How To Scientifically Manage Orchards? Make Fruit Trees High-yield And Healthy!

1, Choosing fruit tree varieties that are suitable for the local climate and soil conditions is the first step towards success.
Different types of fruit trees, such as kernels (apples, pears), drupes (peaches, plums), berries (grapes, strawberries), etc., have different growth habits and management requirements. For example, apple trees prefer cool climates, while citrus fruits are more suitable for warm areas. You should choose varieties with strong disease resistance and good adaptability based on the local climate conditions and soil properties. When choosing a variety, not only should yield be considered, but also market demand and disease resistance, in order to ensure long-term stable returns.

2, Scientific planning of orchard layout directly affects ventilation, lighting, and management efficiency.
Any orchard with an unreasonable layout can easily lead to the breeding of pests and diseases, as well as poor growth of fruit trees. When planning, the following points should be considered:
Row spacing and plant spacing: Determine the appropriate row spacing and plant spacing based on the type of fruit tree. Generally, large fruit trees such as apples and pears have a row spacing of 5-6 meters and a plant spacing of 3-4 meters; Medium sized fruit trees such as peaches and plums have a row spacing of 4-5 meters and a plant spacing of 2-3 meters. Orientation: Arranging in a north-south direction can provide sufficient light for fruit trees. Variety combination: Pay attention to the reasonable combination of pollination varieties. Generally, a ratio of 8:2 between the main planting variety and pollination variety is more suitable. A reasonable orchard layout is the foundation of efficient management, and it is important not to neglect the convenience of long-term management in pursuit of short-term high density.

3, Scientific pruning and plastic surgery
Pruning is one of the most important technical processes in fruit tree management, and the pruning methods vary among different fruit tree varieties and growth stages.
Young tree stage: Pay attention to the cultivation of bone branches and establish a good tree structure. For example, apple trees can adopt a central stem shape or a dispersed layered shape; Peach trees can be designed in a happy or Y-shaped shape.
Adult trees: mainly regulate tree vigor, maintain ventilation and light transmission, and prevent the phenomenon of "vigorous growth". Prune and control excessive branches in summer, and adjust the tree structure during winter pruning.
Aging tree: focusing on regeneration and rejuvenation, appropriately retracting old branches to promote new shoot growth. When pruning, it is necessary to grasp the principle of "light pruning promotes prosperity, heavy pruning suppresses prosperity", and adjust the pruning intensity according to the strength of the tree. Trimming tools should be sharp and the incision should be smooth to reduce the chance of bacterial invasion.

4, The nutritional requirements of fruit trees under reasonable fertilization and irrigation vary with the growth stage, and scientific fertilization is the key to high yield.
Base fertilizer: applied in winter or early spring, mainly organic fertilizer, with 30-50 kilograms of decomposed farmyard manure applied to each adult fruit tree.
Topdressing: Reasonably apply nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers according to the needs of different stages of fruit tree growth, flowering, and fruit enlargement. For example, applying nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers before flowering can promote flower bud differentiation, while applying potassium fertilizers during fruit enlargement can improve quality.
Foliar fertilizer: Spraying foliar fertilizer during critical periods has a significant effect, such as boron fertilizer can prevent flower and fruit drop, and zinc fertilizer can promote fruit growth. In terms of irrigation, drip irrigation systems not only save water, but also maintain suitable soil moisture. **During the flowering to harvesting period of fruit trees, the soil moisture content should be maintained at 60% -80% of the field capacity, neither wet nor dry.

5, Integrated pest and disease control
Common diseases of fruit trees such as anthracnose, gray mold, and "dragon disease" (commonly known as "fire dragon disease"), as well as pests such as aphids, heart worms, and red spider mites, can seriously affect yield and quality.
Prevention first: Strengthen orchard hygiene, timely remove fallen leaves, diseased fruits, insect nests, etc.
Physical control: Use physical equipment such as sticky insect boards and insecticidal lamps to kill pests.
Biological control: using natural enemies such as ladybugs to control aphids, and releasing red eyed wasps to control Lepidoptera pests.
Chemical control: Reasonable use of pesticides, following the principles of "appropriate use, moderate dosage, and safe interval".
Comprehensive prevention and control should follow the principle of "agricultural prevention and control as the foundation, biological prevention and control as the leading, and chemical prevention and control as the auxiliary", reduce the use of chemical pesticides, and protect the ecological environment of orchards.

6, Fruit Science Management
Fruit management is directly related to the final yield and quality:
Thinning flowers and fruits: Properly thinning weak flowers, deformed flowers, and overly dense flowers to preserve full and healthy flowers; Remove small fruits, diseased fruits, and deformed fruits in the later stage to allow the remaining fruits to fully develop.
Bagging: Bagging fruits such as apples and pears can not only prevent the invasion of pests and diseases, but also improve the appearance of the fruits.
Timely harvesting: Master the appropriate harvesting period. Harvesting too early affects quality, while harvesting too late can easily lead to fruit loss. When harvesting fruits, they should be handled gently to avoid mechanical damage, and packaged according to the characteristics of the fruit. They should be promptly sent to cold storage or the market to reduce losses.

Summary and Suggestions: Scientific management of orchards is a systematic project that requires full attention and meticulous management at every stage of fruit tree growth. Only by mastering scientific management methods can fruit trees be both high-yielding and healthy. I hope the experience shared above will be helpful for your orchard management, so that your orchard not only has high yield and good fruit quality, but also achieves sustainable development! Remember, fruit tree planting is an agricultural technique that requires patience and wisdom, and continuous learning and practice are necessary to master its mysteries. Wishing you successful orchard management and abundant fruits!