Stone fruit tree light pole shaping multi-stemmed short high yield cultivation method

Abstract

This invention discloses a high-yield cultivation method for stone fruit trees with bare trunks, multiple main trunks, and branch shortening. Belonging to the field of stone fruit tree cultivation technology, it constructs a closed-loop cultivation system encompassing orchard soil improvement, scientific planting, orchard ground cover, bare trunk shaping for young trees + multi-main trunk cultivation, branch shortening for fruit-bearing trees, tree vigor regulation, precise fertilization, and green pest and disease control. By setting the trunk height to 30-40cm, bare trunk shaping is achieved in 1-3 year old young trees, cultivating 4-7 multiple main trunks spaced 15-20cm apart. For fruit-bearing trees, differentiated branch shortening is implemented according to branch vigor, combined with 730 root irrigation + 304 foliar fertilization for complete nutrition, and step-by-step regulation of vigorous and weak trees, thus resolving the core contradiction between vegetative and reproductive growth. This invention requires only one winter pruning and two root fertilizations per year, saving more than 70% of labor. It enables fruit to grow near the trunk, significantly reduces sunburn, eliminates alternate bearing, and solves the problem of flowering without fruit setting. The fruit's sugar content and firmness are improved, its storage and transportation resistance is enhanced, and the economic lifespan of the tree is extended by 3-5 years. The technology has a high degree of standardization and is suitable for large-scale base replication and promotion nationwide. It has been verified by thousands of bases and can achieve high, stable, and high-quality fruit production year after year.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of fruit tree cultivation technology, specifically to a method for high-yield cultivation of stone fruit trees with bare trunks and multiple main branches through pruning, applicable to the large-scale and standardized cultivation of stone fruit trees such as plums, apricots, cherries, and apricot-plums. Background Technology

[0002] Stone fruit trees are an important category of fruit trees planted in my country. Traditional cultivation techniques have many unresolved problems, resulting in unstable fruit yields, poor fruit quality, and high management costs, which cannot meet the needs of large-scale planting.

[0003] Traditional tree shapes generally adopt a one-trunk-three-branch structure with a spacious middle section, requiring the cultivation of a large number of fruiting branches. This results in multiple layers, a messy tree structure, poor ventilation and light penetration, and a continuous outward shift of fruiting positions. Furthermore, pruning methods are often indiscriminate, with strong branches on the back being removed and long branches left to slow down and flower, leading to concentrated nutrient growth, poor flower bud development, and the need for multiple prunings, bud removal, and branch training throughout the year, resulting in extremely high labor costs.

[0004] Growers generally fail to distinguish the essential difference between vigorous and healthy trees. Vigorous trees are often heavily pruned back, leading to even more vigorous growth, while weak trees are left with excessive fruit, resulting in increasingly weaker trees. Fertilization patterns often involve excessive watering and fertilization, focusing on single macronutrients while neglecting micronutrient supplementation. This leads to sub-healthy trees with obvious nutrient deficiencies, and excess nutrients are supplied entirely to new shoots, leaving insufficient nutrition for flower buds and fruits. Furthermore, traditional cultivation methods result in severe sunburn and sun-damaged fruit, reliance on bagging, and low marketable fruit yields. The problem of flowering without fruit set is widespread, resulting in low sugar content, soft flesh, poor storage and transportability, and severe alternate bearing.

[0005] At its root, traditional cultivation techniques fail to follow the underlying principles of fruit tree growth, cannot resolve the core contradiction between vegetative and reproductive growth, lack standardized and replicable cultivation systems, rely on personal experience for management, and struggle to achieve consistently high, stable, and high-quality fruit yields year after year, thus hindering the large-scale development of the stone fruit industry. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of existing traditional cultivation techniques for stone fruit trees and to provide a high-yield cultivation method for bare-stem trees with multiple main trunks and short branch pruning. This method constructs a simple, labor-saving, efficient, stable-yield, and high-quality standardized, refined, and replicable cultivation and management system. It enables rapid shaping and crown expansion of young trees, fruiting branches to bear fruit, significantly reduces sunburn, eliminates alternate bearing, and solves the problem of flowering without fruit set. It also improves fruit sugar content, firmness, and storage and transport resistance, increasing the marketable fruit rate. Simultaneously, it simplifies management processes, reduces labor costs, extends the economic lifespan of the tree, and achieves a dynamic balance between vegetative and reproductive growth in stone fruit trees, ultimately achieving the goal of consistently high, stable, and high-quality yields year after year.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: A high-yield cultivation method for stone fruit trees, including bare trunk shaping with multiple main trunks and branch shortening, applicable to plum, apricot, cherry, and apricot-plum stone fruit trees, includes the following steps: S1. Orchard establishment and soil improvement: Deeply cultivate and level the entire orchard and apply decomposed plant-derived organic fertilizer to adjust the soil pH to 6.0~7.0 and plan the orchard drainage system; S2. Scientific planting: Prune the roots of the seedlings and dip them in water. Plant them shallowly with the grafting point exposed for 5-10cm. Cut the trunk to 30-40cm and take measures to ensure survival. S3. Orchard cover cropping: retain dwarf, creeping, and healthy grass species, and remove tall weeds; S4. Young trees should be trained to form a bare trunk and multiple main trunks in the first 1-3 years. After the trunk is established, select 4-7 strong new shoots that are evenly distributed to be trained as the main trunk. Remove lateral branches according to the bare trunk training rules. Fruiting is strictly prohibited in the first two years. S5. The branches of the fruit tree are pruned in a balanced manner and the pruning is completed in one go in winter. Differentiated pruning is carried out according to flower buds, tree vigor and branch quality, and strong branches on the back are retained for fruiting. S6. Tree vigor management: For vigorous trees, implement a flowering promotion plan of controlled fertilization and light pruning; for weak trees, implement a rejuvenation plan of heavy pruning to reduce the burden and nourishing the roots and supplementing fertilizer. S7, Precision fertilization with complete nutrition, adopts the upper and lower fertilization mode of 730 complete nutrition root irrigation package + 304 complete nutrition foliar package, and only applies key root fertilizer twice a year: fruit expansion fertilizer and postpartum fertilizer; S8. Green integrated prevention and control of diseases and pests, implementing integrated prevention and control measures combining agriculture, physical methods, and chemicals according to the key growth stages of fruit trees; S9. Thinning flowers and controlling the amount of fruit and renewing branches: Following the principle of full tree flowers and half tree fruit, remove ineffective flower buds and rotate fruiting branches every 2 to 3 years.

[0008] Furthermore, in step S1, the soil is deeply tilled to a depth of 1m, and the amount of decomposed plant-derived organic fertilizer applied is 2000~3000kg per mu; on flat land, a drainage ditch is dug every 2~3 rows to control the groundwater level below 60cm, and only backwater ditches are dug on sloping land.

[0009] Furthermore, in step S4, the specific requirements for multi-trunk cultivation are as follows: the spacing between each trunk is 15-20cm, and they do not overlap or block each other, forming a multi-trunk structure without a main trunk or retaining a weak central trunk for auxiliary support. During the sapling stage, the main trunk grows upright without pulling branches or pinching the tips. The specific rules for bare trunk shaping are as follows: in the first year, all lateral branches above 50cm on the main trunk are pruned. In the second year, lateral branches in the middle and lower parts that exceed 30cm are removed, while weak branches within 30cm are retained. All lateral branches in the middle and upper parts are still removed.

[0010] Furthermore, in step S5, the differentiated pruning standards for branches are as follows: weak branches with a thickness of less than 0.4cm and a length of less than 30cm are heavily pruned by 80% to 90%; moderate branches with a thickness of 0.4 to 0.6cm and a length of 30 to 50cm are moderately pruned by 60% to 70%; and vigorous branches with a thickness of 0.8 to 1.2cm and a length of about 80cm are lightly pruned by 40% to 50%. The buds at the pruning cut are selected according to the growth of the branch: weak buds on the back of vigorous branches are selected, strong buds on the back or sides of weak branches are selected, and outward buds are selected for moderate branches.

[0011] Furthermore, in step S5, the management requirements for the strong branches on the back are as follows: all fruiting branches should be retained and appropriately shortened. During winter pruning, the branches should be renewed according to their growth. Strong branches with flower buds should be shortened back to the healthy part, and weak and aging branches should be removed from the base. A batch of fruiting branches on the back should be rotated every 2 to 3 years. At the same time, large branches that reach one-fifth of the thickness of the main trunk should be removed, and branches without flower buds and overly vigorous branches should be cut off.

[0012] Furthermore, in step S6, the specific plan for the special regulation of vigorous trees is as follows: no pruning or very light pruning, only thinning out excessively long branches; strictly control root fertilizer from before spring budding to before the completion of flower bud differentiation in July or August, do not apply compound fertilizer or nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium macronutrients, only supplement micronutrients through 304 foliar fertilizer, and implement branch shortening after the new shoot length is controlled within 30cm and the tree vigor turns to a moderate level.

[0013] Furthermore, in step S6, the specific plan for rejuvenating weak trees is as follows: heavy pruning and strict thinning of flowers and fruits, leaving few or no fruits; in autumn, in conjunction with the application of post-harvest fertilizer, trenches are dug around the outer edge of the tree canopy projection to cut the roots, with the cut roots not exceeding 1cm in diameter; apply more decomposed organic fertilizer + bio-fertilizer; before budding in spring, drench the roots with humic acid rooting agents; after the tree vigor is restored to a moderate level, normal fruiting and branch pruning are resumed.

[0014] Furthermore, in step S7, the 730 complete nutrient root irrigation package is only applied as a post-harvest fertilizer when the tree is deficient in fertilizer or after fruit harvest, using a small amount and multiple times; the 304 complete nutrient foliar package is mixed with 4000 catties of water and sprayed with pesticides, once every 20 days. When spraying alone after fruit harvest, one set is mixed with 2000 catties of water, once a month for three consecutive months. The spraying time is before 10 am or after 4 pm. It is strictly forbidden to mix with alkaline pesticides.

[0015] Furthermore, in step S7, the fruit-enlarging fertilizer is applied after the fruit tree's pit hardening stage, with early-maturing varieties applied in May and late-maturing varieties applied in June; the post-harvest fertilizer is applied 40 days after fruit harvest and before leaf fall, storing nutrients in the root system, trunk, and flower buds through root irrigation.

[0016] Furthermore, this includes management during the third year of transition. After the tree canopy is fully grown, vigorous trees are lightly pruned and the canopy is pressed down with fruit. Branches are gently pulled to 70°. Weak trees continue to grow with bare trunks. For trees that are just beginning to bear fruit, each tree retains 3-5 catties of fruit. During the transition period, no fertilizer is applied before flowering or after flowering. Instead, 304 foliar fertilizer is continuously sprayed to cultivate flower buds.

[0017] Compared with traditional cultivation techniques, this invention has the following significant advantages: 1. Labor-saving and highly standardized: Fruit trees only need to be pruned once a year in winter and fertilized twice a year at key roots, saving more than 70% of labor. All technical aspects such as tree shaping, pruning, and fertilization have unified standards, eliminating the need to rely on personal experience and making it suitable for nationwide large-scale base replication and promotion. 2. Robust tree structure and extended lifespan: Strong framework is built through bare trunk shaping and multi-trunk cultivation. Orchard cover cropping and full-nutrient fertilization improve the tree growth environment, resulting in well-nourished, robust trees with a lifespan extended by 3-5 years. 3. Eliminate alternate bearing and achieve high yields year after year: By pruning branches, controlling excessive growth through fruit production, and regulating tree vigor, a dynamic balance between vegetative and reproductive growth is achieved, resulting in a moderate tree vigor where "small shoots emerge while fruiting," thus fundamentally eliminating the phenomenon of alternate bearing. 4. Reduce sunburn and bagging costs: Retaining strong branches on the back of the fruit and providing natural shading significantly reduces the incidence of sunburn and sun-damaged fruit, which can reduce or even eliminate bagging, thus reducing material and labor costs. 5. Improve fruit quality and increase marketable fruit rate: Near-dry fruiting shortens the nutrient transport path and makes the fruit larger. Full nutrient fertilization increases the sugar content and flesh firmness of the fruit, extends the fruiting period, enhances storage and transportation resistance, and makes the fruit uniform, significantly increasing the marketable fruit rate. 6. Solve the problem of flowering without fruit setting and improve the fruit setting rate: By means of flower bud nutrition cultivation, tree nutrient reserve, and thinning of flowers to control the amount, flower buds are made to develop fully and the tree is nutritious enough. At the same time, the resistance of fruit trees is improved, the phenomenon of flowering without fruit setting is greatly reduced, and the fruit setting rate is significantly improved. 7. Balance nutrient competition and stabilize tree vigor: By pruning and fertilizing, regulate the nutrient competition among new shoots, flower buds and fruits, so that nutrients are given priority to flower buds and fruits, and avoid vigorous shoots competing for nutrients, so that the tree vigor always remains moderate and robust. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the implementation process of the high-yield cultivation method for stone fruit trees with bare trunks and multiple main branches, based on the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0020] The present invention proposes a method for cultivating stone fruit trees with bare trunks, multiple main trunks, and short branch pruning for high yields. This method is applicable to stone fruit trees such as plums, apricots, cherries, and apricot-plum trees, and includes the following steps: S1. Orchard establishment and soil improvement: Deeply cultivate and level the entire orchard and apply decomposed plant-derived organic fertilizer to adjust the soil pH to 6.0~7.0 and plan the orchard drainage system; S2. Scientific planting: Prune the roots of the seedlings and dip them in water. Plant them shallowly with the grafting point exposed for 5-10cm. Cut the trunk to 30-40cm and take measures to ensure survival. S3. Orchard cover cropping: retain dwarf, creeping, and healthy grass species, and remove tall weeds; S4. Young trees should be trained to form a bare trunk and multiple main trunks in the first 1-3 years. After the trunk is established, select 4-7 strong new shoots that are evenly distributed to be trained as the main trunk. Remove lateral branches according to the bare trunk training rules. Fruiting is strictly prohibited in the first two years. S5. The branches of the fruit tree are pruned in a balanced manner and the pruning is completed in one go in winter. Differentiated pruning is carried out according to flower buds, tree vigor and branch quality, and strong branches on the back are retained for fruiting. S6. Tree vigor management: For vigorous trees, implement a flowering promotion plan of controlled fertilization and light pruning; for weak trees, implement a rejuvenation plan of heavy pruning to reduce the burden and nourishing the roots and supplementing fertilizer. S7, Precision fertilization with complete nutrition, adopts the upper and lower fertilization mode of 730 complete nutrition root irrigation package + 304 complete nutrition foliar package, and only applies key root fertilizer twice a year: fruit expansion fertilizer and postpartum fertilizer; S8. Green integrated prevention and control of diseases and pests, implementing integrated prevention and control measures combining agriculture, physical methods, and chemicals according to the key growth stages of fruit trees; S9. Thinning flowers and controlling the amount of fruit and renewing branches: Following the principle of full tree flowers and half tree fruit, remove ineffective flower buds and rotate fruiting branches every 2 to 3 years.

[0021] Furthermore, in step S1, the soil is deeply tilled to a depth of 1m, and the amount of decomposed plant-derived organic fertilizer applied is 2000~3000kg per mu; on flat land, a drainage ditch is dug every 2~3 rows to control the groundwater level below 60cm, and only backwater ditches are dug on sloping land.

[0022] Furthermore, in step S4, the specific requirements for multi-trunk cultivation are as follows: the spacing between each trunk is 15-20cm, and they do not overlap or block each other, forming a multi-trunk structure without a main trunk or retaining a weak central trunk for auxiliary support. During the sapling stage, the main trunk grows upright without pulling branches or pinching the tips. The specific rules for bare trunk shaping are as follows: in the first year, all lateral branches above 50cm on the main trunk are pruned. In the second year, lateral branches in the middle and lower parts that exceed 30cm are removed, while weak branches within 30cm are retained. All lateral branches in the middle and upper parts are still removed.

[0023] Furthermore, in step S5, the differentiated pruning standards for branches are as follows: weak branches with a thickness of less than 0.4cm and a length of less than 30cm are heavily pruned by 80% to 90%; moderate branches with a thickness of 0.4 to 0.6cm and a length of 30 to 50cm are moderately pruned by 60% to 70%; and vigorous branches with a thickness of 0.8 to 1.2cm and a length of about 80cm are lightly pruned by 40% to 50%. The buds at the pruning cut are selected according to the growth of the branch: weak buds on the back of vigorous branches are selected, strong buds on the back or sides of weak branches are selected, and outward buds are selected for moderate branches.

[0024] Furthermore, in step S5, the management requirements for the strong branches on the back are as follows: all fruiting branches should be retained and appropriately shortened. During winter pruning, the branches should be renewed according to their growth. Strong branches with flower buds should be shortened back to the healthy part, and weak and aging branches should be removed from the base. A batch of fruiting branches on the back should be rotated every 2 to 3 years. At the same time, large branches that reach one-fifth of the thickness of the main trunk should be removed, and branches without flower buds and overly vigorous branches should be cut off.

[0025] Furthermore, in step S6, the specific plan for the special regulation of vigorous trees is as follows: no pruning or very light pruning, only thinning out excessively long branches; strictly control root fertilizer from before spring budding to before the completion of flower bud differentiation in July or August, do not apply compound fertilizer or nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium macronutrients, only supplement micronutrients through 304 foliar fertilizer, and implement branch shortening after the new shoot length is controlled within 30cm and the tree vigor turns to a moderate level.

[0026] Furthermore, in step S6, the specific plan for rejuvenating weak trees is as follows: heavy pruning and strict thinning of flowers and fruits, leaving few or no fruits; in autumn, in conjunction with the application of post-harvest fertilizer, trenches are dug around the outer edge of the tree canopy projection to cut the roots, with the cut roots not exceeding 1cm in diameter; apply more decomposed organic fertilizer + bio-fertilizer; before budding in spring, drench the roots with humic acid rooting agents; after the tree vigor is restored to a moderate level, normal fruiting and branch pruning are resumed.

[0027] Furthermore, in step S7, the 730 complete nutrient root irrigation package is only applied as a post-harvest fertilizer when the tree is deficient in fertilizer or after fruit harvest, using a small amount and multiple times; the 304 complete nutrient foliar package is mixed with 4000 catties of water and sprayed with pesticides, once every 20 days. When spraying alone after fruit harvest, one set is mixed with 2000 catties of water, once a month for three consecutive months. The spraying time is before 10 am or after 4 pm. It is strictly forbidden to mix with alkaline pesticides.

[0028] Furthermore, in step S7, the fruit-enlarging fertilizer is applied after the fruit tree's pit hardening stage, with early-maturing varieties applied in May and late-maturing varieties applied in June; the post-harvest fertilizer is applied 40 days after fruit harvest and before leaf fall, storing nutrients in the root system, trunk, and flower buds through root irrigation.

[0029] Furthermore, this includes management during the third year of transition. After the tree canopy is fully grown, vigorous trees are lightly pruned and the canopy is pressed down with fruit. Branches are gently pulled to 70°. Weak trees continue to grow with bare trunks. For trees that are just beginning to bear fruit, each tree retains 3-5 catties of fruit. During the transition period, no fertilizer is applied before flowering or after flowering. Instead, 304 foliar fertilizer is continuously sprayed to cultivate flower buds.

[0030] This invention integrates key technologies such as orchard soil improvement, scientific planting, orchard cover cropping, bare-tree shaping and multi-trunk cultivation for young trees, balanced pruning of fruit-bearing branches, targeted regulation of vigorous and weak trees, precise fertilization with complete nutrition, green pest and disease control, flower thinning and branch group renewal, and constructs a closed-loop high-yield cultivation system for stone fruit trees. The core technologies are bare-tree shaping for young trees + multi-trunk cultivation + balanced pruning of fruit-bearing branches + precise fertilization with complete nutrition. It follows the principle of apical dominance and basal growth in fruit trees, resolves the core contradiction between vegetative growth and reproductive growth, and achieves a moderate tree vigor of "fruiting while producing small shoots".

[0031] The core technical points of this invention are: Innovative tree shapes with one trunk and four branches or multiple main trunks replace the traditional one trunk and three branches. Four to seven main trunks are selected to fill the canopy space. There is no need to cultivate fruiting branches. Fruiting can be achieved near the trunk, nutrient transport is fast, the tree structure is compact, and ventilation and light penetration are good. Young trees should be trained to grow into a bare trunk for 1-3 years, with concentrated nutrition to cultivate a strong main trunk framework. Fruiting should be strictly prohibited in the first two years to ensure the dominant role of vegetative growth and lay the foundation for subsequent reproductive growth. As a result, the trees were pruned to balance the branches by shortening them. The trees were pruned only once a year in winter. Differentiated shortening was carried out according to flower buds, tree vigor, and branch quality. Strong branches on the back were retained to bear fruit. Natural shading was used to prevent sunburn. At the same time, the trees were controlled to maintain vigor and balance the tree vigor by controlling the growth of fruit. Clearly distinguish between vigorous trees and robust trees. Vigorous trees have thick branches but no flowers, while robust trees have thick branches with full flower buds. For vigorous trees, implement a flowering promotion plan of controlled fertilization and light pruning. For weak trees, implement a rejuvenation plan of heavy pruning to reduce the burden and nourishing the roots and supplementing fertilizer, and gradually regulate the tree vigor to a moderate state. The unique 730 all-nutrient root irrigation package + 304 all-nutrient foliar package combine to form a top-to-bottom fertilization mode, which follows the principle of "supplementing completely, applying only when fertilizer is lacking, and strictly controlling the total amount". Only two key root fertilizers are applied throughout the year: fruit expansion fertilizer and postpartum fertilizer, to ensure that flower buds are "well-fed" and solve the nutritional root cause of flowering without fruit setting. Implement orchard cover management to improve soil environment and field microclimate, and reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases; adopt green integrated pest management, apply pesticides precisely according to the key growth period of fruit trees, and protect the trees and flower buds; Following the principle of "half the tree is covered in flowers and half is covered in fruit," thin out the flowers to control the amount of fruit, reduce ineffective nutrient consumption, and improve the fruit set rate. Rotate the fruiting branches every 2-3 years to prevent the fruiting parts from shifting outwards and achieve continuous and stable production.

[0032] The following detailed description of the high-yield cultivation method for stone fruit trees with bare trunks, multiple main trunks, and short branch pruning, in conjunction with specific implementation steps, shows that the scope of protection of this invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Example

[0033] Step 1: Orchard Establishment and Soil Improvement Mechanical land preparation: The entire orchard is leveled with an excavator, which digs to a depth of 1m to break up the soil compaction layer. The soil is loosened but not disturbed, maintaining the original soil structure. Then, the soil is broken up by rotary tillage to make the soil particles fine, which is conducive to root contact. Increase the application of organic fertilizer: Apply 2000-3000 kg of well-rotted plant-derived organic fertilizer per mu to improve soil aggregate structure, encourage root growth, and enhance root absorption capacity; Soil pH adjustment: Select a site that is sheltered from the wind, sunny, high and dry, does not accumulate water, and has convenient transportation. The suitable soil pH value is 6.0~7.0. Use quicklime to adjust slightly acidic soil and sulfur powder / humic acid to adjust slightly alkaline soil. Drainage design: On sloping land, only backwater ditches are dug to retain water and prevent erosion; on flat land, a drainage ditch is dug every 2-3 rows to control the groundwater level below 60cm, ensuring that the roots do not accumulate water and rot.

[0034] Step 2: Orchard Grassland Ecological Management Retain dwarf creeping grasses, prioritizing benign grass species such as clover, and remove only tall weeds to ensure they do not block sunlight or affect ventilation. Orchard cover reduces weeding costs, increases soil organic matter content, loosens the soil, retains water and fertilizer, cools in summer and keeps warm in winter, improves the field microclimate, reduces the occurrence of pests and diseases, avoids soil exposure, and ensures water absorption by fruit tree roots.

[0035] Step 3: Scientific Planting Pre-planting treatment: The main root of the seedling should be kept at 15-20cm, and the fibrous roots should be shortened to within 5cm. After pruning the roots, the roots should be treated with a fungicide and rooting agent. Planting tips: Dig planting holes 80×80×60cm deep, plant fruit trees shallowly, do not expose roots or bury grafting points, and make sure the grafting points are 5-10cm above the ground. Water thoroughly once after planting. Planting time: Do not plant on rainy days. For autumn planting, the preferred time is October to November. For spring planting, complete the planting before budding in February to March. Post-planting management: Set the trunk height to 30-40cm, apply a healing agent to the cut, cover the trunk with a moisture-retaining bag to prevent insects and water loss and improve the survival rate, and appropriately regulate apical dominance through trunk setting.

[0036] Step 4: Planting density and multi-trunk tree shape cultivation Planting density: For open-center cultivation, use a plant spacing of 3m×4m, 5m×6m or 6m×6m, and plant 20~50 plants per mu; for Y-shaped dense planting, plant 110~160 plants per mu, which is suitable for early production and standardized bases. Multi-trunk cultivation: After the main trunk is established, select 4-7 strong new shoots with even distribution and open angles at a distance of 30-40cm to be cultivated as main trunks, and remove all other new shoots; maintain a distance of 15-20cm between each main trunk, so that they do not overlap or block each other, forming a "multi-trunk without main trunk" structure, or retain a weak central trunk for auxiliary support; during the young tree stage, the main trunks should be kept to grow upright, without pulling branches or pinching, and concentrate nutrients to cultivate strong main trunks; when there is enough space in the plot, the number of main trunks can be increased flexibly according to the actual situation, as long as they do not block each other.

[0037] Step 5: Shaping and management of young trees in the first 1-3 years This stage focuses on vegetative growth, and fruiting is strictly prohibited for the first two years to avoid weakening the tree. Specific management includes pruning, fertilization and watering, and pest and disease control. Pruning Management: In the first year, after the main trunk grows to more than 50 cm, all newly grown lateral branches should be pruned off. In winter, only the extension branches should be retained. For weak trees, prune back the branches to within 40 cm of the ground. In the second year, after the middle and lower lateral branches grow to 30 cm, remove all branches exceeding 30 cm. Retain weak branches within 30 cm. Newly grown lateral branches in the middle and upper parts should still be cleared to a bare trunk. Pruning should be mainly done during the growing season. In the third year, after the tree canopy is basically full, the management should enter a transition period and gradually shift to the management of shortening fruiting branches. Fertilizer and water management: Apply water-soluble fertilizer once a month from April to November, applying diluted fertilizer frequently to ensure vigorous tree growth and maintain a balance between leaves and roots; Disease and pest control: Apply preventative pesticides every 20 days, along with foliar nutrition supplements, to ensure that young trees are free from diseases and pests and grow healthily.

[0038] Step 6: Third-Year Transition Management For vigorous trees, light pruning and use fruit to suppress the crown, gently pulling the branches to an angle of about 70°; for weak trees, continue to maintain bare trunks to nourish the tree and prioritize rejuvenating the tree. The fruit load of the young fruit trees is strictly controlled, with each tree leaving 3 to 5 catties of fruit, and the fruit load is never exceeded. Do not apply fertilizer before flowering or after flowering to prevent excessive nutrient intake that could lead to excessive tree growth. Continuously spray 304 all-nutrient foliar fertilizer, focusing on the nutritional cultivation of flower buds, to lay the foundation for fruit setting in the later stage.

[0039] Step 7: Balanced pruning of branches and truncation Pruning should be completed in one go after leaf fall in winter and before bud break in spring. Pruning is generally unnecessary during the growing season. The core principles are pruning based on flowering, tree vigor, and branch quality. Specific rules are as follows: Pruning large branches: Remove large branches that are 1 / 5 the thickness of the main trunk to protect the main trunk's leadership and balance the competition among branches; Thin out ineffective branches: severely prune branches without flower buds and overly vigorous shoots from the base to reduce ineffective nutrient consumption; Differentiated pruning: First, determine the branch type. For weak branches (thickness < 0.4cm, length ≤ 30cm), prune heavily by 80%~90%. For moderate branches (thickness 0.4~0.6cm, length 30~50cm), prune moderately by 60%~70%. For vigorous branches (thickness 0.8~1.2cm, length about 80cm), prune lightly by 40%~50%. Select the buds at the pruning cut according to their growth: for vigorous branches, select the weak buds on the back; for weak branches, select the strong buds on the back / both sides; for moderate branches, select the buds facing outwards. Thinning principles: Remove overly dense branches; when choosing between two branches in the same location, remove the slanted ones and keep the straight ones, remove the thin ones and keep the thick ones, and remove the weak ones and keep the strong ones, to maintain ventilation and light penetration; Utilize strong branches on the back: retain them all, prune them appropriately, and let them bear fruit directly, providing natural shade to prevent sunburn; when pruning in winter, renew them according to their growth, prune back strong branches with flower buds to strong parts, and remove weak and old branches from the base, rotating a batch every 2-3 years. Branch group renewal: Rotate the fruiting branch groups every 2-3 years, keeping strong branches and removing weak branches, keeping new branches and removing old branches, to prevent the fruiting position from shifting outwards; Flower thinning and quantity control: In spring, prune off excessive flower buds, following the principle of "full tree of flowers and half tree of fruit" to improve the fruit set rate and maintain a balance between fruiting and growth.

[0040] Step 8: Specific regulation of tree vigor The core concept of tree management in this invention is to cultivate strong trees rather than overly vigorous ones. Overly vigorous trees have thick branches but no flower buds, while strong trees have thick branches with plump flower buds. Different specific control schemes are implemented for overly vigorous and weak trees, and both are gradually controlled to a moderate state before branch pruning is carried out. Special treatment for vigorous trees without flower buds: ①Pruning: Choose not to prune or prune very lightly, only removing excessively large and overgrown branches; ② From before spring budding to before flower bud differentiation is completed in July or August, strictly control root nutrition, do not water the roots, and do not apply compound fertilizer or nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium macronutrients; ③ Supplement micronutrients with 304 foliar fertilizer throughout the process to achieve balanced regulation between different levels of nutrients; ④ Once the new shoots are no longer than 30cm, the branches have become more lignified, the leaves have returned to normal color, the tree vigor has become moderate, and the flower buds are full, resume normal pruning and fertilization. Specialized rejuvenation for weak trees: ①The core principle is to reduce the number of fruits, reduce the burden and rejuvenate, prune heavily and strictly thin out flowers and fruits, and leave few or no fruits. ②Underground parts: In autumn, combine the application of postpartum fertilizer with trenching and root pruning around the outer edge of the tree canopy projection. The thickness of the pruned roots should not exceed 1cm. Apply more decomposed organic fertilizer + bio-fertilizer. In spring, before budding, water thoroughly and irrigate the roots with humic acid rooting agent to maintain the root system. ③ Above-ground parts: Concentrate nutrients to restore tree vigor. After the tree is strong and the flower buds are normal, resume normal fruiting and prune branches.

[0041] Step 9: Jinshi Total Nutrition Precision Fertilization System The fertilization method employs a combined approach of 730 complete nutrient root irrigation package and 304 complete nutrient foliar package, adhering to the principles of "supplementing only when necessary, applying only when nutrient deficiency is present, strictly controlling the total amount, and prioritizing flower and fruit development." Only two key root fertilizations are applied throughout the year: fruit expansion fertilizer and post-harvest fertilizer. Specific requirements are as follows: Core fertilizer application philosophy: ①Supplement with all necessary nutrients, never just one element; ensure that all the nutrients required for fruit tree growth are provided. ② Apply fertilizer only when there is a lack of it, and strictly control the total amount of nutrients to avoid excessive growth; ③ Control competition for nutrients, and prioritize the supply of nutrients to flower buds and fruits; ④ Ensure the flower buds are "well-fed" and "well-nourished" to guarantee sufficient and comprehensive nutrition for them; 730 Complete Nutrition Root Irrigation Package: This is an exclusive complete nutrition formula containing macro-, medium-, and micro-elements. It should be applied in small amounts and multiple times only when the tree is obviously deficient in nutrients, or as a post-harvest fertilizer for root irrigation, storing nutrients in the root system, trunk, and flower buds. 304 Complete Nutrition Foliar Care Package: An exclusive complete nutrition formula with all elements and scientific proportions; ① Conventional spraying: Mix one set with 4000 catties of water and pesticide, spray once every 20 days, avoiding high temperature and strong light, and spray until the front and back of the leaves are evenly moistened; ② Spraying after harvest: Spray alone, one set diluted with 2000 catties of water, once a month for three consecutive months, focusing on promoting flower bud differentiation; ③ It is strictly forbidden to mix with alkaline pesticides. If it rains within 6 hours after spraying, it needs to be re-sprayed. Two key root fertilizers: ① Fruit enlargement fertilizer: applied after the pit hardening stage, in May for early-maturing varieties and June for late-maturing varieties; ② Post-harvest fertilizer: applied 40 days after fruit harvest and before leaf fall to quickly restore tree vigor and store nutrients for the following year. The general principle of fertilization is to apply water and fertilizer in small amounts and frequently, only when fertilizer is lacking, and only in small amounts when fertilizer is lacking. Never apply fertilizer blindly or excessively.

[0042] Step 10: Green Integrated Pest Management The control model adopts agricultural measures + physical control + scientific pesticide application, resulting in low residues, safety and environmental protection. Pesticides are applied precisely according to the key growth stages of fruit trees, while foliar fertilizer (304) is used to supplement nutrition, protect the tree, flower buds and leaves, and maintain root-leaf balance. Specific control periods and application plans are as follows: Flower bud swelling stage: Spray with streptomycin + benzoyl pyrazole + high-efficiency cypermethrin + thiamethoxam to control bacterial / fungal diseases, aphids, codling moths, etc. During the flower bud emergence stage (within 5% flowering): spray with tebuconazole + kasugamycin + spirotetramat + abamectin + chlorantraniliprole to control anthracnose, brown rot, scale insects, etc. Before flowering: 15-20 days after applying the pesticide when the flower buds are showing white, spray with benzoyl pyrazole + thiamethoxam + spirotetramat + abamectin to prevent diseases and pests during the flowering period; First application after flowering (after 80% of flowers have faded): Spray with tebuconazole + thiamethoxam + abamectin + chlorantraniliprole + thiamethoxam, combined with 304 foliar fertilizer, to prevent and control pests and diseases and supplement nutrients; During the fruit enlargement period (April to June): Use Package 1, which is mainly composed of benzoyl pyrazole, and Package 2, which is mainly composed of tebuconazole, alternately spraying once every 20 days. In rainy weather, shorten the time to 15 days and in dry weather, extend the time to 25 days. Each time, use 304 foliar fertilizer in conjunction. One month before harvesting: Stop using any pesticides to ensure the safety of the fruit; After harvest (August-September): Spray benzoyl pyrazole + abamectin + etoxazole in September; spray 304 foliar fertilizer once a month from August to September, with a 10-day interval between pesticides and foliar fertilizers. After leaf fall (November): Spray the entire garden with lime sulfur solution at 3-5 Baume degrees to eliminate overwintering pests and diseases. Choose a sunny, windless day with a temperature above 4℃ for spraying, ensuring even and thorough application. Rotate pesticides: Use fungicides and insecticides alternately with agents that have different mechanisms of action. Do not use the same agent more than twice in one growing season to avoid developing resistance.

[0043] Step 11: Targeted solutions for flowering without fruit setting Targeting the three core causes of flowering failure and fruit set disorder—poor flower bud nutrition, insufficient tree nutrition, and climatic factors—targeted solutions are implemented in conjunction with the aforementioned technical steps. The core objectives are to ensure flower buds are well-nourished, the tree receives sufficient nutrition, and the fruit tree's resistance to adverse conditions is enhanced. Cultivating robust flower buds: By pruning branches to regulate nutrient competition, we prevent vigorous shoots from stealing nutrients from flower buds. From the lignification of spring shoots to before leaf fall, we continuously spray 304 foliar fertilizer to supplement all-element nutrients and allow flower buds to develop fully. Store nutrients in the tree: Apply 730 root irrigation package as a postpartum fertilizer in time after fruit harvest to store nutrients in the tree. Remove ineffective flower buds in spring to reduce nutrient consumption and concentrate nutrients to supply high-quality flower buds. Addressing climate factors: Enhance the resilience of fruit trees through comprehensive fertilization and tree vigor regulation. Even if low temperatures occur after flowering, the tree can still provide sufficient nutrition for the fruit and reduce fruit drop.

[0044] Example

[0045] Taking the honey plum (a vigorous plum variety) as an example, the cultivation method of this invention is used for planting: Establishment of orchard: Select sandy loam soil with pH 6.5, dig 1m deep and level it, apply 2500kg of decomposed straw organic fertilizer per mu, dig a drainage ditch every 2 rows on the flat ground, and control the groundwater level to 50cm. Planting: Plant the honey plum seedlings in November. Leave the main root 18cm and the fibrous roots short to 4cm. Dip the roots in fungicide and rooting agent. Planting hole 80×80×60cm. Leave 8cm of the grafting point exposed. Cut the trunk 35cm and cover with a moisture-retaining bag. Multi-stem cultivation: After the main stem is established, select 5 strong new shoots to cultivate main stems, with a spacing of 18cm, to form a multi-stem structure without a main stem, and the main stems grow upright; Bare trunk shaping: In the first year, all lateral branches above 50cm on the main trunk are pruned. Apply water-soluble fertilizer once a month from April to November and apply preventive pesticides every 20 days. In the second year, remove lateral branches above 30cm in the middle and lower parts and prune all lateral branches in the middle and upper parts. If no fruit is produced, the tree will still not bear fruit. Transitional period management: After the tree canopy is fully open in the third year, prune lightly and leave 4 catties of fruit per tree. Do not apply fertilizer before flowering or after flowering. Spray 304 foliar fertilizer once every 20 days. Fruit tree management: In winter, prune branches back, lightly prune vigorous branches by 45%, moderately prune branches by 65%, and heavily prune weak branches by 85%, retaining strong branches on the back for fruiting and removing branches without flower buds; control fertilizer for vigorous trees until flower bud differentiation is complete, only spray 304 foliar fertilizer, and prune normally after the tree vigor is moderate. Fertilization: Apply fruit-enlarging fertilizer after the pit hardening period in May, and apply 730 root irrigation package as postpartum fertilizer after fruit harvest in September. Spray 304 foliar fertilizer once every 20 days throughout the year, and spray it separately three times after fruit harvest. Pest and disease control: Spray the pesticide according to the key period application plan of this invention, and combine it with 304 foliar fertilizer. Stop spraying 30 days before harvesting. After leaf fall, spray lime sulfur solution at 4 Baume degrees. Flower thinning and quantity control: In spring, remove 1 / 3 of the flower buds, following the principle of full tree flowers and half tree fruit, and rotate the fruiting branch groups every 3 years.

[0046] Results: The plum trees were robust, exhibiting a moderate state of vigorous growth without excessive fruit production, with no alternate bearing, and the incidence of sunburn was reduced to below 5%, eliminating the need for bagging. The average fruit weight increased by 20%, sugar content increased by 3-5 degrees Brix, flesh firmness significantly increased, storage and transportation resistance improved, and the fruiting period was extended by 10-15 days. The fruit set rate increased by more than 35%, with no instances of flowering without fruit set. The yield per acre remained stable at 2000-2500 kg, labor costs were reduced by 75%, and the trees maintained good growth, achieving consistently high, stable, and high-quality yields year after year.

[0047] Industrial applicability

[0048] This invention presents a high-yield cultivation method for stone fruit trees using a bare-trunk, multi-leader branch pruning technique. Verified through years of practice by thousands of franchise bases and growers nationwide, the technology is mature, stable, and readily applicable. All operational steps adhere to standardized procedures, eliminating reliance on individual experience and making it suitable for large-scale, standardized planting base construction. This invention significantly reduces labor and material costs, increases the yield and fruit quality of stone fruit trees, and solves key pain points in traditional cultivation such as alternate bearing, flowering without fruit set, and sunburn. It significantly improves economic benefits and possesses extremely high industrial applicability and promotional value in the field of stone fruit tree cultivation.

Claims

1. A method for cultivating stone fruit trees with bare trunks, multiple main trunks, and short branch pruning for high yield, characterized by: This method is applicable to plum, apricot, cherry, and apricot-plum drupe fruit trees, and includes the following steps: S1. Orchard establishment and soil improvement: Deeply cultivate and level the entire orchard and apply decomposed plant-derived organic fertilizer to adjust the soil pH to 6.0~7.0 and plan the orchard drainage system; S2. Scientific planting: Prune the roots of the seedlings and dip them in water. Plant them shallowly with the grafting point exposed for 5-10cm. Cut the trunk to 30-40cm and take measures to ensure survival. S3. Orchard cover cropping: retain dwarf, creeping, and healthy grass species, and remove tall weeds; S4. Young trees should be trained to form a bare trunk and multiple main trunks in the first 1-3 years. After the trunk is established, select 4-7 strong new shoots that are evenly distributed to be trained as the main trunk. Remove lateral branches according to the bare trunk training rules. Fruiting is strictly prohibited in the first two years. S5. The branches of the fruit tree are pruned in a balanced manner and the pruning is completed in one go in winter. Differentiated pruning is carried out according to flower buds, tree vigor and branch quality, and strong branches on the back are retained for fruiting. S6. Tree vigor management: For vigorous trees, implement a flowering promotion plan of controlled fertilization and light pruning; for weak trees, implement a rejuvenation plan of heavy pruning to reduce the burden and nourishing the roots and supplementing fertilizer. S7, Precision fertilization with complete nutrition, adopts the upper and lower fertilization mode of 730 complete nutrition root irrigation package + 304 complete nutrition foliar package, and only applies key root fertilizer twice a year: fruit expansion fertilizer and postpartum fertilizer; S8. Green integrated prevention and control of diseases and pests, implementing integrated prevention and control measures combining agriculture, physical methods, and chemicals according to the key growth stages of fruit trees; S9. Thinning flowers and controlling the amount of fruit and renewing branches: Following the principle of full tree flowers and half tree fruit, remove ineffective flower buds and rotate fruiting branches every 2 to 3 years.

2. The method for cultivating high-yield stone fruit trees with bare trunks and multiple main branches by pruning back branches, as described in claim 1, is characterized in that... In step S1, the soil is deeply tilled to a depth of 1m, and the amount of decomposed plant-derived organic fertilizer applied is 2000~3000kg per mu; on flat land, a drainage ditch is dug every 2~3 rows to control the groundwater level below 60cm, and only backwater ditches are dug on sloping land.

3. The method for cultivating high-yield stone fruit trees with bare trunks and multiple main branches by pruning back branches, as described in claim 1, is characterized in that... In step S4, the specific requirements for multi-trunk cultivation are as follows: the spacing between each trunk is 15-20cm, and they do not overlap or block each other, forming a multi-trunk structure without a main trunk or retaining a weak central trunk for auxiliary support. During the sapling stage, the main trunk grows upright without pulling branches or pinching the tips. The specific rules for bare trunk shaping are as follows: in the first year, all lateral branches above 50cm on the main trunk are pruned. In the second year, lateral branches in the middle and lower parts that exceed 30cm are removed, while weak branches within 30cm are retained. All lateral branches in the middle and upper parts are still removed.

4. The method for cultivating high-yield stone fruit trees with bare trunks and multiple main branches by pruning back branches, as described in claim 1, is characterized in that... In step S5, the differentiated pruning standards for branches are as follows: weak branches with a thickness of less than 0.4cm and a length of less than 30cm are heavily pruned by 80% to 90%; moderate branches with a thickness of 0.4 to 0.6cm and a length of 30 to 50cm are moderately pruned by 60% to 70%; and vigorous branches with a thickness of 0.8 to 1.2cm and a length of about 80cm are lightly pruned by 40% to 50%. The buds at the pruning cut are selected according to the growth of the branches: weak buds on the back of vigorous branches are selected, strong buds on the back or sides of weak branches are selected, and outward buds are selected for moderate branches.

5. The method for cultivating high-yield stone fruit trees with bare trunks and multiple main branches by pruning back branches, as described in claim 1, is characterized in that... In step S5, the management requirements for the strong branches on the back are as follows: all fruiting branches should be retained and appropriately shortened. During winter pruning, the branches should be renewed according to their growth. Strong branches with flower buds should be shortened back to the healthy part, and weak and aging branches should be removed from the base. A batch of fruiting branches on the back should be rotated every 2 to 3 years. At the same time, large branches that reach one-fifth of the thickness of the main trunk should be removed, and branches without flower buds and overly vigorous branches should be cut off.

6. The method for cultivating high-yield stone fruit trees with bare trunks and multiple main branches through pruning as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In step S6, the specific plan for the special regulation of vigorous trees is as follows: no pruning or very light pruning, only thinning out excessively long branches; strictly control root fertilizer from before spring budding to before the completion of flower bud differentiation in July or August, do not apply compound fertilizer and nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium macronutrients, only supplement micronutrients through 304 foliar fertilizer, and implement branch shortening after the new shoot length is controlled within 30cm and the tree vigor turns to a moderate level.

7. The method for cultivating high-yield stone fruit trees with bare trunks and multiple main branches by pruning back branches, as described in claim 1, is characterized in that... In step S6, the specific plan for rejuvenating weak trees is as follows: heavy pruning and strict thinning of flowers and fruits, leaving few or no fruits; in autumn, in conjunction with the application of post-harvest fertilizer, dig trenches around the outer edge of the tree canopy projection to cut roots, with the cut roots not exceeding 1cm in diameter; apply more well-rotted organic fertilizer + bio-fertilizer; before budding in spring, drench the roots with humic acid rooting agents; after the tree vigor is restored to a moderate level, resume normal fruiting and prune branches.

8. The method for cultivating high-yield stone fruit trees with bare trunks and multiple main trunks through pruning and branch shortening, as described in claim 1, is characterized in that... In step S7, the 730 complete nutrient root irrigation package should only be applied as a post-harvest fertilizer when the tree is deficient in fertilizer or after fruit harvest, using a small amount and multiple times; the 304 complete nutrient foliar package should be mixed with 4000 catties of water and sprayed with pesticides once every 20 days. When spraying alone after fruit harvest, one set should be mixed with 2000 catties of water once a month for three consecutive times. The spraying time should be before 10 am or after 4 pm. It is strictly forbidden to mix with alkaline pesticides.

9. The method for cultivating high-yield stone fruit trees with bare trunks and multiple main branches by pruning back branches, as described in claim 1, is characterized in that... In step S7, the fruit-enlarging fertilizer is applied after the fruit tree hardens its pit; early-maturing varieties are applied in May, and late-maturing varieties are applied in June. The post-harvest fertilizer is applied 40 days after fruit harvest and before leaf fall, and nutrients are stored in the roots, trunk, and flower buds through root irrigation.

10. The method for cultivating high-yield stone fruit trees with bare trunks and multiple main branches by pruning back branches, as described in claim 1, is characterized in that... It also includes the management of the third year transition period. After the tree canopy is full, vigorous trees are lightly pruned and the canopy is pressed down with fruit. Branches are lightly pulled to 70°. Weak trees continue to grow with bare trunks. For trees that have just started to bear fruit, each tree leaves 3-5 catties of fruit. During the transition period, no fertilizer is applied before flowering or after flowering. Foliar fertilizer of 304 is continuously sprayed to cultivate flower buds.

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