Simplified cultivation method for orchard

Abstract

The invention discloses a simplified cultivation method for an orchard, and belongs to the technical field of fruit tree cultivation. According to the method, large seedling field planting, close planting orchard building, spindle tree forming and simplified pruning are taken as the core, a series of technical measures such as seedling selection, field planting, planting density regulation and control, tree forming culture and pruning are integrated, and specific requirements and targets of all links are defined. Dwarf seedlings of specific specifications are selected, a scientific close planting scheme and a matched support are adopted, a spindle-shaped or trunk-shaped tree shape is matched, and a simplified pruning technology is implemented, so that simplification of the apple production process is achieved, labor intensity is effectively relieved, labor force is saved, and meanwhile the purposes of green production, cost saving and efficiency increasing are achieved. The method is suitable for modernized orchard large-scale cultivation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of fruit tree cultivation technology, and more specifically to a simplified orchard cultivation method. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional orchard cultivation methods suffer from problems such as non-standard seedling selection, unreasonable planting density, complex tree shaping, and cumbersome pruning procedures. This results in high labor intensity and low production efficiency in orchard management, hindering large-scale and mechanized operations and restricting the modernization of the apple industry. Furthermore, traditional cultivation methods often neglect green production concepts, leading to excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, which not only increases production costs but also impacts the ecological environment. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a simplified, efficient, and environmentally friendly orchard cultivation technology model to address the shortcomings of existing technologies. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a simplified orchard cultivation method.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a simplified orchard cultivation method, comprising four steps: large seedling planting, dense planting for orchard establishment, tree shaping, and simplified pruning. The specific techniques for each step are as follows: Large seedlings transplanted 1. Seedling Requirements: Select seedlings grafted onto superior varieties using dwarfing self-rooted rootstock or dwarfing interrootstock, with preference given to 3-year-old high-quality dwarfing seedlings. Seedlings must meet the following specifications: height over 1.3 meters; pure variety; smooth branch surface, dark and glossy bark, plump buds, free from mechanical damage or pests / diseases; 5-7 branches with plump buds, the first lateral branch at least 70 cm from the ground, diameter greater than 1.0 cm 5 cm above the graft union, good rootstock-scion compatibility, and no "small legs" phenomenon; well-developed and evenly distributed root system, containing 4-5 lateral roots 30-40 cm long and numerous fibrous roots, and without water loss. Seedlings of this specification have a high survival rate and good growth after planting, quickly forming a tree structure and shortening the production cycle.

[0005] 2. Planting Requirements: Before planting, the soil needs to be deeply tilled to a depth of 60 cm, and sufficient organic fertilizer should be applied to improve soil structure and fertility, providing a good soil environment for seedling growth. When planting, ensure the grafting point is above the ground to prevent the grafting point from contacting the soil and causing disease or affecting seedling growth. Water promptly after planting to settle the soil and prevent waterlogging around the roots, which can lead to root rot. After planting, retain at least 6 lateral branches, with the first lateral branch at least 70 cm above the ground. Plant in north-south directions, leaving a 1.5-2 meter working strip between rows to facilitate subsequent mechanized operations and orchard management.

[0006] dense planting garden 1. Planting Density: A wide-row, high-density planting pattern using dwarf rootstocks is adopted, with a plant spacing of 0.8-1.5 meters and a row spacing of 3.5-4 meters, corresponding to a planting density of 111-238 trees / acre. This density setting improves land utilization, increases the number of fruit trees per unit area, ensures the space and light conditions required for fruit tree growth, and facilitates mechanized operations, improving management efficiency. Specific planting densities can be adjusted according to the cultivar, type of dwarf rootstock, and orchard site conditions: dwarf rootstocks require higher planting densities than semi-dwarf rootstocks; self-rooted rootstocks require higher planting densities than intermediate rootstocks; short-branch varieties require higher planting densities than vigorous varieties; plots with flat ground and good fertility and water conditions require higher planting densities; and low-altitude areas require higher planting densities than high-altitude areas.

[0007] 2. Supporting Measures: To ensure the central trunk grows upright and prevent the tree from falling over or tilting, cement pillars and steel wire supports need to be erected in advance. The specific standard is to erect one 3.5-meter-long cement pillar every 10 meters, and run three steel wires along the cement pillar to fix the tree and provide support for its growth.

[0008] Tree-shaped cultivation Choose a suitable tree shape based on the planting density, as follows: 1. Spindle Shape: Suitable for planting densities of 83-133 trees per mu (approximately 0.067 hectares). Tree height is 3-3.5 meters, trunk height is 0.8 meters, with 20-30 main branches spirally distributed along the central trunk. The number of branches per mu is 40,000-50,000. Main branches are 1-1.2 meters long, with an opening angle of 100°-110°, a branch-to-trunk ratio of 1:2-3, and a crown diameter controlled at 1.5-2 meters. Medium and small fruiting branches grow on the main branches. The key to crown control is branch spreading and thinning out strong branches while retaining weaker ones. This tree shape ensures a reasonable tree structure, good ventilation and light penetration, and promotes fruit growth and development.

[0009] 2. Central Leader Form: Suitable for ultra-high density cultivation with more than 133 trees per mu (approximately 667 square meters). Tree height is 2.5-3 meters, trunk height is 0.8 meters, with 25-35 main branches spirally arranged on the central leader at an angle of 90°-120°, a branch-to-trunk ratio of 1:3, and a crown diameter of 1-1.5 meters. The key to crown control is bud notching to promote sprouting and single-axis extension. This tree shape is compact, has high space utilization, and is suitable for mechanized management and large-scale production.

[0010] 3. Main trunk shaping stage: First year: After planting, the trunk height should be about 70-80 cm. Remove all buds 20-30 cm below the cut, and retain the branches sprouting from the upper buds. Select the upright and strong branches as the central leader, and remove or twist the remaining branches to ensure the growth dominance of the central leader.

[0011] In the second year: the focus is on bud notching. On the central trunk, notch one bud every two buds, with the upper bud notched behind the bud and the lower bud and lateral bud notched in front of the bud. Notching stimulates the germination of dormant buds and promotes even distribution of branches. Notch all buds on horizontal branches and vigorous branches. When the length of weak and vigorous small branches exceeds 15 cm, twist the shoot in the middle. During winter pruning, lightly shorten one-year-old branches and remove two-year-old branches without flowers, retaining 2-3 buds for renewal.

[0012] In the third year: retain the terminal fruiting branches, and for vigorous branches, leave 2-3 buds at the base before sprouting and perform ring cutting or shoot twisting to promote flower bud formation; avoid leaving restraining branches for weak and vigorous branches, and control the growth vigor by adjusting the number of cuts, making 1 cut for thin branches and increasing the number of cuts for thick branches accordingly.

[0013] Simplified pruning Fruit tree shaping and pruning mainly involves thinning and branch pulling, highlighting the leading position of the central leader, ensuring a clear distinction between primary and secondary branches in the tree, while also focusing on tree shape cultivation and the renewal and rejuvenation of fruiting branch groups, and controlling the branch-to-trunk ratio to be greater than 3:1.

[0014] 1. Single branch release: Selected moderate branches and lateral branches are not shortened or pruned back, but are allowed to grow naturally. By releasing them slowly, the branches are encouraged to flower and bear fruit, and are used to cultivate fruiting branch groups.

[0015] 2. Drooping Branch Training: Using a "push, rub, press, and fix" method, first gently push the base of the branch, then gradually move the branch to open its angle. After softening the branch, press it down to the desired angle and position, and then tie the branch tightly with a training rope or wire, ensuring the pressed part is between the middle and the top third of the branch. Branch training improves light exposure for the fruit tree, regulates new shoot growth, promotes bud growth in the lower and middle parts of the branches, balances tree vigor, and achieves early, high-quality, and high-yield fruit production.

[0016] 3. Pruning principles: The main trunk pruning follows the principle of "light pruning and slow release, thinning instead of cutting back", focusing on balancing tree vigor and promoting flower bud differentiation, reducing damage to the tree body and lowering management costs. Beneficial effects

[0017] This invention shortens the production cycle through large-sapling planting, improves land utilization and mechanization through dense planting, and simplifies pruning to reduce pruning procedures and labor input. Overall, it reduces the heavy labor intensity of orchard management and saves a significant amount of labor. Sufficient organic fertilizer is applied before planting to improve soil fertility and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. Reasonable tree shapes and pruning methods improve ventilation and light penetration, reduce pests and diseases, and lower pesticide usage, aligning with green production principles.

[0018] By reducing input costs such as labor, fertilizers, and pesticides, and through reasonable dense planting and scientific management, fruit yield and quality can be improved, orchard production efficiency can be enhanced, and technical support can be provided for the modernization and large-scale development of the apple industry. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0020] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships, are based on the shown orientation or positional relationships and are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0021] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0022] Furthermore, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of the present invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other. Example

[0023] Simplified cultivation of spindle-shaped tree-shaped orchards 1. Experimental plot: Select a sandy loam orchard with low altitude, flat ground, and good fertility and water conditions. The soil pH value should be 6.5-7.0. The previous crop should be a non-fruit tree crop. The soil fertility should be tested in advance. The organic matter content should be 1.8%, which meets the requirements for apple cultivation soil.

[0024] 2. Planting of large seedlings: Select 3-year-old dwarfing rootstock grafted with the Fuji variety. The seedlings should be 1.4 meters tall, of pure variety, with smooth branches, dark and shiny bark, plump buds, no mechanical damage or pests, and have 6 plump branches. The first lateral branch should be 75 cm from the ground and 1.2 cm in diameter 5 cm above the graft union. The rootstock and scion should have good compatibility and no "small feet" phenomenon. The root system should be well-developed and evenly distributed, containing 4 lateral roots 35 cm long and several fibrous roots. Keep the seedlings moist after lifting to ensure they do not lose water.

[0025] 3. Planting Procedure: 15 days before planting, deeply till the experimental plot to a depth of 60 cm, applying sufficient organic fertilizer at a rate of 2000 kg / mu, spreading it evenly and mixing it thoroughly with the soil. Planting should be done in spring after the soil thaws, using a north-south oriented planting pattern with a plant spacing of 1.2 meters and a row spacing of 4.0 meters, resulting in a planting density of 110 plants / mu, leaving a 1.8-meter working strip between rows. Ensure the grafting point is 5 cm above the ground during planting. Immediately after planting, water to settle the soil. Once the soil is semi-dry, straighten the seedlings, cover with mulch to retain moisture, and retain 6 lateral branches after planting, ensuring the first lateral branch is at least 70 cm above the ground.

[0026] 4. Supporting facilities for dense planting: Before planting, set up cement pillars and steel wire supports. The cement pillars are 3.5 meters long, with 0.5 meters buried underground and 3.0 meters above ground. One cement pillar is erected every 10 meters. Three steel wires with a diameter of 2.0 mm are strung at heights of 0.8 meters, 1.8 meters, and 2.8 meters above ground on the cement pillars. They are tightened and fixed for subsequent tree support to prevent the trees from falling over.

[0027] 5. Tree shape training: Train the tree according to the requirements of spindle shape, with a target tree height of 3.2 meters, a trunk height of 0.8 meters, 25 main branches spirally distributed on the central trunk, 45,000 branches per mu, a main branch length of 1.1 meters, an opening angle of 105°, a branch-to-trunk ratio of 1:2.5, and a crown diameter controlled at 1.8 meters. Medium and small fruiting branches grow on the main branches. The key to controlling the crown is to pull the branches to open the angle and thin out the strong branches and retain the weak ones.

[0028] 6. Simplified Pruning: After planting, prune annually according to the simplified pruning method described in this invention, focusing on thinning and branch training to emphasize the central leader and maintain a branch-to-trunk ratio >3:1. Branch training combines single-branch freeing with downward drooping. For moderate and lateral branches, perform single-branch freeing without shortening or pruning back. For branches with insufficient angle, use the "one push, two rub, three press, four fix" method for downward drooping, pressing down at the middle to the top 1 / 3 of the branch and fixing it with a training rope to ensure the angle meets the standard. Winter pruning only removes diseased, weak, and overly dense branches, lightly prunes one-year-old branches, and avoids excessive shortening to reduce pruning steps.

[0029] 7. Implementation Results: In the second year after planting, the trees basically form a spindle shape with a straight and robust central trunk, evenly distributed main branches, and good ventilation and light penetration. Fruiting begins in the third year, with 8-10 fruits per tree. The fruits are evenly colored, and the soluble solids content is 13.5%. The fourth year marks the peak production period, with a yield of 3200 kg per mu (approximately 0.067 hectares), and a high-quality fruit rate of over 85%. Throughout the cultivation process, 6-8 labor days are saved per mu, fertilizer use is reduced by 30%, and pesticide use is reduced by 25%, achieving simplified cultivation, green production, cost reduction, and efficiency improvement goals. Mechanized operation efficiency is increased by 40%. Example

[0030] Simplified cultivation of central leader tree-shaped orchards 1. Experimental plot: Select a loam orchard with low altitude, flat ground, and good fertilizer and water conditions. The soil pH value is 6.8-7.2, the organic matter content is 2.0%, the previous crop is wheat, there is no continuous cropping obstacle of fruit trees, and it is suitable for dwarf apple dense planting cultivation.

[0031] 2. Planting of large seedlings: Select 3-year-old dwarfing self-rooted rootstock grafted Gala cultivar seedlings. The seedlings should be 1.35 meters tall, of pure variety, with smooth branches, dark and shiny bark, plump buds, no mechanical damage or pests and diseases, and have 5 plump branches. The first lateral branch should be 72 cm from the ground and 1.1 cm in diameter 5 cm above the graft union. The rootstock and scion should have good compatibility, no "small feet" phenomenon, and a well-developed and evenly distributed root system containing 5 32 cm long lateral roots and several fibrous roots. The seedlings should not lose water.

[0032] 3. Planting Procedure: 12 days before planting, deeply till the soil to a depth of 60 cm and apply 1800 kg / mu of well-rotted chicken manure as organic fertilizer, mixing it evenly with the soil. Planting time is in late March, in north-south rows, with a plant spacing of 1.0 meter and a row spacing of 3.7 meters, resulting in a planting density of 160 plants / mu, leaving a 1.6-meter working strip between rows. At planting, the grafting point should be 4 cm above the ground. After planting, water thoroughly to settle the soil, cover with mulch to retain moisture, and retain at least 6 lateral branches after planting, with the first lateral branch no less than 70 cm from the ground.

[0033] 4. Dense planting orchard support: The cement pillars and steel wire supports are set up in the same way as in Example 1. One 3.5-meter-long cement pillar is erected every 10 meters, and three steel wires are used to fix the tree body to ensure that the central trunk grows upright and to prevent the tree body from tilting.

[0034] 5. Tree Shaping: Cultivate according to the central leader system requirements, with a target tree height of 2.8 meters, a trunk height of 0.8 meters, 30 main branches spirally arranged on the central leader at 100° angles, a branch-to-trunk ratio of 1:3, and a crown diameter of 1.3 meters. The key to controlling the crown is bud notching to promote sprouting and single-axis extension, strictly following the operation of the first 3 years of shaping: 6. First year: After planting, the trunk height is set at 75 cm. All buds below the cut are removed, and branches sprouting from the upper buds are retained. One upright and strong branch is selected as the central leader, and all other branches are removed to ensure the growth dominance of the central leader. 7. Second year: Before spring budding, make a cut every two buds on the central trunk. Make a cut 0.5 cm behind the bud on the back, with the cut reaching the xylem. Make a cut 0.3 cm in front of the bud on the back and lateral buds. Make cuts on all horizontal branches and vigorous branches. When the length of a weak and vigorous branch exceeds 15 cm, twist it in the middle at a 180° angle without breaking the branch. When pruning in winter, lightly shorten one-year-old branches and remove all two-year-old branches without flowers, leaving 2-3 buds for renewal. 8. Third year: Before spring budding, retain the terminal fruiting branches. For vigorous branches, make a ring cut with 2 buds at the base, with a ring cut width of 0.3 cm, without damaging the xylem. Do not retain restraining branches for weakly vigorous branches. Make one ring cut on thin branches and two ring cuts on thick branches, with a spacing of 1 cm, to control growth vigor and promote flower bud differentiation.

[0035] 9. Simplified Pruning: Follow the principle of "light pruning and slow release, thinning instead of cutting back," focusing on thinning and branch training to emphasize the central leader's dominance and control the branch-to-trunk ratio to >3:1. Single branches are allowed to droop and be used to cultivate fruiting branches. Drooping branches are strictly trained using the "one push, two rub, three press, four fix" method to ensure the branch angle meets standards and improves ventilation and light penetration. The number of pruning sessions per year is reduced to twice, significantly reducing pruning labor.

[0036] 10. Implementation Results: In the first year after planting, the central leader grows vigorously without tilting; in the second year, the main branches are evenly distributed, and the tree shape is compact; in the third year, it begins to bear fruit, with 6-8 fruits per tree and excellent fruit quality; in the fourth year, the yield reaches 3500 kg per mu, with a high-quality fruit rate of 88%. Compared with traditional cultivation methods, it saves 8-10 labor days per mu, reduces fertilizer use by 35%, reduces pesticide use by 30%, and increases mechanization efficiency by 50%, achieving the cultivation goals of simplification, greening, cost reduction, and efficiency improvement, and is suitable for large-scale orchard management.

[0037] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0038] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of the present invention, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of this invention patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A simplified orchard cultivation method, characterized in that, The process includes four steps: planting large seedlings, establishing a dense orchard, shaping the tree, and simplifying pruning. The specific steps are as follows: S1. Planting of large seedlings: Select 3-year-old seedlings grafted with superior varieties on dwarfing self-rooted rootstock or dwarfing interstock. The seedlings should be ≥1.3 meters tall, of pure variety, with smooth branches, dark and bright bark, plump buds, free from mechanical damage and pests and diseases, and have 5-7 plump branches. The first lateral branch should be ≥70 cm from the ground, with a diameter >1.0 cm 5 cm above the grafting point. The rootstock and scion should have good compatibility, well-developed and evenly distributed root system, containing 4-5 lateral roots 30-40 cm long and several fibrous roots, and should not lose water. Before planting, deeply till the soil to a depth of 60 cm and apply organic fertilizer. When planting, the grafting point should be higher than the ground. After planting, water should be applied to settle the soil. After planting, retain more than 6 lateral branches, with the first lateral branch ≥70 cm from the ground. Plant in a north-south row orientation, leaving a 1.5-2 meter working strip between rows. S2. Dense Planting Orchard Establishment: Adopt dwarf rootstock wide-row dense planting cultivation, with a plant spacing of 0.8-1.5 meters and a row spacing of 3.5-4 meters, and a planting density of 111-238 trees / acre; set up cement pillars and steel wire supports in advance, with one 3.5-meter-long cement pillar every 10 meters and three steel wires to fix the tree body; S3. Tree Shape Training: Select the tree shape according to the planting density. When planting 83-133 trees per mu, choose the spindle shape, with a tree height of 3-3.5 meters, a trunk height of 0.8 meters, 20-30 main branches spirally distributed on the central leader, 40,000-50,000 branches per mu, main branch length of 1-1.2 meters, opening angle of 100°-110°, branch-to-trunk ratio of 1:2-3, and crown diameter controlled at 1.5-2 meters. Medium and small fruiting branches grow on the main branches. The key to controlling the crown is to pull branches to open the angle and thin out strong branches and retain weak ones. When planting more than 133 trees per mu, choose the central leader shape, with a tree height of 2.5-3 meters, a trunk height of 0.8 meters, 25-35 main branches spirally arranged on the central leader, with an angle of 90°-120°, a branch-to-trunk ratio of 1:3, and a crown diameter of 1-1.5 meters. The key to controlling the crown is to notch buds to promote sprouting and extend the single axis. The spindle-shaped shaping process is as follows:

1. First year: Thin out branches that are the same thickness as the leader trunk, and remove branches that are less than 80 cm long; 2. Second year: For fast-growing branches, lightly pinch off the top and / or pull the branches multiple times; do not pull the slow-growing branches, control the strong and support the weak; do not hit the top of the leader, only paint the buds and / or notch the buds, notch one bud every two buds; 3. Third year: Make notches on the one-year growth strips of the whole tree to divide the buds and create conditions for flowering. The notching is done 20 days before the buds sprout. The shaping stages of the main trunk are as follows: First year: After planting, the trunk height is set at 70-80 cm. Remove the buds 20-30 cm below the cut, retain the branches sprouting from the upper buds, select the upright and strong ones as the central leader, and remove or twist the rest. In the second year: make a bud cut every two buds on the central trunk, cut the bud behind the back bud, cut the bud in front of the back bud and the bud in front of the side bud, cut all the buds on the horizontal branches and vigorous branches, and twist the small branches in the middle when they are more than 15 cm long; when pruning in winter, lightly shorten the one-year branches, remove the two-year branches without flowers, and keep 2-3 buds for renewal. In the third year: retain the terminal fruiting branches, and for vigorous branches, make a ring cut or twist the shoots to promote flowering before they sprout, leaving 2-3 buds at the base; avoid leaving restraining branches for weak and vigorous branches, and control the growth vigor by the number of cuts, with 1 cut for thin branches and more than 1 cut for thick branches. S4. Simplified pruning: Focus on thinning and branch pulling to highlight the leading position of the central leader and control the branch-to-trunk ratio to >3:

1. Branch pulling adopts single-branch swinging or drooping techniques. Single-branch swinging means not shortening or pruning back moderate branches and lateral branches, but preserving their natural growth state. Drooping branches adopt the method of pushing, kneading, pressing and fixing. Push the base of the branch to open the angle, knead the branch to soften it and then press it down to the required angle and position. Tie it tightly with a pulling rope or wire. The pressing part is from the middle of the branch to the top 1 / 3 of the branch tip.

2. The simplified orchard cultivation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S2, the planting density is adjusted according to the cultivar, the type of dwarfing rootstock, and the site conditions of the orchard. The planting density of dwarfing rootstock is higher than that of semi-dwarfing rootstock, the planting density of self-rooted rootstock is higher than that of intermediate rootstock, the planting density of short-branched varieties is higher than that of vigorous varieties, the planting density is higher in plots with flat ground and good fertilizer and water conditions, and the planting density is higher in low-altitude areas than in high-altitude areas.

3. The simplified orchard cultivation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S4, the main trunk pruning follows the principle of light pruning and slow release, and thinning instead of cutting back, focusing on balancing tree vigor and promoting flower bud differentiation.