The annual precipitation in the main apple producing areas in the world is about 500 mm ~ 800 mm, and dry air and sufficient sunshine are needed for flower bud differentiation and fruit ripening, so the fruit surface is smooth, colorful and full of flower buds. If there is too much rainfall and insufficient sunshine, it will easily lead to too many branches and leaves, poor flower bud differentiation, low and unstable yield, serious pests and diseases and poor fruit quality. The annual precipitation in Huaibei area is about 800 mm, but it is unevenly distributed, and sometimes there is spring drought, summer drought or autumn drought. Rainfall is too concentrated in most years from July to August, so it is necessary to strengthen irrigation and drainage measures.
Apple is a tree species that avoids light. Adequate illumination is beneficial to the normal growth and fruiting of fruits, and also to improving the quality of fruits. Different varieties have different requirements for light. The annual sunshine hours in Huaibei area are more than 2000 hours, which can basically meet the needs of apple growth and development.
In terms of soil, apples are suitable for sandy loam with deep soil layer, good drainage and rich organic matter. The ph value of soil should be slightly acidic to neutral. When the soil is poorly ventilated, the growth of roots is hindered. When the pH is above 7.8, it is easy to be undernourished and lose its green color. The salt tolerance of soil is lower than 0. 15%.
Planting area of main apple varieties in China
Red Fuji -49.6%
Marshal variety -9.7%
Jinguan -6.2%
Jonathan -3.0%
Galla -2.8%
Other fine varieties-1.9%
Guoguang-14.0%
Other old varieties-1 1.3%
Apples are good in commodity and resistant to storage and transportation; Different varieties are used in mature period, which can be supplied all year round. Its output and cultivation area rank first among all kinds of fruit trees in China, and the total output of 1997 is nearly 20 million tons, which is the most important fruit in China's fruit market.
Apple is also a high-yield fruit tree with strong adaptability to soil. General hills, beaches and mild saline-alkali land can be planted in pieces after proper improvement, and higher economic income can be obtained. Apples are suitable for slicing cultivation. Fruit is mainly used for fresh food, but also can be processed into juice, fruit wine, jam, dried fruit, preserved fruit, candied fruit, canned sugar water and so on.
At present, the main problems in cultivation are extensive management and ineffective pest control, which leads to some young trees failing to bear fruit at the right age, low yield per unit area or serious phenomenon in different years; Can not be harvested in time, storage and packaging conditions are poor; The variety lacks competitiveness. If the above problems can be solved, apple has great potential to increase production and increase value.
Seedling cultivation and gardening
1. All the seedlings are propagated by grafting. There are two kinds of rootstocks: arbor rootstocks and dwarf rootstocks. In Huaibei area, there are many kinds of roots and stems of Qiao Hua, such as Hubei begonia (such as Shandong Pingyi sweet tea), Xifu begonia (such as Baling begonia in Huailai, Hebei) and begonia fruit (also known as "Laguo", such as Laiwu tea fruit in Shandong). Dwarf and semi-dwarf rootstocks are widely used, namely m26, m9 and m7, mm 106 and mmlll. The classification standards of dwarf rootstocks vary from country to country. According to China's specific conditions and habits, the relevant meeting held in 1974 agreed that the classification standards of dwarf rootstocks in China are: pruning rootstocks (the height of trees is close to that of seedlings, about 5 meters), semi-pruning rootstocks (the height of trees is about 2/3 of that of seedlings, about 3.5 meters) and pruning rootstocks (the height of trees is the height of seedlings). In addition, s20 and s63 were obtained from Henan by Shanxi Fruit Research Institute. It is also a good apple dwarfing anvil.
Qiao Hua rootstocks propagate with seeds. Sow in autumn or spring after sand accumulation. The days of low temperature stratification are about 30 ~ 60 days. Dwarf rootstocks must be propagated by cutting, layering or dividing plants to maintain dwarf characteristics.
Grafting with T-bud grafting method, budding in autumn, forming semi-mature seedlings that year. Rootstock seedlings that are not survived by bud grafting can be replanted once that year. If the rootstock seedlings are still not alive in that year and the grafting thickness is not enough, branch grafting will be carried out in the next spring. Branches are usually cut or split. Semi-mature seedlings should be cut off before budding in spring, rootstocks and tillers should be wiped in time after scions are drawn, and then management should be strengthened so as to leave the nursery in autumn.
Dwarf anvil can be used in two ways: self-rooted anvil and intermediate anvil. The latter method is popularized in China. Dwarf intermediate rootstock apple seedlings are composed of three parts: base rootstock, intermediate rootstock and scion variety, which need to be grafted twice. Its advantage is that by selecting the base anvil, the application range of dwarfing anvil is expanded, and the popularization and utilization speed of dwarfing anvil is accelerated at the same time. To achieve dwarfing effect by using dwarfing intermediate anvil, it is necessary to keep its length above 25 cm. In a certain range, with the lengthening of the dwarfing intermediate anvil, the dwarfing effect is also improved accordingly. So Miao usually takes three years to come back.
2. Apple has a long economic life after the founding of the People's Republic of China, so it is very important to choose a garden and plan it before it is built. The upper layer of apple orchard should be above 80 cm ~ 100 cm, and the groundwater level is low. In addition to the orchard community, roads, irrigation and drainage channels, shelterbelts and buildings should be included in the design project. The sample plot area should account for 80% ~ 85% of the total orchard area.
Variety can be considered comprehensively according to local conditions, market demand and traffic. Although the early-maturing varieties have high maturity temperature, loose fruit quality, few excellent fruits and short edible period, they still have certain value in regulating market supply because of their early maturity. Especially in Huaibei area, we can make use of the advantages of warming up earlier and faster in spring than in the north, give full play to our advantages and develop moderately. Due to the high temperature at maturity and the small temperature difference between day and night, it is not conducive to coloring. You can choose short-branch varieties that are late-maturing and easy to color, or you can choose excellent strains that are middle-late-maturing and well-colored (such as New Jonah Gold). Fuji varieties often have ring rot in the eastern part of Huaibei with more rainfall, and can be developed in the western part with less rainfall.
We should also pay attention to the configuration of pollinated varieties in variety selection. Triploid varieties such as Jonakin and Lu Ao cannot be used as pollination trees.
Seedlings should be planted in autumn. The row spacing of planting plants varies according to the size of trees and soil fertility. Sparsely plant on the flat land with the row spacing of (5 ~ 6) m× (5 ~ 6) m; In the desert hills or semi-dwarf rootstock dense planting gardens, the plant row spacing is (3 ~ 5) m× (4 ~ 5) m; Dwarf rootstocks or short-branch varieties are planted in dense planting gardens, and the plant row spacing is (2 ~ 3) m× (3 ~ 4) m. ..
Shaping and pruning
1. The basic tasks of plastic pruning can be summarized as the following three aspects: first, cultivate a good tree structure, including the height of trunk, the size of tree body, the number of backbone branches and the branch angle, so as to increase the effective fruit yield of crown and prevent flat fruit; The second is to cultivate all kinds of fruiting branches, make full use of space, and do more without chaos, dense without crowding; The third is to balance the tree potential, adjust the relationship between growth and fruiting, keep the tree strong, and lay the foundation for early fruiting and high and stable yield.
Trees used for apple shaping generally advocate sparse layering (also called sparse layering of trunk), while semi-dwarf trees and short-branched trees generally advocate sparse layering with small crowns and free spindle shape.
The structural characteristics of the evacuation hierarchical tree are: the height is 50 cm ~ 60 cm. After plastic surgery, the whole tree has 5 ~ 6 main branches, which are arranged in two layers (sometimes there is a third layer). The three main branches of the first layer are adjacent or adjacent, with the distance less than 20 cm ~ 40 cm and the opening angle of 60 ~ 70 degrees. The second layer has two main branches, the extension direction is staggered with the first layer, and the opening angle is smaller than the first layer, 45 ~ 50 degrees. The main branch spacing (interlayer spacing) on the first and second floors is 80 cm ~ 100 cm. There are two secondary branches (also called lateral branches) on each of the three main branches at the base, which are interlaced with each other, and each secondary branch has 1 secondary branch. The whole tree is 4 to 5 meters high. This tree has an obvious central trunk, but it is also happy in the later stage. If there is a third main branch, it is usually a temporary branch, and the head is removed when it falls. The main branches are layered, with small top and large bottom, and the distance between layers is large. It conforms to the growth characteristics of apples, and has the advantages of early formation, firm structure, good ventilation and light transmission because the main branches can occupy a large space evenly.
The base is the first main branch, the upper part is the second main branch, and the top tree falls in a happy place after completion. Numbers represent the height of the trunk, the distance between layers, the distance between layers and the distance between the first main branch and the trunk on the main branch.
The main points of plastic surgery are as follows: (1) The three branches of the base can be selected and cultivated in stages within two years to maintain the balance of strength; The upper main branch should not choose the south branch, so as not to affect the penetration of light. The whole tree should maintain an obvious subordinate relationship, that is, the growth potential of the central trunk is stronger than that of the main branch, the main technology is stronger than that of the auxiliary branch, and the upper and lower branches should be kept smaller than that of the upper branch. When the center is too strong, you can change the head with three branches, and use two branches instead of the original head to extend the growth, form a small bend, control the strength, and enhance the growth potential of the first layer of main branches. When only two main branches can be cultivated in the first layer, a suitable "door test" can also be left at the base of the main branch to replace the third main branch, forming a form of "lateral main branch" to make the crown complete. On the other hand, if the first layer has formed four branches, which is slightly crowded, and if one main branch lacks auxiliary branches (side branches), the cutting method of "by the amount of main branches" can also be adopted, and the cutting of five main branches can be controlled according to the requirements of side branches belonging to one main branch. The first auxiliary branch on the third main branch of Ikeno should be planted in the anticline side of the main branch 60 cm ~ 80 cm away from the branch point of the main branch, leaving no "door side" as far as possible to avoid crowding in the crown cavity and the lower branch. For the main branches with too small branch angle, methods such as bracing should be adopted as soon as possible to make them open. After the tree begins to bear a lot of fruits (10 ~ 13), the tree is stable, so it can be happy with the original center and increase the upper light. When the main branch extends obliquely outward, it can extend in a straight line or wave shape according to the specific situation, but it is not suitable to bend and extend left and right. The cutting length of winter cutting is generally 45 cm ~ 60 cm for the main branch and 40 cm ~ 50 cm for the auxiliary branch. The branch spacing of trunk branches is about 1 m.
The structure of sparse tree with small crown is basically the same as that of sparse tree, but the tree body is more compact by strictly controlling the tree height, crown width and main branch order. Generally, the trunk is 30 cm ~ 40 cm high, the tree is 2.5 m ~ 3 m high, the crown is 3.5 m ~ 4 m, and the crown is oblate. The whole tree has 5 ~ 6 main branches, 3 in the first layer, and there is no hierarchy upward, leaving 1 main branch every 40 cm ~ 50 cm. The opening angle of the main branch of the first layer is 60 ~ 70 degrees, and there are two auxiliary main branches on it. The first branch is about 20 cm from the trunk and 20 cm from the top, and the second branch is in the opposite direction. The upper main branch does not leave the secondary main branch, and the result branch group is directly planted on it. After entering the full fruit period, the central trunk will be happy and control the height and crown width of the tree.
A free spindle is also a tree with a central stem. The height is 40 cm ~ 50 cm, the height of the tree is 2.5 m ~ 3 m, the crown width is 2.5 m ~ 3 m, the center is upright, and the lateral branches of 10 ~ 15 are evenly distributed on it, extending around without obvious stratification. The bottom 3 ~ 5 lateral branches are long and stout, keeping a distance of 8 cm ~ 10 cm from each other, which plays the role of backbone branches. The lateral branches near the upper part of the central trunk are short and weak, and only play the role of fruiting base branches. Keep a distance of 50 cm ~ 60 cm between the upper and lower sides in the same direction. There is only one branch in the whole crown, all of which are induced to form an opening angle of 70 ~ 90 degrees, and medium and small branches are cultivated on it, or short fruit branches are directly used to bear fruit. After reaching the predetermined tree height, the central trunk falls happily, and the crown is in the shape of a wide cone or spindle. This tree can be used for dwarfing rootstock apple trees or short-branch varieties of apples.
2. Pruning can be divided into two categories: winter pruning (dormant pruning) and summer pruning (growth pruning). The basic methods of winter pruning are short cutting, internal shrinkage and thinning, and sometimes long-term pruning is also included in the generalized pruning method. Short cut is divided into light cut, medium cut and heavy cut, so its pruning reaction is different. Light cutting, short cutting or long cutting are beneficial to relieve the branch potential and tree potential. Cutting, re-cutting or shrinking branches is beneficial to promote the growth of branches and buds and the regeneration and rejuvenation of branches and backbone branches. Thinning branches can reduce branches, improve illumination, inhibit the former and promote the latter, which is beneficial to the formation of flower buds. Summer pruning includes basic methods such as removing core, smearing buds, draining, wringing, taking branches, pulling branches and girdling. Generally speaking, summer pruning has a certain inhibitory effect on the growth of trees, can alleviate the branch potential and tree potential, and is often conducive to the formation of flower buds, which is widely used in young trees.
The pruning of young apple trees mainly focuses on selecting and retaining the backbone branches, while mastering light pruning and retaining more auxiliary branches to increase the amount of branches and leaves, so that the growth of shoot and root system tends to be balanced at an early date and promotes flowering and fruiting.
After the seedlings are planted, the seedlings are cut short according to different tree body requirements, which is called fixed stem. When drying, it is required that there are more than 5 ~ 7 full buds under the incision, and 20 cm ~ 25 cm is called plastic belt. After these buds develop into technology, the extension technology of the central trunk and the first layer of main branches or thicker side branches is selected from the middle. Every winter, according to the requirements of plastic surgery, prune the trunk and branches of the culture center at all levels, and pay attention to the quality of bud cutting and the direction of bud retention. The growth branches located in the center of the interlayer and the lower part of the main branch should be reserved as auxiliary branches except those that are too dense and need to be thinned, and the method of light cutting and long leveling should be adopted to help support the tree, ease the tree vigor and bear fruit early. Fixing the stem under plastic belt is beneficial to accelerate the thickening of trunk and the growth of root system. Branches close to the ground and crowded can be thinned, and the rest can be controlled or thrown away.
While cultivating main branches and using auxiliary branches, large, medium and small branches should be cultivated on the back, side and back of main branches and auxiliary branches in time to stabilize the results. The distribution of branches in the crown is sparse in the upper part and dense in the lower part, sparse in the inner part and dense in the middle part. In the early stage of fruiting, the flat and oblique branches on both sides and behind should be cultivated, and after the complete fruiting period, the upright branches on the back should be used more appropriately to maintain the growth potential of the branches. There is no need to cultivate big branches for plants with free hammer tree shape.
Summer pruning is an important measure to slow down the growth of young trees, promote flower bud differentiation and early high yield, and should be fully applied. When the spring shoots stop growing and the autumn shoots start growing, the auxiliary branches of Wang Chang can be picked, so that the xylem of the branches is constantly damaged, thus changing the angle, direction and growth. Young trees with no flowers or few flowers are also cut, peeled in summer and pulled in autumn in Kechun to promote flowers. Spring carving refers to carving on both sides of Puyang branch or lateral branch and above the bud behind it before spring germination to promote more germination; Summer girdling is to girdle or girdle for 3-4 times above the trunk or at the base of the main branch and auxiliary branch from late May to early June, so that more than 10000 nutrients can be accumulated at the girdling mouth to promote flowering; Branching in autumn is to stretch the opening angle of university strips before and after a short pause in autumn, which is beneficial to alleviate the branching trend. The induction of lateral branches of free spindle-shaped trees was also carried out during this period. About 20 days after the growth stopped in autumn, the technique group of cutting the tip and shrinking the inner membrane can also slow down the growth of young flourishing trees and rejuvenate the branchlets.
After entering the full fruit stage and gradually turning to the achievements of the technical group, the auxiliary branches that have grown for many years should be cleaned, retracted and transformed year by year. Especially if the canopy is closed, it is necessary to lower your head and open the layer year after year to let the light penetrate into the inner room. In order to stabilize the fruit and prevent years, a certain ratio of flower buds to leaf buds (2 ~ 4) should be controlled and maintained during pruning in winter. In the years when there are too many flower buds, the techniques of thinning buds, cutting short, retracting and topping can be adopted, combined with thinning flowers and fruits, so as not to cause too many fruits, thus promoting hair development. In years with few buds, try to leave as many buds as possible. The achievements of the technical team should be constantly updated and younger, sparse and strong, carefully updated, and maintain the ability to blossom and bear fruit. In a word, the ratio between result technology and nutrition technology should be kept constant by pruning. Generally, the number of bearing branches per year should not exceed 30% ~ 40% of the total number of branches. When the peripheral branches between plants begin to hand over, the extended branches can be reduced and released in principle, and there is always a leading branch with strong growth potential.
When the age of the tree is getting longer and the peripheral new growth is less than 30 cm, the backbone branches should be retracted to the branches of 2-4 years old in time to promote the regeneration and rejuvenation of the crown.