Year: 1990
Type: article
Abstract: In 1979 a Nonpareil-Price almond orchard, was planted 2.2m × 6.7m (270 trees/acre). Four pruning treatments were imposed on the hedgerow planting at the end of the first year. 1. Interplanted: Trees trained to 3 scaffolds then standard pruned 2nd-6th years. Alternate trees were whisked back during 7th and 8th years and whisked trees removed after 9th year. 2. Permanent Hedge: Trees trained to 3 scaffolds and standard pruned throughout. 3. Two Scaffold Hedge: Heavy 2nd and 3rd year training required to form 2 main scaffolds growing into the row middles then standard pruned. 4. Unpruned Hedge: Trees trained to 3 scaffolds then no further pruning. Treatment with alternate trees whisked back had 15% reduced yield each year following whisking. Removing these heavily pruned alternate trees at the 9th year then reduced yields an additional 30%. Now, three years after removal, yield still lags by 18%. Accumulating six years yield data shows no differences between the three treatment maintained as hedgerows. However, whisking and removing alternate trees resulted in 2000 lbs less yield over the 6 year period.
Source: HortScience
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2154044191