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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Kearneysville, West Virginia » Appalachian Fruit Research Laboratory » Innovative Fruit Production, Improvement, and Protection » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #243312

Title: Grass competition may benefit high density peach orchards

Author
item Tworkoski, Thomas
item Glenn, David

Submitted to: Annual Cumberland Shenandoah Fruit Workers Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/22/2010
Publication Date: 1/7/2011
Citation: Tworkoski, T., Glenn, D.M. 2010. Grass competition may benefit high density peach orchards. Annual Cumberland Shenandoah Fruit Workers Conference, November 18-19, 2010, Winchester, VA. p. 45-49.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Previous research demonstrated that grass competition dwarfed and reduced the yield of individual peach trees [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] grown in narrow vegetation free areas (VFA). In this report, the area-based yield of two peach cultivars, 'Redskin' and 'Jersey Dawn' on 'Lovell', was estimated for two planting densities in two VFAs to compare potential economic returns from trees with different crop loads. The analysis indicated that even though grass competition reduced yield of individual peach trees, the concomitant reduction in tree size should enable greater tree density which may increase economic returns per hectare.