Comparative investigation of three cherry cultivars with different stem heights

Abstract

A comparative investigation of growth and reproductive parameters of trees of the cherry cultivars Kozerska, Stella and Stefania with five different cutting heights of the stem and summer pruning was conducted during the period 2008–2014. The cultivars were grafted on mahaleb rootstock and planted at a spacing of 5 x 5 m. The growth of the trees of all cultivars was most vigorous at heights of the stems of 70 and 110 cm. The application of summer pruning led to suppression of the growth, which was with the lowest value among the treatments tested. During the period of full fruit-bearing, the highest fruit yields and largest fruits were obtained in the treatments with trees whose stems were shortened at 70 and 110 cm above the soil surface. Summer pruning and cutting of the stems at 25 cm above the soil surface retarded the transition of the trees into full fruit-bearing. Cultivar Stella shortened to 70 cm had the best economic performance (1,534 euro/ha), followed by Stefania at 110 cm (1,498 euro/ha); the lowest values of this parameter were observed in Kozerska at a stem height of 70 cm and summer pruning applied (264 euro/ha). Stella and Stefania had better growth and economic properties than Kozerska.