ISHS Acta Horticulturae 1366: XXXI International Horticultural Congress (IHC2022): International Symposium on Innovative Perennial Crops Management
Cherry tree growth in response to varying soil apparent electrical conductivity |
| Authors: | M. Penzel, N. Tsoulias, K.K. Saha, N. Handtke, E. Gubin, M. Zude-Sasse |
| Keywords: | fruit quality, growth rate, ECa, Prunus avium, SSC, yield |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2023.1366.34 |
| Abstract:
The apparent soil electrical conductivity (ECa) of the top soil layer in a mature orchard of Prunus avium L. ‘Kordia’/Gi.5 was measured at field capacity during bud break in 2019. Seasonal development of shoot length and fruit diameter were recorded from 14 to 65 days after full bloom (dafb) as well as yield and internal fruit quality parameters at the time of commercial harvest (65 dafb) on trees (n=20) grown at two ECa levels (low, high). At 23, 65, 81 dafb the leaf area per tree (n=6 per ECa level) was measured by means of a terrestrial LiDAR (LALiDAR). Prior to full bloom, the length of the one-year-old shoots was reduced in low ECa trees compared to high ECa trees, whereas no difference in trunk cross sectional area was observed. From 29 dafb, low ECa trees showed decreased shoot growth rate compared to high ECa trees, resulting in reduced shoot length at the end of the growing season. Consequently, LALiDAR was continuously enhanced in high ECa trees. The mean yield of the trees grown at high ECa was 6.5 kg tree‑1, exceeding the yield of low ECa trees of 4.0 kg tree‑1. Despite the higher crop load of high ECa trees, fruit diameter was decreased on low ECa trees considering the period 45 dafb until harvest. However, fruit soluble solids content, and hue angle of fruit from low ECa trees was slightly enhanced compared to fruit from trees grown at high ECa. In conclusion, soil ECa, which is frequently used as a proxy for soil variability, can reveal differences in vegetative and reproductive growths of cherry trees for potential application in site specific orchard management. | |
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