Geometric macrostructure dimensions of the apple orchard regarding the crown formation

Abstract

The experimental plot is placed in the orchard “Codru - ST” Ltd. in the central part of Republic of Moldova in Straseni District, village Bucovat and was founded in 2000 with benchgrafting. Apple trees of the varieties Gala Must, Golden Reinders and Idared growth on dwarfing M9 rootstock, the distance of plantation between rows is 4.0 m, and between trees in the row is 1.0 m. During 2001-2005, it was studied the degree of plantation surface coverage under crown projection, the lateral surface of the crown, the crown volume production, the volumetric density and the foliar index based on the formation of improved slender spindle crown. It was established that maximal values of area in valued crown projection, the lateral surface of the crown and the crown volume production was recorded in 2005, when the tree crown formation was completed. In this case, the indicators have been studied, respectively, having the following values: 45-56%, from 14.40 to 16.30 thousand m2 /ha and 7.63 to 10.50 thousand m3 /ha. The highest values, the study hints the Gala Must varieties, Idared and Golden Reinders. Volumetric density of the canopy is within the 0.63 to 0.66, being considered a relatively optimal value. Leaf area index in relation to nutrition, at the variants of training variants on the crown due to excessive distance of 4 m between rows of trees is from 1.41 to 1.87 and the crown projection surface is compared to 2.89 to 3.65. These values are within the requirements submitted to super intensive apple plantations.