbon (C) substrate utilisation (BIOLOG™ system), was determined in composite soil samples (0–15 cm) from the tree rows. The CON treatments reduced, and ORG treatments increased, C-source utilisation and, hence, CMD. Among the CON treatments, C-source utilisation in summer was favoured by winter cover crops in work rows, controlled with herbicide in spring, compared to uncontrolled weed-covered work rows. Orchard soils under ORG regimes more closely resembled soils of natural ecosystems in that they were better able to sustain CMD, and possibly afford a better option to sustain critical ecosystem functions than under CON management, which relies heavily on synthetic agrochemical usage.