A method for improving fruit quality of apple trees

Abstract

The application discloses an apple tree planting method for improving fruit quality, and belongs to the field of apple tree planting. The apple tree planting method for improving fruit quality comprises the following steps: hole digging, bottom fertilizer application, apple tree seedling transplanting, and then cultivation is carried out when the relative humidity of the root soil is 50-85%; after the apple tree seedling grows to a tree age of more than or equal to 3 years, water control treatment is carried out; the water control treatment comprises the following steps: after the flower bud of the apple tree is observed to appear in a physiological differentiation period, the relative humidity of the root soil is limited to 45-55%, and carbon fertilizer is applied; after the apple tree enters a fruit setting period, the relative humidity of the root soil is limited to 50-85%. The planting method can greatly improve the yield and quality of fruits, has high fertilizer utilization rate, does not have negative effects on the apple tree, and is favorable for prolonging the fruiting period of the fruit tree.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of apple tree cultivation, and in particular to a method for cultivating apple trees to improve fruit quality. Background Technology

[0002] Apples are one of the most common fruit varieties, possessing significant advantages in terms of nutritional types and content, as well as production and transportation costs, making them suitable for further promotion. Apple roots do not have a natural dormancy period; they can grow continuously throughout the year as long as the conditions for root growth are met. The root system is a vital underground nutrient organ for fruit trees, its main function being to anchor the tree in the soil and absorb water and mineral nutrients from it. The size of apple root systems varies depending on the fruit tree variety, but generally extends vertically by about 50-90 cm, and horizontally by about 1.5-3 times the length of the tree crown.

[0003] Ensuring the normal growth of fruit tree roots is key to improving the survival rate and fruit yield of fruit trees. Current technologies often promote root growth through fertilization, but problems such as uneven fertilizer distribution or excessive fertilization often lead to root burn.

[0004] Flower bud differentiation refers to the process by which the plant's stem meristem transforms from producing leaves and axillary buds into inflorescences or flowers. In apple trees, flower bud differentiation typically begins from late May to mid-June and can continue until mid-September. Flower bud differentiation is a physiological and morphological marker of the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth. In fruit tree cultivation, flower bud differentiation is a crucial stage for flowering and growth; however, improper handling often leads to problems such as flower and fruit drop, fruitless flowering, and low fruit set. Girdling is a commonly used method to promote flower bud formation, but this method blocks the transport of organic nutrients through the phloem to the roots, easily causing root starvation. Repeated girdling can excessively damage the roots, leading to the decline of the fruit tree. Therefore, developing a more scientific method for managing flower bud differentiation is crucial for the further promotion of fruit tree cultivation. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an apple tree planting method that improves fruit quality, thereby solving the problems described in the background art. The planting method of this invention can significantly increase fruit yield and quality, has high fertilizer utilization, and does not negatively impact the fruit trees, thus helping to extend the peak fruiting period of the trees.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0007] One of the technical solutions of this invention is to provide a method for planting apple trees to improve fruit quality, comprising the following steps:

[0008] After digging holes and applying base fertilizer, transplant apple seedlings; then cultivate them in the soil around the roots at a relative humidity of 50-85%.

[0009] After the apple seedlings have grown to an age of ≥3 years, water control treatment is carried out. The water control treatment includes the following steps: after observing the appearance of flower buds in the physiological differentiation period of the apple trees, the relative humidity of the root soil is limited to 45-55%, and carbon fertilizer is applied. Then, after the apple trees enter the fruit setting period, the relative humidity of the root soil is limited to 50-85%.

[0010] Preferably, the steps of digging holes and applying base fertilizer are as follows: dig a hole with a width of 50-70cm and a depth of 40-50cm, and then fill it with base fertilizer accounting for 40-60% of the volume of the hole.

[0011] Preferably, the base fertilizer consists of the following components in parts by weight: 40-50 parts soil, 15-20 parts gravel, 5-8 parts sawdust, 3-5 parts water-absorbing resin, 7-15 parts superphosphate, 2-4 parts wood ash, and 24-35 parts well-rotted sheep manure.

[0012] The base fertilizer formula designed in this invention not only provides apple trees with sufficient nutrition, but also takes into account the soil's permeability and water retention capacity, effectively avoiding problems such as insufficient oxygen content and rapid water evaporation, thereby promoting the growth of apple trees.

[0013] Preferably, the step of transplanting apple seedlings specifically involves: after planting the apple seedlings, filling the soil with soil and then watering to bring the relative humidity of the soil around the roots to 85%.

[0014] Preferably, the carbon fertilizer is composed of well-rotted sheep manure, potassium chloride, and magnesium sulfate in a mass ratio of 100:2-4:0.5-1, and the application rate of the carbon fertilizer is 1.5-3 kg / plant.

[0015] During water control treatment, applying fertilizers such as urea can easily cause excessive vegetative growth, which is detrimental to increasing yield. Therefore, this invention designs a solution that promotes carbon accumulation while increasing yield. After the carbon fertilizer of this invention is applied, it can not only increase the yield of apple trees, but also increase the carbohydrate content in the fruit, thereby increasing the weight and sweetness of the fruit.

[0016] The beneficial technical effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0017] The flower bud formation rate of short fruit branches in apple trees is an important indicator for improving yield. However, flower bud differentiation on short fruit branches generally occurs earlier, and conventional improvement methods are often ineffective in the early stages of flower bud differentiation. The inventors discovered that appropriate water control in the early stages of flower bud differentiation promotes the physiological differentiation of leaf buds into flower buds. This may be because lower water content restricts root and shoot growth, limiting carbohydrate flow to the roots and causing them to accumulate in the buds instead.

[0018] The relative humidity of the soil during the flower bud differentiation stage is key to improving the flower bud formation rate. If the relative humidity is too low (<45%), the normal physiological activities of the root system will be affected. More importantly, it will significantly shorten the duration of flower bud differentiation and affect the flower bud formation rate. If the relative humidity is too high (>55%), this effect cannot be maintained, and the yield will also decrease due to reasons such as the later cessation of new shoot growth.

[0019] The planting method of this invention can significantly improve fruit yield and quality, and has a high fertilizer utilization rate. It will not have a negative impact on apple trees and is conducive to extending the peak fruiting period of the fruit trees. Detailed Implementation

[0020] Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail. This detailed description should not be considered as a limitation of the present invention, but rather as a more detailed description of certain aspects, features, and embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that the terminology used in this invention is merely for describing particular embodiments and is not intended to limit the present invention.

[0021] Furthermore, regarding the numerical ranges in this invention, it should be understood that each intermediate value between the upper and lower limits of the range is also specifically disclosed. Any stated value or intermediate value within a stated range, as well as each smaller range between any other stated value or intermediate value within said range, are also included in this invention. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may be independently included or excluded from the range.

[0022] Unless otherwise stated, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. While only preferred methods and materials have been described herein, any methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the implementation or testing of this invention.

[0023] The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” “containing,” etc., used in this invention are all open-ended terms, meaning that they include but are not limited to.

[0024] The gravel used in the following embodiments and comparative examples of the present invention has a particle size of 50-150 mm.

[0025] The nutrient content of the decomposed sheep manure used in the following embodiments and comparative examples of the present invention is: N≥2.0wt%, P2O5≥1.0wt%, K2O≥2.3wt%, and organic matter≥45wt%.

[0026] The apple seedlings used in the following embodiments and comparative examples of the present invention are 45-50cm tall and are of the Red Delicious variety.

[0027] All raw materials used in the following embodiments and comparative examples of the present invention are commercially available products.

[0028] Example 1

[0029] The methods for planting fruit trees are as follows:

[0030] Dig a hole 70cm wide and 45cm deep, fill it with 55% base fertilizer, plant the apple sapling, fill the hole with soil, and water it to bring the relative humidity of the root soil to 85%. Planting is now complete. Cultivate the sapling at a relative humidity of 50-85% in the root soil, maintaining regular pruning, pinching, and fertilization. After the apple sapling has grown to ≥3 years old, water control treatment is implemented as follows: After observing the appearance of flower buds during the physiological differentiation period, limit the relative humidity of the root soil to 45-55% and apply carbon fertilizer at a rate of 2.5kg / sapling. After the fruit set period, limit the relative humidity of the root soil to 50-85% and cultivate the sapling at this relative humidity until the apples mature.

[0031] The base fertilizer consists of the following components in parts by weight: 45 parts soil, 20 parts gravel, 8 parts sawdust, 5 parts water-absorbing resin, 10 parts superphosphate, 3 parts wood ash, and 28 parts well-rotted sheep manure.

[0032] The carbon fertilizer is composed of well-rotted sheep manure, potassium chloride, and magnesium sulfate in a mass ratio of 100:3:1.

[0033] Example 2

[0034] The methods for planting fruit trees are as follows:

[0035] Dig a hole 50cm wide and 40cm deep, fill it with 40% base fertilizer, plant the apple sapling, fill the hole with soil, and water it to bring the relative humidity of the root soil to 85%. Planting is now complete. Cultivate the sapling at a relative humidity of 50-85% in the root soil, maintaining regular pruning, pinching, and fertilization. After the apple sapling has grown to ≥3 years old, water control treatment is implemented. The steps are as follows: After observing the appearance of flower buds during the physiological differentiation period, limit the relative humidity of the root soil to 45-55% and apply carbon fertilizer at a rate of 1.5kg / sapling. After the fruit tree enters the fruit setting period, limit the relative humidity of the root soil to 50-85% and cultivate it at this relative humidity until the apples mature.

[0036] The base fertilizer consists of the following components in parts by weight: 50 parts soil, 15 parts gravel, 5 parts sawdust, 3 parts water-absorbing resin, 15 parts superphosphate, 2 parts wood ash, and 35 parts well-rotted sheep manure.

[0037] The carbon fertilizer is composed of well-rotted sheep manure, potassium chloride, and magnesium sulfate in a mass ratio of 100:2:0.5.

[0038] Comparative Example 1 (no water control)

[0039] The methods for planting fruit trees are as follows:

[0040] Dig a hole 70cm wide and 45cm deep, fill it with base fertilizer to 55% of its volume, plant the apple sapling, then fill the hole with soil and water it to bring the relative humidity of the soil around the roots to 85%. This completes the planting. Then, cultivate the sapling at a relative humidity of 50-85% around the roots, maintaining regular trunking, pinching, and fertilization. Once the apple sapling has grown to ≥3 years old and flower buds have appeared during the physiological differentiation period, apply carbon fertilizer at a rate of 2.5kg / sapling and cultivate it until the apples mature.

[0041] The base fertilizer consists of the following components in parts by weight: 45 parts soil, 20 parts gravel, 8 parts sawdust, 5 parts water-absorbing resin, 10 parts superphosphate, 3 parts wood ash, and 28 parts well-rotted sheep manure.

[0042] The carbon fertilizer is composed of well-rotted sheep manure, potassium chloride, and magnesium sulfate in a mass ratio of 100:3:1.

[0043] Comparative Example 2

[0044] The only difference from Example 1 is that after observing the appearance of flower buds in the physiological differentiation period of the fruit trees, the relative humidity of the soil around the roots is limited to 40-45%.

[0045] Comparative Example 3

[0046] The only difference from Example 1 is that the carbon fertilizer is modified to consist of well-rotted sheep manure, urea and magnesium sulfate in a mass ratio of 100:3:1.

[0047] Comparative Example 4

[0048] The only difference from Example 1 is that no additional carbon fertilizer is applied.

[0049] Comparative Example 5 (Girdle Removal)

[0050] The methods for planting fruit trees are as follows:

[0051] Dig a hole 70cm wide and 45cm deep, fill it with 55% base fertilizer, plant the apple sapling, fill the hole with soil, and water it to bring the relative humidity of the soil around the roots to 85%. Planting is now complete. Cultivate the sapling at a relative humidity of 50-85% around the roots, maintaining regular trunking, pinching, and fertilization. When the apple sapling has grown to ≥3 years old, perform girdling treatment as follows: Perform girdling treatment at the end of May, with a girdling width of 4cm and a depth that just reaches the xylem without causing damage. Apply carbon fertilizer at a rate of 1.5kg / tree. After the fruit tree enters the fruit-setting period, limit the relative humidity of the soil around the roots to 50-85% and cultivate it at this relative humidity until the apples mature.

[0052] The base fertilizer consists of the following components in parts by weight: 45 parts soil, 20 parts gravel, 8 parts sawdust, 5 parts water-absorbing resin, 10 parts superphosphate, 3 parts wood ash, and 28 parts well-rotted sheep manure.

[0053] The carbon fertilizer is composed of well-rotted sheep manure, potassium chloride, and magnesium sulfate in a mass ratio of 100:3:1.

[0054] In the girdling step of Comparative Example 5, the adverse effects of girdling were amplified by using a larger girdling width (usually 1-2 cm) and not performing subsequent protective treatment.

[0055] Effect verification

[0056] (1) The fruits of fruit trees cultivated using the methods of Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1-5 at 5 years of age were statistically analyzed. Among them, the inflorescence fruit set rate refers to the percentage of the final number of fruits to the total number of inflorescences, and the sweetness was measured by a non-destructive fruit saccharimeter. Specific data are shown in Table 1.

[0057] Table 1

[0058] project Yield (kg / mu) Fruit set rate of inflorescence (%) Sweetness Example 1 3216 76 13.7 Comparative Example 1 2939 71 13.2 Comparative Example 2 2541 58 13.3 Comparative Example 3 3068 73 13.2 Comparative Example 4 2874 69 13.1 Comparative Example 5 3018 74 13.3

[0059] The embodiments described above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention should fall within the protection scope defined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for cultivating apple trees to improve fruit quality, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: After digging holes and applying base fertilizer, transplant apple seedlings; then cultivate them in the soil around the roots at a relative humidity of 50-85%. After the apple seedlings have grown to an age of ≥3 years, water control treatment is carried out. The water control treatment includes the following steps: after observing the appearance of flower buds in the physiological differentiation period of the apple trees, the relative humidity of the root soil is limited to 45-55%, and carbon fertilizer is applied. Subsequently, after the apple trees enter the fruit setting period, the relative humidity of the root soil is limited to 50-85%. The carbon fertilizer is composed of well-rotted sheep manure, potassium chloride, and magnesium sulfate in a mass ratio of 100:2-4:0.5-1, and the application rate of the carbon fertilizer is 1.5-3 kg / plant.

2. The planting method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The specific steps of digging holes and applying base fertilizer are as follows: dig holes with a width of 50-70cm and a depth of 40-50cm, and then fill them with base fertilizer that accounts for 40-60% of the volume of the holes.

3. The planting method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The base fertilizer consists of the following components in parts by weight: 40-50 parts soil, 15-20 parts gravel, 5-8 parts sawdust, 3-5 parts water-absorbing resin, 7-15 parts superphosphate, 2-4 parts wood ash, and 24-35 parts well-rotted sheep manure.

4. The planting method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The specific steps for transplanting apple seedlings are as follows: after planting the apple seedlings, fill the soil with soil and then water it to bring the relative humidity of the soil around the roots to 85%.