A method for cultivating fruit trees in a form of a multi-trunk with lateral branches

Abstract

The present application relates to a kind of side branch changes more main stem shape fruit tree cultivation method, its core technology is: using the top dominance of fruit tree and the characteristics of latent bud sprouting in light, a large number of germination on the transverse auxiliary main branch and lateral branch, branch thick leaf big Zhang fat, so as to realize tree vigor rejuvenation, high quality fruit yield.The present application is through two methods of pulling branch and deleting sparse, cultivate shrub fruit tree lateral branch end distance ground 60-70 cm, arbor fruit tree lateral branch end distance ground 80-120 cm, with the opening angle of ground is 0-30 degrees to form a layer of framework, and sprout 3-4 level small branches to hang fruit.The present application adopts a kind of new shaping pruning cultivation method, after 3-5 years of special cultivation management, the whole tree keeps shrub fruit tree 0.8-1.5 meter high single layer tree crown, arbor fruit tree 1.7-2.8 meter high single layer tree crown, tree crown diameter is 0.5-1 times faster than traditional cultivation method, rapidly forms high yield tree crown, realizes early fruiting, high yield, high quality yield.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a method for cultivating fruit trees, and more particularly to a method for cultivating fruit trees with a main trunk and many lateral branches. Background Technology

[0002] Common pruning methods for fruit trees include central leader system, three-main-branch round-headed system, natural semi-circular system, natural open-center system, multi-trunk system, and multi-main-branch radial system. Secondary branches grow sequentially from the main branches, resulting in slow canopy expansion. Mature trees are generally quite tall, with a thin effective canopy layer, making the orchard prone to overcrowding and breeding pests and diseases. Furthermore, during periods of high fruit production, overlapping fruits can hinder fruit coloring. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method for cultivating fruit trees with more lateral branches and a main trunk. This method mainly uses two methods, namely branch pulling and thinning, to quickly form a productive canopy, resulting in larger fruits and a higher rate of high-quality fruits.

[0004] The technical solution to the above-mentioned technical problems is: a fruit tree cultivation method with multiple lateral branches and a main trunk, including cultivation methods for young trees and cultivation methods for mature trees, wherein the secondary main branches and the main branches together are called lateral trunks or scaffold branches.

[0005] The cultivation method for young trees is as follows: retain 2-6 main branches, cultivate the crown for 1-2 years, allow the branches to grow freely, and pinch off branches exceeding 30 cm in length; in the second or third year, from late January to early April before the fruit trees sprout, train the secondary main branches. The requirements for training are: the tip of the branch of the shrub fruit tree should be 60-70 cm from the ground, and the tip of the branch of the tree fruit tree should be 80-120 cm from the ground, with the angle between the branch and the ground being 0-30 degrees, the smaller the angle the better; after reaching the productive age of 5 years, retain 2-6 main branches that grow almost horizontally on each tree. The branches growing on the secondary main branches are pruned by removing strong branches and retaining weak branches, removing upright branches and vigorous branches with a diameter of more than 2 cm, cultivating the crown, and maintaining the growth of 1-4 level small branches on the main branches through annual pruning. The effective leaf canopy layer of the shrub fruit tree should be maintained at 0.8-1.2 meters; the effective leaf canopy layer of the tree fruit tree should be maintained at 1.2-1.8 meters.

[0006] The cultivation method for mature trees is as follows: Select 2 to 6 evenly distributed main branches. For shrub fruit trees, the branches should be 60 to 70 cm above the ground, and for tree fruit trees, the branches should be 80 to 120 cm above the ground. The angle between the branches and the ground should be 0 to 30 degrees, with the smaller the angle being better. If the branches are too high above the ground or the angle is too large, use branch pulling to maintain the angle between the branches and the ground at 0 to 30 degrees. Cut off all excess or excessively tall secondary branches. Remove upright branches and vigorous branches with a diameter of more than 2 cm to cultivate the tree crown. Through annual pruning, maintain the 1st to 4th order small branches sprouting on the main branches. For shrub fruit trees, maintain an effective canopy layer of 0.8 to 1.2 meters, and for tree fruit trees, maintain an effective canopy layer of 1.2 to 1.8 meters.

[0007] Furthermore, in the cultivation method of the young trees, the mature shrubs cultivated have a crown width of 3-4 meters and a tree height of 1.5-2 meters; the trees have a crown width of 5-6 meters and a tree height of 2.5-4 meters; the main branches and secondary main branches should form the crown on the same plane as much as possible, and only the last 3-4 level branches on the lateral trunks should be left to bear fruit.

[0008] Furthermore, in the cultivation method of the young trees, the mature trees obtained by cultivation have a shape close to "T" or "Y".

[0009] Furthermore, in the cultivation method of mature trees, in order to maintain a certain yield, the crown of 1 to 3 layers of branches can be temporarily retained in the first year; the shaping and pruning of excess secondary main branches is completed in 2 to 3 years; and the branches growing on the first layer of lateral branches that are to be retained are pruned by removing strong branches and retaining weak branches, removing upright branches and vigorous branches with a diameter of more than 2 cm, and cultivating the crown.

[0010] Furthermore, in the cultivation method of mature trees, the crown width of mature shrubs after shaping and pruning is 3-4 meters and the tree height is 1.5-2 meters, while the crown width of trees is 5-6 meters and the tree height is 2.5-4 meters. The main branches and secondary main branches should form the crown on the same plane as much as possible, and only the last 3-4 level branches on the lateral trunks should be retained to bear fruit.

[0011] Furthermore, in the cultivation method for mature trees, the mature trees obtained through cultivation have a shape close to "T" or "Y".

[0012] The core technology of this invention is to utilize the apical dominance of fruit trees and the characteristic of dormant buds sprouting in the light, so that a large number of buds sprout on the horizontally elongated secondary main branches and lateral branches, resulting in strong branches and large, thick leaves, thereby achieving tree rejuvenation and high-quality, high-yield fruit.

[0013] This invention cultivates a framework by using two methods: branch pulling and thinning. The lateral branches of shrub fruit trees are 60-70 cm above the ground, and the lateral branches of arbor fruit trees are 80-120 cm above the ground, with an opening angle of 0-30 degrees to the ground. This fosters the growth of 3-4 level twigs that bear fruit. This invention employs a novel shaping and pruning cultivation method. After 3-5 years of special cultivation and management, the entire tree maintains a single-layer canopy height of 0.8-1.5 meters for shrub fruit trees and 1.2-2.0 meters for arbor fruit trees. The canopy diameter increases by 0.5-1 times compared to traditional cultivation methods, rapidly forming a high-yield canopy and achieving early, high-quality, and high-yield production.

[0014] This invention is applicable to most fruit trees, and is especially suitable for small-fruited fruit trees such as kumquats.

[0015] The technical features of a fruit tree cultivation method with multiple lateral branches and a main trunk according to the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram (front view) of the trunk and branches of the kumquat tree after cultivation according to the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the tree shape of a mature kumquat tree after cultivation using the method of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the tree shape after cultivating kumquats using the existing natural semi-circular cultivation method.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the tree shape after cultivating young kumquat trees using the method of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 1 The diagram shows four main branches. Figure 1 In the diagram, 1 represents a first-order branch, 2 represents a second-order branch, 3 represents a third-order branch, and 4 represents a fourth-order branch. Detailed Implementation Example 1:

[0021] A method for cultivating fruit trees with multiple lateral branches and a central leader system includes methods for cultivating young trees and methods for cultivating mature trees. In this invention, secondary branches and main branches are collectively referred to as lateral trunks or scaffold branches.

[0022] (1) Young trees. Retain 2-6 main branches and cultivate the crown for 1-2 years, allowing the branches to grow freely. Pinch the tips of branches exceeding 30 cm. Depending on the size of the crown, when the lateral trunks reach more than 1.2 meters in length, in the spring of the second or third year, before the fruit trees sprout, pull the secondary main branches. Generally, pulling the branches for 3-5 months can shape the branches. After shaping, the pulling can be removed or the pulling can continue. Requirements for pulling the branches: The tail of the branches of shrub fruit trees should be 60-70 cm from the ground, and the tail of the branches of tree fruit trees should be 80-120 cm from the ground. The opening angle α with the ground should be 0-30 degrees, and the smaller the angle, the better. The key point of this invention is: utilizing the characteristic of dormant buds sprouting in light, a large number of buds sprout on the horizontally pulled branches, and the branches are thick, thus quickly forming a full and thick crown. After reaching full production age (5 years), each tree retains 2-6 nearly horizontal secondary main branches (lateral branches) as the main trunk (i.e., framework branches). The branches growing on these secondary main branches are pruned by removing strong branches and retaining weaker ones, removing upright branches and vigorous shoots with a diameter of over 2 cm to cultivate the canopy. Because only the primary lateral branches (secondary main branches) are retained as the main trunk to cultivate the canopy, the effective canopy layer of shrub fruit trees can reach 0.8-1.2 meters, and that of tree fruit trees can reach 1.2-1.8 meters, resulting in good light penetration and fewer pests and diseases. Mature shrub fruit trees have a canopy width of 3-4 meters and a height of 1.5-2 meters, while trees have a canopy width of 5-6 meters and a height of 2.5-4 meters. The main branches and secondary main branches should ideally form the canopy on the same plane, with only the last 3-4 levels of small branches on the lateral trunks bearing fruit. By pruning annually, 1st to 4th grade twigs are maintained to sprout on the main trunk, keeping the effective leaf canopy layer of shrub fruit trees at 0.8 to 1.2 meters and that of arborescent fruit trees at 1.2 to 1.8 meters; the branches are robust and bear large fruits. The tree shape is close to a "T" or a "Y" shape with the upper part opening at an angle close to 180 degrees.

[0023] (2) Mature trees. Select 2-6 main branches that are evenly distributed. For shrub fruit trees, the branches should be 60-70 cm from the ground, and for arbor fruit trees, the branches should be 80-120 cm from the ground. The angle between the branches and the ground should be 0-30 degrees, with the smaller the angle being better. If the secondary main branches are too high or have too large an angle, use branch pulling to keep the angle between the secondary main branches and the ground at 0-30 degrees. Cut off all excess or excessively tall secondary main branches. Utilize the characteristic of fruit trees' dormant buds sprouting in the light to encourage a large number of buds to sprout on the horizontal branches, growing into strong branches, thus quickly forming a full and thick crown. To maintain a certain yield, the crown of 1-3 layers of branches can be temporarily retained in the first year; the shaping and pruning work is planned to be completed in 2-3 years. Finally, the branches growing on the main trunk of the first layer of lateral branches (secondary main branches) should be pruned by removing strong branches and retaining weak branches, removing upright branches and vigorous branches with a diameter of more than 2 cm, to cultivate the crown. After pruning, mature shrub fruit trees have a crown width of 3-4 meters and a height of 1.5-2 meters, while trees have a crown width of 5-6 meters and a height of 2.5-4 meters. The main branches and secondary branches should ideally form a crown on the same plane, with only the last 3-4 order twigs on the lateral trunks bearing fruit. Annual pruning maintains the growth of 1-4 order twigs on the main trunk, keeping the effective leaf canopy layer of shrub fruit trees at 0.8-1.2 meters and that of tree fruit trees at 1.2-1.8 meters. The branches are robust and bear large fruit. The tree shape is close to a "T" or a V-shape at the top with an opening angle close to 180 degrees ("Y").

[0024] Mature trees require only a small amount of branch training; most branches that do not meet the requirements are usually simply sawed off. Only when a particular direction is lacking branches should higher branches be pulled down to fill the gap. The timing of branch training for mature trees is the same as for young trees, generally from late January to early April in spring, with the specific timing depending on the budding time of the variety. Branch training should be completed before budding. If the fruit on a mature tree has not yet been harvested, pruning and branch training should only be carried out after the fruit harvest.

[0025] Tree-based comparison between this invention and traditional management methods:

[0026] ① Number of tree branches: Traditional management method, 4 to 7 layers. Cultivation method of this invention, 1 layer.

[0027] ② Canopy canopy layer: With traditional management methods, the canopy height of shrub fruit trees is 2–3 meters, with an effective canopy layer of 0.4–0.7 meters; the canopy height of tree fruit trees is 4–7 meters, with an effective canopy layer of 0.6–1.0 meters. With the cultivation method of this invention, the canopy height of shrub fruit trees is 0.8–1.5 meters, with an effective canopy layer of 0.8–1.2 meters; the canopy height of tree trees is 1.7–2.8 meters, with an effective canopy layer of 1.2–1.8 meters.

[0028] Most fruit growers cut the lowest layer of leaves about 0.5 meters off the ground for easier management. The total height of the tree is calculated as follows: 0.5 meters off the ground + leaf canopy layer = tree height.

[0029] Comparison of the advantages of this invention with traditional management methods (taking kumquats as an example only):

[0030] ① Length of terminal shoots: Traditional management method, 6-15 cm. Cultivation method of this invention, 10-25 cm.

[0031] ② Leaf width: Traditional management method, 2.5-3.5 cm. Cultivation method of this invention, 3-4 cm (specific leaf parameters for specific varieties: medium-sized leaves of smooth-skinned kumquat are 7.5 cm long and 3.5 cm wide. Medium-sized leaves of crisp honey kumquat are 8 cm long and 4 cm wide).

[0032] ③ High-quality fruit rate: With traditional management methods, the proportion of medium-sized or better fruits is 61%. With the cultivation method of this invention, the proportion of medium-sized or better fruits is over 82%.

[0033] Experimental Example 1

[0034] This experiment was conducted in an orchard in Fule Village, Dajiang Town, Rong'an County from 2021 to 2022. Six smooth-skinned kumquat trees were investigated. Three of the trees were cultivated using the method described in Example 1 of this invention (four main branches were retained during the cultivation process), while the other three trees were managed using the traditional natural semi-circular method. The size of the single fruit, the average weight of the single fruit, and the yield were investigated, and the average values ​​were taken. The details are shown in Table 1 below.

[0035]

[0036] According to the national standard GB / T33470-2016, the grading of fresh kumquats with smooth skin is based on the weight of a single fruit: extra-large fruit weighs 20-25 grams, large fruit weighs 17-20 grams, and medium fruit weighs 14-17 grams.

[0037] As can be seen from the table above, the fruit trees cultivated using the method of this invention produce larger fruits, and the rate of high-quality fruits is significantly higher than that of fruit trees cultivated using existing methods. In 2022, due to persistent high temperatures and drought, the yield and rate of high-quality fruits decreased compared to the previous year. However, compared to fruit trees cultivated using existing methods in that year, the yield per tree of this invention was not significantly different from that of traditional cultivation methods. However, the weight of individual fruits and the proportion of medium, large, and extra-large fruits showed significant differences, resulting in significantly higher economic benefits than the control group.

[0038] In this invention, shrubs are 1-5 meters tall, and trees are 6-10 meters tall. The cultivation principle of the trees, taking the Shatang pomelo as an example, is based on its characteristic of bearing fruit on inner branches, resulting in superior quality. Dwarfing eliminates the inferior quality fruit (thick-skinned, tough-skinned, and with undigested flesh) that grows on the central upright branches. This increases the proportion of high-quality fruit, and the dwarfed tree shape facilitates agricultural operations such as spraying, pruning, pollination, and harvesting.

Claims

1. A method for cultivating fruit trees into a shape of a multi-trunk with lateral branches, comprising a method for cultivating young trees and a method for cultivating adult trees, characterized by: The main branch and the main branch are called side trunk or backbone branch together; The cultivation method of the young tree is: 2-6 backbone branches are reserved, the tree crown is cultivated for 1-2 years, the branches are allowed to grow, and the branches exceeding 30 cm are pinched; In the second year or the third year from late January to early April before the fruit tree sprouts, the branches are pulled, and the requirements of the branch pulling are: the tail of the shrub fruit tree branch is 60-70 cm away from the ground, the tail of the arbor fruit tree branch is 80-120 cm away from the ground, and the opening angle of the branch and the ground is 0-30 degrees, and the smaller the angle is, the better; After 5 years, 2-6 backbone branches close to horizontal growth are reserved per tree, the branches growing on the secondary main branches are pruned through the method of keeping the weak and removing the strong, and the branches with a diameter of more than 2 cm and the vigorous branches are pruned, the tree crown is cultivated, and 1-4 level branches are maintained on the backbone branches through annual pruning, the effective leaf layer of the shrub fruit tree is 0.8-1.2 m, and the effective leaf layer of the arbor fruit tree is 1.2-1.8 m; The cultivation method of the adult tree is: 2-6 backbone branches are selected and distributed uniformly, the tail of the shrub fruit tree branch is 60-70 cm away from the ground, the tail of the arbor fruit tree branch is 80-120 cm away from the ground, and the opening angle with the ground is 0-30 degrees, and the smaller the angle is, the better, if the branches are too high or the opening angle is too large, the method of pulling branches is used to keep the opening angle with the ground to be 0-30 degrees, all the redundant or over-high secondary main branches are sawn off, the branches with a diameter of more than 2 cm and the vigorous branches are pruned, and the tree crown is cultivated; 1-4 level branches are maintained on the backbone branches through annual pruning, the effective leaf layer of the shrub fruit tree is 0.8-1.2 m, and the effective leaf layer of the arbor fruit tree is 1.2-1.8 m.

2. A method of growing fruit trees in a side shoot branching multi-stem form according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the cultivation method of the young tree, the adult tree crown cultivated has a shrub crown width of 3-4 m and a tree height of 1.5-2 m; the arbor crown width is 5-6 m, and the tree height is 2.5-4 m; the main branch and the secondary main branch form a crown in the same plane layer as far as possible, and only the last 3-4 level branches on the side trunk are reserved for fruiting.

3. A method of growing fruit trees in a side shoot branching multi-stem form according to claim 2, characterized in that: In the cultivation method of the young tree, the adult tree cultivated has a tree shape close to "T" or "Y" shape.

4. The method for cultivating fruit trees in a side-branching multi-trunk form according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the cultivation method of the adult tree, in order to maintain a certain yield, the tree crown of 1-3 layers of branches can be temporarily reserved in the first year; it takes 2-3 years to complete the shaping and pruning of the redundant secondary main branches, and finally the lower first layer of branches growing on the main trunk are pruned through the method of keeping the weak and removing the strong, and the branches with a diameter of more than 2 cm and the vigorous branches are pruned to cultivate the tree crown.

5. A method of growing fruit trees in a side shoot variant multi-trunk form according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that: In the cultivation method of the adult tree, the adult tree crown after shaping and pruning has a shrub crown width of 3-4 m, a tree height of 1.5-2 m, an arbor crown width of 5-6 m, and a tree height of 2.5-4 m; the main branch and the secondary main branch form a crown in the same plane layer as far as possible, and only the last 3-4 level branches on the side trunk are reserved for fruiting.

6. A method of growing fruit trees in a side shoot variant multi-trunk form according to claim 5, characterized in that: In the cultivation method of the adult tree, the adult tree cultivated has a tree shape close to "T" or "Y" shape. In the cultivation method of the adult tree, in order to maintain a certain yield, the tree crown of 1-3 layers of branches can be temporarily reserved in the first year; it takes 2-3 years to complete the shaping and pruning of the redundant secondary main branches, and finally the lower first layer of branches growing on the main trunk are pruned through the method of keeping the weak and removing the strong, and the branches with a diameter of more than 2 cm and the vigorous branches are pruned to cultivate the tree crown.

Images