Factors Influencing Vegetative Growth in Intensive AppleOrchards
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61308/XAVD6547Keywords:
mulching, nitrogen fertilization, vegetative growth, apple, drip irrigation, fertigationAbstract
The influence of mulching and nitrogen fertilization rate on the vegetative growth of an intensive apple orchard under optimal drip irrigation was investigated. The experiment was conducted at the experimental field “Chelopechene” of the Institute of Soil Science, Agrotechnologies and Plant Protection “N. Poushkarov” during the period 2023–2025 using the cultivar ‘Florina’ grafted on MM 106 rootstock.
The main experimental factors included in the experiment are: M – mulch (geotextile Geogarden, 100 g.m-²) and V – nitrogen fertilization (V0 – unfertilized control; V1 – 5 kg.da-1 N; V2 – 8 kg.da-1 N, ammonium nitrate). Nitrogen was applied in split doses – 50% in early spring (March) and 50% via fertigation during the active growing period (May–June).
The following parameters were monitored: trunk circumference, trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA), tree height, and canopy volume. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a statistically significant effect of fertilization on all parameters (p < 0.001), as well as a significant effect of mulching on trunk circumference and canopy volume (p < 0.001). The interaction between factors (M × V) was significant for these parameters (p ≤ 0.01), indicating a synergistic effect of the combined application of mulch and nitrogen fertilization.
The highest values for most parameters were observed in the treatment M,A2,V2, with the exception of canopy volume in 2025, where higher values were recorded in A2,V2.
The results confirm that mulching improves soil moisture conditions and enhances nitrogen use efficiency, making it a suitable practice for the sustainable management of intensive apple orchards.
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