The influence of mechanical summer pruning, row direction and tree spacing on yield of peach

Abstract

This research was designed to study the combined effect of plant spacing, summer pruning, and row direction on peach production. Three pruning treatments in three peach orchard densities were tested in peach of cv. Redglobe. The trees were all winter pruned and then pruned 20 days before harvest (ESP, early summer pruning), after harvest (LSP, later summer pruning), or not pruned at summer time (WP, winter pruning only). The different spacing between plants within the row were: 2.3 m, 3.1 m and 4.6 m, while the same space was maintained between rows. The effects of pruning and spacing were measured on yield and light penetration in the canopy. The influence of spacing upon yield was generally greater than effects of time of pruning. Lower density plantings had the highest yield per tree, and the lowest yield per hectare. In general, trees that had winter pruning only, showed the lowest light penetration into the canopy.