PRUNING AND FERTILIZATION AFFECT FRUIT PRODUCTION OF A Malus doumeri PLANTATION
NINH VIET KHUONG
Silviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam.
TRIEU THAI HUNG
Silviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam.
DUONG DINH DUC
Department of Science and Technology of Lai Chau, Tan Phong, Lai Chau City, Lai Chau Province, Vietnam.
TRAN THI KIM HUONG
Silviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam.
TRAN HOANG QUY
Silviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam.
TRAN CAO NGUYEN
Silviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam.
NGUYEN VAN TUAN
Silviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam.
NGUYEN THI THU PHUONG
Silviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam.
PHUNG DINH TRUNG
Silviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam.
DANG THI HAI HA
Silviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam.
DUONG QUANG TRUNG
Silviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam.
NGUYEN QUANG HUNG
Silviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam.
PHAM NGOC DOAN
Tan Uyen Protection Forest Management Board, Lai Chau Province, Vietnam.
TRAN THI HA
Tan Uyen Protection Forest Management Board, Lai Chau Province, Vietnam.
NGUYEN HUU THINH
Silviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam.
LE XUAN TRUONG
Department of Silviculture, Vietnam National University of Forestry, Xuan Mai, Hanoi, Vietnam.
TRAN VAN DO *
Silviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Malus doumeri, an apple species, naturally distributes in South China, North Vietnam, and Laos. It has been widely planted in North Vietnam by ethnic communities and contributed significantly to poverty reduction. In this study, the effect of fertilization and pruning on fruit production of a M. doumeri plantation was studied. There were two treatments of pruning as (C1) removing small, unproductive and dense branches which were applied in August 2018, and (C0) control/no pruning. There were four treatments of fertilization as (P1) 0.5 kg compost + 0.5 kg NPK (12:5:10)/tree, (P2) 1 kg compost + 1 kg NPK/tree, (P3) 1.5 kg compost + 1.5 kg NPK/tree which were applied in September 2018 and February 2019 and (P0) control/no fertilization. The experiment was designed by two-factor with three replicates in a randomly completed block. The results indicated that P1C0 treatment had the highest fruit production as 2.61 kg/tree/year, while the lowest fruit production belonged to P0C1 (0.78 kg/tree/year). However, the smallest fruit size was also found in P1C0 with 59 fruits/kg and a fruit diameter of 3.1 cm. It is concluded that treatment of no pruning and fertilization of 0.5 kg compost + 0.5 kg NPK/tree should be applied to M. doumeri plantation in North Vietnam, which resulted in highest fruit production. However, a cost-benefit analysis should be conducted to the present study plantation for a better recommendation in practical application.
Keywords: Crown shape, light penetration, nutrient requirement, photosynthesis, unproductive branches.