English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Studies were conducted on peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) during 1988 to 1990 to test the performance of a tree-width rope-curtain bloom thinner and a rotating rope-curtain thinner. Six trips over the tree canopy were required with the tree-width rope curtain, and only one trip was required with the rotating curtain to thin to a spacing of about one flower per 9 cm of fruiting shoot length. Based on the number of flowers per square centimeter of branch cross-sectional area (CSA) immediately following thinning and the number of fruit per square centimeter of CSA following June drop, rope-curtain thinning was equal to hand-thinning at full bloom (FB). Rope-curtain thinning reduced hand-thinning time by 40% and increased harvest fruit weight by 10% to 20%. Research on various modifications in tree training/pruning indicated that performance of the mechanical thinner was negatively correlated with shoot density. Thinning was maximum on open-center-t rained trees on which detailed pruning had been con- ducted to eliminate overlapping shoots. Thinning peaches at bloom increases fruit size, flower bud formation, and, in general, revenue to the grower (Baugher et al., 1988; Byers, 1989; Byers and Lyons, 1985; Byers et al., 1990; Johnson and Handley, 1989). Although the standard com- mercial practice still is to thin peaches by hand at 40 to 60 days after full bloom (DAFB), hand-thinning at FB is becoming more common (Myers, 1986). Peach orchard profits can be further increased if hand bloom thinning is replaced by chemical or mechanical thinning. Byers and Lyons (1985) have shown that desiccating chemicals can be successfully used at FB to thin peaches; however, commercial registration of these chemicals remains questionable. Preliminary studies on mechanical bloom thinning with a rope curtain (Baugher et al., 1988) or a high- pressure water stream (Byers, 1989) show promise, but the tech- niques need refinement. Rope thinning was initially tested in West Virginia in 1987 (Baugher et al., 1988). Our research demonstrated that maxi- mum thinning occurred when 80% to 100% of the blossoms were open and the tractor operated at 3.2 km·h -1 . The most effective treatments removed 45% to 60% of the blossoms and reduced follow-up hand-thinning time by 30%. Disadvantages of the 1987 test unit were: 1) multiple trips over the tree were required and 2) fewer flowers were removed in the lower third than in the upper part of the canopy. Studies were conducted in 1988 to 1990 to test modifications of the rope-curtain thinner and also of tree training for potential effects on thinning. The objectives were to reduce the number of trips through the orchard, improve uniformity of thinning, reduce labor, and increase fruit size.

Improved Methods of Mechanically Thinning Peaches at Full Bloom