The effect of various soil management techniques on growth and ...

Journal <strong>of</strong> Fruit and Ornamental Plant Research Vol. 14, 2006: 67-73THE EFFECT OF VARIOUS SOIL MANAGEMENTTECHNIQUES ON GROWTH AND YIELD IN THEBLACK CHOKEBERRY (Aronia melanocarpa Elliot)Zdzisław Kawecki and Z<strong>of</strong>ia TomaszewskaUniversity <strong>of</strong> Warmia and Mazuria, Department <strong>of</strong> HorticulturePrawocheńskiego 21, 10-957 Olsztyn, POLAND(Received July 31, 2006/Accepted August 22, 2006)A B S T R A C T<strong>The</strong> aim <strong>of</strong> this study was to determine the <strong>effect</strong> <strong>of</strong> several <strong>soil</strong> <strong>management</strong><strong>techniques</strong> on development, growth and yield in black chokeberry bushes growing inthe province <strong>of</strong> Warmia and Mazuria in Poland. In 1991, black chokeberry busheswere planted at the Experimental Gardens <strong>of</strong> the University <strong>of</strong> Warmia and Mazuriain Olsztyn. Starting in 1992, the following <strong>soil</strong> maintenance procedures were carriedout: hand weeding; mulching with conifer bark; mulching with aged manure;mulching with black sheet plastic; and spraying with Gesatop 50 WP. Hand weedingwas carried out whenever weeds appeared. <strong>The</strong> conifer bark and manure mulcheswere replenished every three years. <strong>The</strong> black sheet plastic was replaced every otheryear. Gesatop 50 WP was applied every year in April. Data were collected from 2001to 2005. <strong>The</strong> data collected included start <strong>of</strong> vegetative growth, blossoming dates,optimal harvest date, bush height, bush diameter, number <strong>of</strong> first-year shoots, length<strong>of</strong> first-year shoots, diameter <strong>of</strong> first-year shoots, number <strong>of</strong> blossoms per cluster,number <strong>of</strong> berries per cluster, mass <strong>of</strong> 100 berries, and yield per bush. <strong>The</strong> start <strong>of</strong>vegetative growth, blossoming dates and optimum harvest date varied considerablyfrom year to year, depending on weather conditions. In Warmia and Mazuria, thedates can vary by as much as thirty days. Vegetative growth was most intense inbushes mulched with either conifer bark or aged manure, and least intense in bushesmulched with black sheet plastic. Five-year cumulative yield was highest in bushesmulched with either conifer bark or aged manure, and lowest in bushes either weededby hand or mulched with black sheet plastic.Key words: black chokeberries, developmental stages, <strong>soil</strong> <strong>management</strong>, growth,yieldINTRODUCTIONBlack chokeberries are highlyvalued by the fruit processing industry,which uses them mainly in juiceproduction. Black chokeberry bushesgrow and yield well all over Poland(Chlebowska et al., 1994; Gwozdecki,

Z. Kawecki and Z. Tomaszewska2003). In the province <strong>of</strong> Warmiaand Mazuria, yields are as high as inother parts <strong>of</strong> Poland (Kawecki andKozłowski, 1992).<strong>The</strong> aim <strong>of</strong> this study was todetermine the <strong>effect</strong> <strong>of</strong> several <strong>soil</strong><strong>management</strong> <strong>techniques</strong> on development,growth and yield in blackchokeberry bushes growing in Warmiaand Mazuria.MATERIAL AND METHODS<strong>The</strong> study was carried out at theExperimental Gardens <strong>of</strong> the University<strong>of</strong> Warmia and Mazuria inOlsztyn.In 1991, black chokeberry busheswere planted 2 x 3 meters apart inClass IVa <strong>soil</strong>. <strong>The</strong> bushes had beenpropagated vegetatively.Starting in 1992, the following<strong>soil</strong> <strong>management</strong> <strong>techniques</strong> werecarried out along the rows: hand weeding; mulching with 15 cm <strong>of</strong> coniferbark; mulching with 15 cm <strong>of</strong> agedmanure; mulching with black sheet plastic; spraying with Gesatop 50 WP (3kg/ha).Hand weeding was carried outwhenever weeds appeared. <strong>The</strong>conifer bark and manure mulcheswere replenished every three years.<strong>The</strong> black sheet plastic was replacedevery other year. Gesatop 50 WPwas applied every year in April.<strong>The</strong> spaces between the rowswere maintained as bare fallow with68weeding hoes. <strong>The</strong> experiment wascarried out in a randomized blockdesign, with three replications <strong>of</strong> threebushes for each <strong>of</strong> the <strong>techniques</strong>tested.Data were collected from 2001and 2005. <strong>The</strong> data collectedincluded start <strong>of</strong> vegetative growth,blossoming dates, optimal harvestdate, bush height, bush diameter,number <strong>of</strong> 1-year-old shoots, length <strong>of</strong>1-year-old shoots, diameter <strong>of</strong> 1-year-old shoots, number <strong>of</strong> blossomsper cluster, number <strong>of</strong> berries percluster, mass <strong>of</strong> 100 berries, andyield per bush.All data were statisticallyelaborated using analysis <strong>of</strong> variance,followed by means separation usingDuncan’s multiple-range t-test fora two-factorial experiment at P≤0.05.Calculations were carried out usingthe Statistica 6.0 s<strong>of</strong>tware package.RESULTS AND DISCUSSION<strong>The</strong> start <strong>of</strong> vegetative growth,blossoming dates and optimal harvestdate were not significantly affectedby the choice <strong>of</strong> <strong>soil</strong> <strong>management</strong>technique. On the other hand, theydid vary considerably from year toyear.<strong>The</strong> start <strong>of</strong> vegetative growthranged from March 7 in 2002 toApril 12 in 2003. Blossoming dateswere also earliest in 2002 and latestin 2003. Optimal harvest date rangedfrom August 28 in 2002 toSeptember 30 in 2001. Optimalharvest date was earlier in warm,sunny years (Tab. 1).J. Fruit Ornam. Plant Res. vol. 14, 2006: 67-73

<strong>The</strong> <strong>effect</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>various</strong> <strong>soil</strong> <strong>management</strong>….in the black chokeberry….T a b l e 1 . Start <strong>of</strong> vegetative growth, blossoming dates and optimum harvest datein black chokeberry bushes growing in Warmia and Mazuria20012002200320042005YearStart <strong>of</strong>vegetativegrowthMarch 12March 7April 12March 19April 2Blossomingbeginning peak endApril 19April 11May 14April 29May 7May 5April 29May 27May 10May 13May12May 7June 12May 19June 2HarvestSept. 30Aug. 28Sept. 18Sept. 28Sept. 06<strong>The</strong> dates for the differentdevelopmental stages observed inthis study agree well with earlierstudies on black chokeberries growingin Warmia and Mazuria in which thedates varied by a few weeks fromyear to year (Kawecki and Kozłowski,1992; Kawecki, 1999; Tomaszewska,1999).Spring temperatures were the mainfactor affecting the start <strong>of</strong> vegetativegrowth and the blossoming dates. Cooltemperatures in early spring can delaythe start <strong>of</strong> vegetative growth, theblossoming dates and, to some degree,the optimum harvest date (Petrowa,1987).Plant growth was affected by thechoice <strong>of</strong> <strong>soil</strong> <strong>management</strong> technique.Plant growth also varied fromyear to year. In each year <strong>of</strong> thestudy, growth was most intense inthe bushes mulched with manure,and least intense in the bushesmulched with black sheet plastic. Inearly spring, 2003, all <strong>of</strong> the busheswere pruned back harder than usual.This explains the lower values forbush height and diameter reportedfor that year (Tab. 2).Vegetative growth in blackchokeberry bushes was also affectedby the choice <strong>of</strong> <strong>soil</strong> <strong>management</strong>technique. Growth was most intense inbushes mulched with either coniferbark or aged manure, and least intensein bushes mulched with black sheetplastic. This agrees well with a previousstudy, in which growth was mostintense in bushes mulched withmanure (Kawecki, 1999).In another study on chokeberrybushes growing in Warmia andMazuria, plant growth was mostintense in bushes mulched withconifer bark and aged manure,although the number <strong>of</strong> fruits percluster and the yield were low(Kawecki i Kozłowski, 1992).<strong>The</strong> number <strong>of</strong> first-year shootswas not significantly affected by thechoice <strong>of</strong> <strong>soil</strong> <strong>management</strong> technique.On the other hand, it did varyconsiderably from year to year. <strong>The</strong>highest numbers were generallyrecorded in 2005, and the lowestnumbers in 2003. In a previousstudy, the number <strong>of</strong> first-year shootswas highest in bushes mulched withmanure (Kawecki, 1999).J. Fruit Ornam. Plant Res. vol. 14, 2006: 67-73 69

Z. Kawecki and Z. TomaszewskaT a b l e 2 . Soil <strong>management</strong> technique and vegetative growth parameters in blackchokeberry bushes growing in Warmia and MazuriaSoil<strong>management</strong>techniqueHandweedingConifer barkAgedmanureBlack sheetplasticGesatop 50WPYear20012002200320042005mean20012002200320042005mean20012002200320042005mean20012002200320042005mean20012002200320042005meanLSD Technique (5%)LSD Year (5%)LSD Technique x year (5%)Bush height[cm]12718914015021116313919014016620016714619516418420817912314411313320014312814613217219715520.5611.641.05Bushdiameter[cm]1702001141812041741781871141332061641932061942002092001631861131431171441921581421882021761.0619.041.89number11.016.38.610.025.314.213.320.66.910.519.714.216.010.57.917.022.314.89.711.26.215.620.312.613.312.06.89.817.311.93.802.04n.s.First-year shootslength[cm]98212215692102541001081001009286110110929991428613210295915297140100989720.479.74n.s.diameter[mm]4.03.73.63.04.03.74.03.33.83.33.83.74.03.22.23.53.83.53.83.63.73.23.73.63.73.53.63.33.83.60.370.290.20In the present study, the number <strong>of</strong>blossoms per cluster and the number <strong>of</strong>berries per cluster were highest inbushes mulched with black sheetplastic, and lowest in bushes mulchedwith conifer bark. <strong>The</strong> number <strong>of</strong>blossoms per cluster, the number <strong>of</strong>berries per cluster, and the mass <strong>of</strong> 100berries all varied considerably fromyear to year (Tab. 3).70J. Fruit Ornam. Plant Res. vol. 14, 2006: 67-73

<strong>The</strong> <strong>effect</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>various</strong> <strong>soil</strong> <strong>management</strong>….in the black chokeberry….T a b l e 3 . Black chokeberry yieldSoil <strong>management</strong>techniqueHand weedingConifer barkAged manureBlack sheetplasticGesatop 50 WPLSD Technique (5%)LSD Year (5%)LSD Technique x year (5%)Year20012002200320042005mean20012002200320042005mean20012002200320042005mean20012002200320042005mean20012002200320042005meanNumber <strong>of</strong>blossoms percluster17.718.114.014.016.216.016.318.314.311.318.315.717.316.616.314.317.116.318.018.317.317.015.217.216.316.716.716.714.816.20.0080.0080.019Number <strong>of</strong>berries percluster15.314.013.011.010.512.813.016.712.210.211.112.416.315.113.311.510.213.017.016.714.213.39.414.115.314.414.811.59.113.00.0830.0830.186Mass <strong>of</strong>100berries[g]899298988492858090898285848682838183807885778180919010797799335n.s.Yield[kg/bush]9.715.513.810.08.011.410.814.818.219.96.814.117.815.617.19.18.813.710.414.413.410.25.110.713.014.115.810.35.211.72.831.87n.s.Yield was highest in the bushesmulched with either conifer bark oraged manure, and lowest in thebushes either weeded by hand ormulched with black sheet plastic. Ina previous study, yield was highest inbushes either sprayed with Gesatop50 WP or mulched with black sheetplastic (Kawecki, 1999).Mulching with manure has beenreported to over-stimulate vegetativegrowth without increasing yield.J. Fruit Ornam. Plant Res. vol. 14, 2006: 67-73 71

Z. Kawecki and Z. TomaszewskaFurthermore, manure is relativelyexpensive and does not provideadequate weed control. Hand weedingis too labor intensive and expensive.Black chokeberries do notrequire high doses <strong>of</strong> nitrogen fertilizer.In a previous study, doses over50 kg/ha increased vegetative growth,but actually reduced yield (Chlebowskaet al., 1994).In another study, yield and fruitquality were not significantly affectedby the choice <strong>of</strong> <strong>soil</strong> <strong>management</strong>technique. <strong>The</strong>y were, however,strongly affected by weather conditionsduring the growing season.Yield and fruit quality were lowest inyears with very dry summers(Pietrowa, 1987).CONCLUSIONS<strong>The</strong> start <strong>of</strong> vegetative growth,blossoming dates and optimum harvestdate varied considerably from year toyear, depending on weather conditions.In black chokeberry bushes growing inWarmia and Mazuria, the dates canvary by as many as thirty days.Vegetative growth was mostintense in bushes mulched with eitherconifer bark or aged manure, and leastintense in bushes mulched with blacksheet plastic.Five-year cumulative yield washighest in bushes mulched witheither conifer bark or aged manure,and lowest in bushes either weededby hand or mulched with black sheetplastic.REFERENCESChlebowska D., Salamon Z., Smolarz K.1994. Wpływ nawożenia azotowegona wzrost i plonowanie aronii. 32Ogólnopol. Nauk. Konf. Sad. Cz. II.Skierniewice, pp. 278-280.Gwozdecki J. 2003. Towarowa uprawakrzewów owocowych. WarszawaHortpress, pp. 1-70.Kawecki Z. 1999. Wpływ różnegosposobu utrzymania gleby na wzrosti plonowanie krzewów aronii.Olsztyn, Biul. Nauk. 3: 43-48.Kawecki Z., Kozłowski W.M. 1992.Wpływ ściółkowania gleby i rozstawykrzewów na plonowaniearonii czarnoowocowej w warunkachwoj. suwalskiego. Prac. Inst.Sadow. Kwiac. s. C, 3-4, pp. 73-74.Petrowa W.P. 1987. Diko rastuszczijepłody i jagody. Moskwa, Lesn.Prom., pp. 96-100.Tomaszewska Z. 1999. Aronia jako„eko” roślina. Konf. Nauk. Prom.„Lepsza żywność” (VI) ART.Olsztyn, pp. 273-276.72J. Fruit Ornam. Plant Res. vol. 14, 2006: 67-73

<strong>The</strong> <strong>effect</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>various</strong> <strong>soil</strong> <strong>management</strong>….in the black chokeberry….WZROST I PLONOWANIE KRZEWÓW ARONII PRZYRÓŻNYCH SPOSOBACH PIELĘGNACJI GLEBYZdzisław Kawecki i Z<strong>of</strong>ia TomaszewskaS T R E S Z C Z E N I ECelem badańbyło określenie wpływu kilku sposobów pielęgnacji gleby w rzędachkrzewów aronii na ich wzrost i plonowanie. W latach 2000-2005 przeprowadzono badaniana 10-15-letnich krzewach uprawianych rzędowo 3 x 2 m pod zbiór ręczny w warunkachklimatyczno-glebowych Olsztyna. Zastosowano różne sposoby pielęgnacji glebyw rzędach – odchwaszczanie ręczne, ściółkowanie korąz drzew iglastych (15 cm),ściółkowanie przefermentowanym obornikiem, ściółkowanie czarnąfolią, opryskiwanieherbicydem Gesatop 50 WP wczesnąwiosną(kwiecień) w dawce 3 kg/ha. Obornik i koręuzupełniano co 3 lata, czarnąfolięco 2 lata. Glebęw międzyrzędziach utrzymywanow czarnym ugorze, usuwając pojawiające sięchwasty motyką.W okresie 5-letnich badańwykazano, że w warunkach Warmii i Mazur fazyrozwojowe roślin w poszczególnych latach są znacznie przesunięte w czasie,a zróżnicowanie w czasie rozpoczęcia wegetacji między latami wynosi nawet powyżej 30dni. Ściółkowanie obornikiem i korąz drzew iglastych spowodowało intensywniejszywzrost krzewów i wyższe plonowanie w porównaniu do ściółkowania gleby czarnąfoliąi do odchwaszczania ręcznego, a także po zastosowaniu herbicydu Gesatop 50 WP.Słowa kluczowe: aronia, fazy rozwojowe, utrzymanie gleby, wzrost, plonowanieJ. Fruit Ornam. Plant Res. vol. 14, 2006: 67-73 73