Mountain apple support-free close planting cultivation method

Abstract

The invention discloses a mountain apple support-free close planting cultivation method, and relates to the technical field of mountain apple planting. The method comprises the following steps: selecting a mountain land or a gentle slope land with the soil layer depth of more than or equal to 1m, the pH value of 6.5-7.5, the organic matter content of more than or equal to 1% and the altitude of 1300-1800 m as a plantation land, digging planting furrows, planting nursery stocks, carrying out film mulching and grass-growing soil covering, carrying out auxiliary fertilization and water application, and carrying out high spindle-shaped tree shape transition to improved spindle-shaped pruning. According to the method, through terrace design and covering tree discs with straw and biochar, the water and soil loss amount is reduced, the mode of'vigorous rootstocks and short branch varieties' or'semi-dwarf rootstocks and short branch varieties' is applied, dynamic close planting of the method is matched, the pruning method for transition from a high-spindle-shaped tree shape to an improved spindle shape is adopted, the early yield and later illumination in apple planting are balanced, and the yield of apples is increased. The purposes of support-free close planting, cold resistance, drought resistance, excellent fruit and high yield, cost saving and efficiency increasing of the hillside orchard are achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of mountain apple planting, in particular to a method for densely planting mountain apples without supports. Background Art

[0002] Apple, scientifically known as Malus pumila Mill., also known as Western apple and nai, belongs to the genus Malus in the Rosaceae family. It is one of the most widely grown and marketed fruits in the world, with a long history of cultivation and a wide distribution range.

[0003] Traditional apple cultivation uses large, sparsely planted trees with tall crowns, resulting in late fruiting, inconvenient operation, and high management costs. Modern dwarf, densely planted trees require support, but are less cold- and drought-resistant, resulting in high construction costs and unsuitable for mountain orchards. Therefore, mountain apple support-free cultivation technology overcomes the shortcomings of both traditional tree-planted orchards and modern dwarf, densely planted orchards, eliminating the cost of support materials and directly reducing orchard construction costs. It also promotes earlier fruiting, increases suitability for mechanization, and further reduces production costs.

[0004] In the current apple cultivation without supports, a combination of dwarf rootstocks with well-developed root systems and short-branch varieties of rootstocks and scions is selected. Through appropriate tree shapes, pruning methods, and fertilizer and water management, the middle trunk is made strong, the crown is slender and tall, and the fruiting branches are full and uniform, achieving good ground fixation and strong resistance to adversity, and realizing dense planting of apples without supports, so as to reduce production costs and expand the cultivation area.

[0005] However, the current support-free cultivation adopts fixed dense planting, and there are too many small main branches on the main trunk, without considering the problem of crown closure in the later stage, which can easily cause premature aging of the tree and reduce the rate of high-quality fruit. In addition, in mountain planting, due to the steep slope of the mountain, the risk of soil erosion is high, and rainwater erosion can easily lead to surface soil loss, reduce soil fertility, and increase the risk of root exposure. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of the deficiencies in the prior art, the present invention provides a method for densely planting apples without supports in mountainous areas, which solves the problems raised in the above-mentioned background technology.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention is implemented through the following technical solutions: a method for densely planting apples without supports in mountainous areas, the method comprising the following specific steps: S1. Select mountainous or gently sloping land with a soil depth of ≥1m, a pH value of 6.5-7.5, an organic matter content of ≥1%, and an altitude of 1300-1800 meters as the planting site; the planting site should have sufficient sunlight, be sheltered from the wind and face the sun, and avoid low-lying waterlogged areas.

[0008] S2. Use short-branched varieties for the main planting, paired with cold-resistant pollinating trees, with a main planting to pollinating ratio of 10:1. Use cold-resistant and drought-resistant rootstocks such as Xinjiang Wild Apple or Qingzhen No. 1. S3. Dig planting trenches and plant seedlings; improve soil fertility and air permeability; S4. Cover the soil with film and grass, and assist with fertilization and watering; S5. Prune the tree from a high spindle shape to a modified spindle shape.

[0009] A further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention is that in S1, when the slope of the selected plantation is greater than 10°, the following specific settings are also included: Contour terraces are used, with a terrace width of 3.5 meters and drainage ditches on the outer edge.

[0010] A further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention is that, in order to avoid high planting density in the later stage leading to canopy closure, the seedling planting in S3 specifically includes: Initial planting spacing is 3.5-4 meters, initial planting spacing is 1.5 meters; In the 10th year, the spacing between plants will be reduced to 2 meters, and the planting density will be dynamically changed. Improved spindle pruning will be used to balance early yield and late light.

[0011] A further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention is that: in S3, a planting trench is dug, specifically 80 cm wide and 80 cm deep, and the bottom of the trench is filled with straw and decomposed organic fertilizer is added to improve soil fertility and air permeability; The seedlings in S3 are planted by spreading their roots and burying them in the soil, with the rootstock interface 10 cm above the ground. After planting, they are watered thoroughly and covered with black ground film to retain moisture and inhibit weed growth.

[0012] A further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention is that the soil covering with film and grass in S4 specifically includes the following settings: The tree trunk is covered with straw and biochar to a thickness of 10 cm to enhance moisture retention, and the tree trunk is covered with black mulch; For mountain orchards with annual rainfall less than 500 mm and no irrigation conditions, grass is not easy to grow, so use grass or sand mulch. If grass can be grown or crop rotation is possible, plant clover, peas, etc. between the rows and turn the soil after mowing to increase organic matter. Among them, auxiliary fertilization specifically includes the following settings: In mid-to-late September, apply 3,000 to 5,000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer per mu, along with 50 kg of compound fertilizer and 50 kg of biological fertilizer, at a furrow depth of 30 to 40 cm. Topdressing should be carried out in early to mid-June during the young fruit enlargement period. Water should be applied by drip irrigation or hole-storage of fertilizer water.

[0013] Water is applied by drip irrigation or hole-storage fertilizer water.

[0014] A further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention is that the specific content ratio of the compound fertilizer applied in S4 is: N:P:K=1.5:1:1.

[0015] A further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention is that in S5, the improved spindle-shaped tree pruning is specifically as follows: During the first year of planting and pruning, after the seedlings are planted, the trunk is set at 100-120 cm from the ground, and all branches including buds below 70 cm from the ground are cut off. Above 70 cm from the main trunk, 3-5 side branches with uniform direction and strong growth are selected as the lower branch group to prevent the low-lying branches from competing for nutrients. Above 70 cm from the main trunk, 3-5 side branches with uniform direction and strong growth are selected as the lower branch group. The remaining weak branches are thinned out to provide a foundation for the lower branch group, ensuring uniform distribution of branches, and pulling the retained side branches to open the angle to 90°-110°; do not pursue large angles for the time being to avoid premature drooping that affects the growth of the middle trunk, and at the same time inhibit upright growth.

[0016] A further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention is that in S5, the high spindle-shaped tree pruning further includes: From December to February of the second year, the autumn shoots of the top extension branches of the middle trunk are cut off, and a relatively full bud is selected and pruned as the extension head for cultivation. Branches with a spacing of 15 cm and staggered directions are selected on the middle trunk as the preparatory fruiting main branches for cultivation. When the tree is 3-3.5 meters tall, 20-25 preparatory branches are used as preparatory branches for the upper branch group, and the rest are thinned out to reserve space for the upper structure to prevent cultivating too many branches at one time; From May to July of the second year, remove the upright buds on the middle trunk and the back of the main branches in time, pull the upper preparatory branches, and open the angle to 90°-110° to promote flower bud differentiation, inhibit nutritional growth, balance the tree vigor, and promote flowering.

[0017] A further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention is that in S5, the high spindle-shaped tree pruning further includes: From December to February of the third year, continue to prune the top of the middle trunk to maintain upright growth. The height is controlled within 3 meters. Control the tree height to avoid the upper branch group being too high to affect management. Select 17 to 20 branches with uniform direction and 15 cm spacing from the prepared branches as the upper main branches. Open the angle to 110° and the length shall not exceed 1.5 meters. Remove the upper competing branches and overcrowded branches to keep the layer spacing clear to form three-dimensional lighting and reduce the mutual shading of the upper and lower branches. Remove the upright branches on the back and the thin and weak branches in the inner bore on the lower main branches. Keep the lateral oblique fruiting branches to maintain ventilation and light transmission in the lower layer and prevent the fruiting part from moving outward. From May to July of the third year, pinch or twist the new shoots on the upper main branches to inhibit vegetative growth, promote the diversion of nutrients to flower bud differentiation, and improve the flowering rate. For the main branches with an angle less than 110°, pull the branches a second time to ensure that the branches droop and form a hanging branch group. The angle opening can moderate the tree vigor, increase the proportion of short branches, and bear fruit earlier. Fruiting begins in the third year, leaving 3-7 fruits on each branch group, with a spacing of 20-25 cm between fruits. Comb according to this standard every year to complete the dense planting of mountain apples without supports; After the 8th to 10th year, the plants gradually become denser and can be thinned out to 3 meters. Improved spindle pruning can be performed and the number of main branches can be gradually reduced from the original 20-25 to 10-15. Beneficial effects

[0018] Compared with the existing technology, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: through terraced design and straw and biochar covering tree trays, the amount of soil and water loss is reduced, the erosion of mountain rainwater is effectively resisted, and the root system is avoided from being exposed; the problems of late fruiting and high labor costs in the tree cultivation mode are avoided; the problems of dwarf dense planting cultivation requiring the establishment of frames, high requirements for fertilizer and water conditions, and easy premature aging of trees are solved; the degree of mechanization of mountain orchards is improved and labor costs are reduced; fruiting is accelerated, the average yield per mu is increased, and the rate of high-quality fruit is improved; in conjunction with the dynamic dense planting of this method, the early yield and late light in apple planting are balanced, and the pruning method of transitioning from a high spindle shape to a modified spindle shape is used to avoid the orchard being closed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of the method for densely planting mountain apples without supports. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the accompanying drawings represent elements with the same or similar functions. Although various aspects of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless otherwise indicated.

[0021] The word “exemplary” is used exclusively herein to mean “serving as an example, example, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0022] In addition, numerous specific details are provided in the following specific examples to better illustrate the present application. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present application can be practiced without certain specific details. In some instances, methods, means, and components well known to those skilled in the art are not described in detail in order to highlight the main purpose of the present application.

[0023] The present invention provides a method for densely planting apples without supports in mountainous areas, the method comprising the following specific steps: S1. Select mountainous or gently sloping land with a soil depth of ≥1m, a pH value of 6.5-7.5, and an organic matter content of ≥1% as the planting site. The planting site should have sufficient sunlight, be sheltered from the wind and face the sun, and avoid low-lying waterlogged areas.

[0024] S2. Main plantings should be mixed with short-branched trees, paired with cold-resistant pollinating trees. The main planting to pollinating tree ratio should be 5:1. Green rootstocks and shandingzi rootstocks should be used. Green rootstocks are resistant to continuous cropping, while shandingzi rootstocks offer enhanced drought resistance, can reach a root depth of 1.5 meters, and offer better soil anchorage than single dwarf rootstocks. S3. Dig planting trenches and plant seedlings; improve soil fertility and air permeability; S4. Cover the soil with film and grass, and assist with fertilization and watering; S5. Prune the tree from a high spindle shape to a modified spindle shape.

[0025] In S1, when the slope of the selected plantation is greater than 10°, the following specific settings are also included: Contour terraces are used, with a terrace width of 3.5 meters and drainage ditches on the outer edge.

[0026] In order to avoid high planting density in the later stage and cause canopy closure, the seedlings in S3 are planted, including: Initial planting spacing is 3.5-4 meters, initial planting spacing is 1.5 meters; In the 8th to 10th year, the spacing between plants will be reduced to 3 meters, and the planting density will be dynamically changed. Improved spindle pruning will be used to balance early yield and late light.

[0027] In S3, a planting trench is dug, specifically 80 cm wide and 80 cm deep, and the bottom of the trench is filled with straw and decomposed organic fertilizer to improve soil fertility and air permeability; In S3, the seedlings are planted with their roots spread out and buried in the soil, with the rootstock interface 10 cm above the ground. After planting, they are watered thoroughly and covered with black mulch to retain moisture and inhibit weed growth.

[0028] In S4, the soil is covered with film and grass, which includes the following settings: The tree trunk is covered with straw and biochar to a thickness of 10 cm to enhance moisture retention, and the tree trunk is covered with black mulch; For mountain orchards with less than 500 mm of annual rainfall and no irrigation conditions, where grass is not easily grown, grass or sand mulch can be used. If grass can be grown or crop rotation is possible, clover or peas can be planted between the rows and the soil can be turned over after mowing to increase organic matter. Among them, auxiliary fertilization specifically includes the following settings: In mid-to-late September, apply 3,000 to 5,000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer per mu, along with 50 kg of compound fertilizer and 50 kg of biological fertilizer, at a furrow depth of 30 to 40 cm. Topdressing should be carried out in early to mid-June during the young fruit enlargement period. Water should be applied by drip irrigation or hole-storage of fertilizer water.

[0029] Water is applied by drip irrigation or hole-storage fertilizer water.

[0030] The specific content ratio of the compound fertilizer applied in S4 is: N:P:K=1.5:1:1.

[0031] In S5, the high spindle-shaped tree pruning is specifically as follows: During the first year of planting and pruning, after the seedlings are planted, the trunk is set at 100-120 cm from the ground, and all branches including buds below 70 cm from the ground are cut off. Above 70 cm from the main trunk, 3-5 side branches with uniform direction and strong growth are selected as the lower branch group to prevent the low-lying branches from competing for nutrients. Above 70 cm from the main trunk, 3-5 side branches with uniform direction and strong growth are selected as the lower branch group. The remaining weak branches are thinned out to provide a foundation for the lower branch group, ensuring uniform distribution of branches, and pulling the retained side branches to open the angle to 90°-110°; do not pursue large angles for the time being to avoid premature drooping that affects the growth of the middle trunk, and at the same time inhibit upright growth.

[0032] A further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention is that in S5, the high spindle-shaped tree pruning further includes: From December to February of the second year, the autumn shoots of the top extension branches of the middle trunk are cut off, and a relatively full bud is selected and pruned as the extension head for cultivation. Branches with a spacing of 15 cm and staggered directions are selected on the middle trunk as the preparatory fruiting main branches for cultivation. When the tree is 3-3.5 meters tall, 20-25 preparatory branches are used as preparatory branches for the upper branch group, and the rest are thinned out to reserve space for the upper structure to prevent cultivating too many branches at one time; From May to July of the second year, remove the upright buds on the middle trunk and the back of the main branches in time, pull the upper preparatory branches, and open the angle to 90°-110° to promote flower bud differentiation, inhibit nutritional growth, balance the tree vigor, and promote flowering.

[0033] A further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention is that in S5, the high spindle-shaped tree pruning further includes: From December to February of the third year, continue to prune the top of the middle trunk to maintain upright growth. The height is controlled within 3 meters. Control the tree height to avoid the upper branch group being too high to affect management. Select 17 to 20 branches with uniform direction and 15 cm spacing from the prepared branches as the upper main branches. Open the angle to 110° and the length shall not exceed 1.5 meters. Remove the upper competing branches and overcrowded branches to keep the layer spacing clear to form three-dimensional lighting and reduce the mutual shading of the upper and lower branches. Remove the upright branches on the back and the thin and weak branches in the inner bore on the lower main branches. Keep the lateral oblique fruiting branches to maintain ventilation and light transmission in the lower layer and prevent the fruiting part from moving outward. From May to July of the third year, pinch or twist the new shoots on the upper main branches to inhibit vegetative growth, promote the diversion of nutrients to flower bud differentiation, and improve the flowering rate. For the main branches with an angle less than 110°, pull the branches a second time to ensure that the branches droop and form a hanging branch group. The angle opening can moderate the tree vigor, increase the proportion of short branches, and bear fruit earlier. Fruiting begins in the third year, leaving 3-7 fruits on each branch group, with a spacing of 20-25 cm between fruits. Comb according to this standard every year to complete the dense planting of mountain apples without supports; After the 8th to 10th year, the plants gradually become denser and can be thinned out to 3 meters. Improved spindle pruning can be performed and the number of main branches can be gradually reduced from the original 20-25 to 10-15.

[0034] Example 1: This example adopts the following scheme to carry out the dense planting cultivation of mountain apples without supports, and the method includes the following specific steps: S1. Select mountainous or gently sloping land with a soil depth of ≥1m, a pH value of 6.5-7.5, and an organic matter content of ≥1% as the planting site; S2. Use short-branched Fuji trees as the main planting, paired with cold-resistant pollinating trees, with a main planting to pollinating ratio of 5:1, and use Xinjiang wild apple as the rootstock; S3, digging planting trenches and planting seedlings; S4. Cover the soil with film and grass, and assist with fertilization and watering; S5. Prune the tree from a high spindle shape to a modified spindle shape.

[0035] In S1, when the slope of the selected planting area is greater than 10°, the following specific settings are also included: Contour terraces are used, with a terrace width of 3.5 meters and drainage ditches on the outer edge.

[0036] Planting of seedlings in S3 includes: Initial planting spacing is 4 meters, initial planting spacing is 1.5 meters; In the 10th year, the row spacing should be 4 meters and the plant spacing should be 3 meters.

[0037] In S3, a planting trench is dug, specifically 80 cm wide and 80 cm deep, and the bottom of the trench is filled with straw and decomposed organic fertilizer; In S3, the seedlings are planted with their roots spread out and buried in the soil, with the rootstock interface 5 cm above the ground. After planting, they are watered thoroughly and covered with black mulch to retain moisture.

[0038] In S4, the soil is covered with film and grass, which includes the following settings: The tree trays are covered with straw and biochar to a thickness of 10 cm, and black mulch is used to cover the tree trays; Rotate peas and alfalfa between rows, and turn the crops over after mowing to increase organic matter; Among them, auxiliary fertilization specifically includes the following settings: In mid-to-late September, apply 3,000-5,000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure per mu, along with 50 kg of compound fertilizer and 50 kg of biofertilizer, at a furrow depth of 30-40 cm. Apply nitrogen fertilizer during the budding period, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers during the young fruit expansion period, and spray 0.3% amino acid calcium on the leaves. Water is applied by drip irrigation or hole-storage fertilizer water.

[0039] The specific content ratio of compound fertilizer in S4 is: N:P:K=1.5:1:1.

[0040] In S5, the specific pruning of high spindle-shaped trees is as follows: During the first year of planting and pruning, after the seedlings are planted, the trunk is set at 100-120 cm from the ground, and all branches including buds below 70 cm from the ground are cut off. Above 70 cm from the main trunk, 3-5 side branches with uniform direction and strong growth are selected as the lower branch group to prevent the low-lying branches from competing for nutrients. Above 70 cm from the main trunk, 3-5 side branches with uniform direction and strong growth are selected as the lower branch group. The remaining weak branches are thinned out to provide a foundation for the lower branch group, ensuring uniform distribution of branches, and pulling the retained side branches to open the angle to 90°-110°; do not pursue large angles for the time being to avoid premature drooping that affects the growth of the middle trunk, and at the same time inhibit upright growth.

[0041] A further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention is that in S5, the high spindle-shaped tree pruning further includes: From December to February of the second year, the autumn shoots of the top extension branches of the middle trunk are cut off, and a relatively full bud is selected and pruned as the extension head for cultivation. Branches with a spacing of 15 cm and staggered directions are selected on the middle trunk as the preparatory fruiting main branches for cultivation. When the tree is 3-3.5 meters tall, 20-25 preparatory branches are used as preparatory branches for the upper branch group, and the rest are thinned out to reserve space for the upper structure to prevent cultivating too many branches at one time; From May to July of the second year, remove the upright buds on the middle trunk and the back of the main branches in time, pull the upper preparatory branches, and open the angle to 90°-110° to promote flower bud differentiation, inhibit nutritional growth, balance the tree vigor, and promote flowering.

[0042] A further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention is that in S5, the high spindle-shaped tree pruning further includes: From December to February of the third year, continue to prune the top of the middle trunk to maintain upright growth. The height is controlled within 3 meters. Control the tree height to avoid the upper branch group being too high to affect management. Select 17 to 20 branches with uniform direction and 15 cm spacing from the prepared branches as the upper main branches. Open the angle to 110° and the length shall not exceed 1.5 meters. Remove the upper competing branches and overcrowded branches to keep the layer spacing clear to form three-dimensional lighting and reduce the mutual shading of the upper and lower branches. Remove the upright branches on the back and the thin and weak branches in the inner bore on the lower main branches. Keep the lateral oblique fruiting branches to maintain ventilation and light transmission in the lower layer and prevent the fruiting part from moving outward. From May to July of the third year, pinch or twist the new shoots on the upper main branches to inhibit vegetative growth, promote the diversion of nutrients to flower bud differentiation, and improve the flowering rate. For the main branches with an angle less than 110°, pull the branches a second time to ensure that the branches droop and form a hanging branch group. The angle opening can moderate the tree vigor, increase the proportion of short branches, and bear fruit earlier. Fruiting begins in the third year, leaving 3-7 fruits on each branch group, with a spacing of 20-25 cm between fruits. Comb according to this standard every year to complete the dense planting of mountain apples without supports; After the 8th to 10th year, the plants gradually become denser and can be thinned out to 3 meters. Improved spindle pruning can be performed and the number of main branches can be gradually reduced from the original 20-25 to 10-15.

[0043] Example 2: This example adopts the following scheme to carry out mountain apple dense planting cultivation without support, and the specific scheme is: S1: G935, a short-branch Fuji variety rootstock seedling; S2: Select strong seedlings with branches, with 5 to 8 branches, a height greater than 180 cm, and a complete root system for gardening; S3: Wide-row planting is carried out, with row spacing of 3.5 meters and plant spacing of 1.5 meters; S4: Micro-ridge mulching and inter-row grass covering are carried out, including the following settings: The tree rows are ridged with a thickness of 5 cm and the tree circles are covered with black plastic film; clover is planted between the rows.

[0044] S5: Perform high spindle shaping, with a tree height of 3.5 meters, a trunk height of 80 centimeters, 35 to 40 branch groups, a branch length of 90 centimeters, and a crown width of 1.5 meters; In order to verify and analyze the soil and water conservation capacity and lodging resistance of Example 1 and Example 2 in a mountain environment, the effects of dynamic and fixed dense planting on light energy utilization and yield per unit area, and the effects of corresponding pruning strategies on apple growth, a control experiment was conducted. The specific experimental settings are as follows: The apple planting sites were selected as two adjacent mountains with a measured slope of 12°±2° and an altitude of 1700 meters. Example 1 and Example 2 were repeated 3 times with 5 mu per group, for a total of 30 mu. The soil was loess with a pH of 7.0, the variety was short-branch Fuji, and the irrigation method was drip irrigation.

[0045] In terms of specific planting, Example 1 uses Xinjiang wild apple as the rootstock, and the initial planting is 1.5 meters × 4 meters → 3 meters × 4 meters, with high spindle-shaped pruning, terraces + mulching + grass growing. Example 2 uses semi-dwarf rootstock, and fixed dense planting uses 1.5 meters × 3.5 meters, with high spindle-shaped pruning.

[0046] In order to calculate the amount of soil erosion and lodging rate during the cultivation process, the amount of soil loss per hectare (tons / hectare) was measured by runoff collection devices before and after the rainy season (July-September), and the proportion of plants that lodged or tilted (angle >15°) after strong winds (≥ level 8) was calculated.

[0047] The results are shown in the following table: Table 1 index Example 1 Example 2 Significance of difference (p value) Soil and water loss 12.3 tons / hectare 28.7 tons / hectare p＜0.01 lodging rate 3.2% 9.8% p＜0.05 It can be seen that Example 1 reduces soil erosion and improves lodging resistance through terrace design, double-anvil combination and straw covering.

[0048] To verify the utilization rate of light energy, a photosynthetically active radiometer (PAR) was used to measure the light intensity (μmol / m² / s) in the middle layer of the canopy (1.5 meters) and calculate the transmittance (%). To verify the yield per unit area, the yield per mu (kg / mu) was measured during the harvest period each year, and the rate of high-quality fruits (single fruit weight ≥ 240g, high-quality fruit rate ≥ 90%) was calculated. The results are shown in the following table: Table 2 index Example 1 Example 2 Significance of difference (p value) Light energy utilization rate 78.5% 65.2% p＜0.01 Yield per mu in the 5th year 3120kg 2650kg p＜0.05 Good fruit rate 94% 82% p＜0.01 It can be seen from this that the dynamic close planting combined with layered pruning in Example 1 can improve light energy utilization, yield and high-quality fruit rate.

[0049] To verify the tree structure, tree height, number of main branches, and inter-layer spacing were measured in winter. To verify the fruit quality, 100 fruits were randomly sampled and the single fruit weight (g), coloring rate (%), and soluble solids content (Brix) were measured. The results are shown in the following table: Table 3 index Example 1 Example 2 Significance of difference (p value) Tree height (5th year) 2.8m 3.5m p＜0.01 Number of main branches 20-25 35-40 p＜0.05 Single fruit weight 256g 230g p＜0.01 Brix 15.2 Brix 13.8 Brix p＜0.05 This shows that the branch group distribution in Example 1 is reasonable, and the single fruit weight and sugar content are significantly improved.

[0050] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as first and second, etc., are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that includes a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not explicitly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0051] While embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, and that the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for cultivating mountain apples in dense planting without supports, characterized in that: The method comprises the following specific steps: S1. Select mountainous or gently sloping land with a soil depth of ≥1m, a pH value of 6.5-7.5, an organic matter content of ≥1%, and an altitude of 1300-1800 meters as the planting site; S2: Use short-branch varieties for main planting, and match them with short-branch cold-resistant pollinating trees. The main planting to pollinating ratio is 10:

1. Use Xinjiang wild apple and Qingzhen No. 1 cold-resistant and drought-resistant rootstocks. S3, digging planting trenches and planting seedlings; S4. Cover the soil with film and grass, and assist with fertilization and watering; S5. Prune the tree from a high spindle shape to a modified spindle shape.

2. The method for cultivating mountain apples without supports in dense planting according to claim 1, characterized in that: In S1, when the slope of the selected plantation is greater than 10°, the following specific settings are also included: Contour terraces are used, with a terrace width of 3.5 meters and drainage ditches on the outer edge.

3. The method for cultivating mountain apples without supports in dense planting according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the S2, Xinjiang wild apple and Qingzhen No. 1 cold-resistant and drought-resistant rootstock are selected, and the following settings are specifically included: The optional base stock is the non-toxic seedlings and / or ordinary seedlings of Xinjiang wild apple, catalpa asiatica, Longdong crabapple, and Qingzhen No.

1.

4. The method for cultivating mountain apples without supports in dense planting according to claim 1, characterized in that: The planting of seedlings in S3 specifically includes: Initial planting spacing is 3.5 to 4 meters, and initial planting spacing is 1.5 meters; After the 8th to 10th year, thinning should be carried out according to actual conditions, with row spacing of 3.5-4 meters and plant spacing of 3 meters, and improved spindle-shaped shaping should be carried out.

5. The method for cultivating mountain apples without supports in dense planting according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step S3, a planting trench is dug, specifically 80 cm wide and 80 cm deep, and the bottom of the trench is filled with straw and decomposed organic fertilizer is added; The seedlings in S3 are planted by spreading their roots and burying them in the soil, with the rootstock interface 10 cm above the ground. After planting, they are watered thoroughly and covered with black ground film to retain moisture.

6. The method for cultivating mountain apples without supports in dense planting according to claim 1, characterized in that: The soil covering by film covering or straw covering in S4 specifically includes the following settings: The tree trays are covered with straw and biochar to a thickness of 10 cm, and black mulch is used to cover the tree trays; Among them, auxiliary fertilization specifically includes the following settings: In mid-to-late September, apply 3,000 to 5,000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer per mu, along with 50 kg of compound fertilizer and 50 kg of biological fertilizer, at a furrow depth of 30 to 40 cm. Topdressing should be carried out in early to mid-June during the young fruit enlargement period. Water should be applied by drip irrigation or hole-storage of fertilizer water.

7. The method for cultivating mountain apples in dense planting without supports according to claim 1, characterized in that: The specific content ratio of the compound fertilizer applied in S4 is: N:P:K=1.5:1:

1.

8. The method for cultivating mountain apples without supports and densely planted according to claim 1, characterized in that: In S5, the high spindle-shaped tree pruning is specifically as follows: During the first year of planting and pruning, after the seedlings are planted, the trunk is set at 100 to 120 cm from the ground, and all branches including buds below 70 cm from the main trunk are cut off. Above 70 cm from the main trunk, 3 to 5 side branches with uniform direction and strong growth are selected as the lower branch group, and the remaining weak branches are thinned out. The retained side branches are pulled and the angle is opened to 90°-110°.

9. The method for densely planting mountain apples without supports according to claim 8, characterized in that: In said S5, the high spindle-shaped tree pruning further comprises: From December to February of the following year, remove the autumn shoots from the top extension branches of the middle trunk and select a relatively full bud, cut it short as the extension head for cultivation, and select branches with a spacing of 15 cm and staggered directions on the middle trunk as the main branches for cultivation. The tree should be 3-3.5 meters tall and have 20-25 branches. From May to July of the second year, promptly remove the upright buds on the middle trunk and the back of the main branches, pull the upper preparatory branches, and open the angle to 90°-110° to promote flower bud differentiation.

10. The method for densely planting mountain apples without supports according to claim 8, characterized in that: In said S5, the high spindle-shaped tree pruning further comprises: From December to February of the third year, continue to prune the top of the middle trunk to maintain upright growth. The height is controlled within 3.5 meters. Select 17 to 20 branches with uniform direction and 15 cm spacing from the prepared branches as the upper main branches. Open the angle to 110 degrees and the length shall not exceed 1.5 meters. Remove the upper competing branches and overcrowded branches to maintain clear layer spacing. Remove the upright branches on the back and the thin and weak branches in the inner part of the lower main branches, and retain the lateral oblique fruiting branches. From May to July of the third year, pinch or twist the vigorous new shoots on the upper main branches to inhibit vegetative growth. For main branches with an angle less than 110°, pull them twice to ensure that the branches droop, forming a hanging branch group. Fruiting begins in the third year, leaving 3-7 fruits on each branch group, with a spacing of 20-25 cm between fruits. This standard is followed annually to complete the dense planting of mountain apples without supports. After the 8th to 10th year, the plants gradually become dense and can be thinned to 3 meters. Improved spindle pruning can be performed, and the number of main branches can be gradually reduced from 20-25 to 10-15.

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