| Popis: |
Lowering tree height has been a key practice for efficient management of persimmon orchards. This experiment was conducted to assess whether fertilization rates could be reduced after lowering the tree height by heavy pruning. Twelve-year-old 'Uenishiwase' persimmon trees were lowered to 2 m from over 3 m by severe dormant pruning, and then conventional fertilization rate was applied to some trees in April (N 224 g, 172 g, and 172 g per tree), June (N 112 g and 99 g per tree), and October (N 112 g and 99 g per tree). At the same time, 1/3 or 2/3 of the conventional rate and none were applied to other trees, respectively. Non-application decreased shoot length and reduced number of unnecessary secondary shoots by 39% compared with the conventional rate, not affecting yield and weight, color, firmness, and soluble solids of fruits. No significant difference was also found in the yield and the fruit characteristics among the trees fertilized with different rates. Concentrations of soluble sugars, starch, N, and K of dormant shoots in March of the following year were not significantly changed by the different treatments of the previous year. There was no significant difference of shoot growth and yield among the treatments the following year when the same fertilization rate was supplied to all the trees. Results indicated that fertilization rate could be reduced to less than 1/3 of conventional rate to save the cost and stabilize shoot vigor when tree height is lowered by severe pruning. |
