The Productivity of Plum, Apricot and Cherry Trees Trained According to Improved Bush Type of Tree Crown

Abstract

Increasing the productivity of the plum, apricot and cherry plantations and reducing the expenses for fruit production is the most current problem in the cultivation technology of these species. For this purpose, it has been studied a new tree crown form – improved bush. During a period of 7 years, there have been carried out the following investigations: evaluation of plantation productivity depending on the variety and crown form, determination of the bio construction parameters of the improved bush type of crown form and establishment of the method of tree cultivation. The obtained data show that the improved bush type of tree crown, due to the higher number of trees on a given surface, increases plantation productivity by 1,45 -2,0 times compared with the existing orchards. 97% of fruits of the apricot and cherry trees trained according to this type of crown form were distributed on the 1-year-old and 3-year-old branches. For the plum trees, the 4-yearold branches have a special importance as about 12,2 up to 14,6% of the total fruits were distributed on these branches. The productivity of plum and cherry species was higher when trees have been trained according to improved bush with 5 branches, while for apricot trees – with 4 branches. When pruning for fructification the trees trained according to improved bush, the semi-skeletal branches of apricot and cherry trees should be replaced with the 4-year-cycle and those of plum trees with the 4 or 5-year-cycle.