The impact of the crown management system on the growth and fructification of cherry tree varieties in a high-density cultivation system

Abstract

This work examines the growth and fruiting of modern cherry plantations according to the vigour of the variety rootstock association, crown shape and planting distance. The impact of the crown formation system on the growth and fruiting of ‘Ferrovia’, ‘Kordia’, ‘Regina’, ‘Stella’, ‘Skeena’, ‘Bigarreau Burlat’, ‘Lapins’, ‘Early Star’, ‘Samba’ and ‘Black Star’ cherry varieties grafted on Gisela-6 and MaxMa 14 rootstocks in various combinations and at diverse planting distances was studied. During the first eight years of fruiting, the trees of ‘Skeena’ and ‘Ferrovia’ varieties, which had an improved slender spindle shape of their crowns, yielded the highest harvests. The yield produced by the variety of trees which had been planted at the distance of 5 x 1.5 m (18942-20074 kg/ha) was the highest; the smallest harvest was produced by the varieties planted at the distance of 5 x 2.5 m. During the ninth year of vegetation, the ‘Kordia’ and ‘Regina’ varieties grafted on the MaxMa 14 rootstock produced record harvests of 19221-19314 kg/ha. On average over three years, the ‘Kordia’, ‘Regina’ and ‘Skeena’ varieties were more productive as compared with the ‘Ferrovia’ and ‘Stella’ varieties.