Technological aspects of the creation of intensive plantations of cherries in Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

Abstract

Goal. To make a comparative assessment of the efficiency of cultivation of sweet cherry in modern intensive gardens, using the best domestic and foreign large-fruited varieties, high-yielding stocks, new forms of crowns for the optimally dense layout of trees. Methods. Field, laboratory, comparative and statistical. Results. It was established that trees of variety Reghina in plantings on rootstock Ghizela 5 had a low growth rate, therefore, they had 1.2 times smaller crown volume as compared to medium growth trees on rootstocks Ghizela 6 and VSL-2. Cutting of trees with the spindle-shaped crown in comparison with the rounded compact one needed in 1.3–1.6 times more time. As a result, technological labor input per unit area grew in 1,8–2,2 times. Similar costs needed gardens with large hanging flattened crown. For specific performance the trees of variety Reghina on the rootstocks Ghizela 5 and Ghizela 6 in all the garden designs were in 3.6–6.0 times less productive than trees of varieties Melitopolska myrna, Talisman, and Annushka. The low productivity of trees (0.5–0.7 kg/m3) was observed in all plantations with a spindle-shaped crown, so the latter is impractical in gardens with the use of classical selection varieties. Conclusions. High-performance design growing spaces were developed for varieties Talisman and Annushka on medium rootstock VSL-2 with a stocking density of 889 trees/ha and the formation of a rounded compact crown, which is 6–7-years age provide a competitive level of productivity (12.6 tons/ha) and return (120 to 187%). The average weight of the fruits in these gardens is 8.6–9.6 g with an average diameter of 27–28 mm. Marketability of products — 79,8–85.6%. In gardens sweet cherry of varieties Reghina on the rootstocks Ghizela 5 and Ghizela 6 secure high level of marketability of production (86–87,6%), but due to low performance (2,3–3,3 t/ha) they are unprofitable and cannot be recommended for forest-steppe of Ukraine.