Yield Lower In Grassed Experimental Orchard

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28262, 27 April 1957, Page 13

Yield Lower In Grassed Experimental Orchard

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, April 26. Most New Zealand orchards •uve built up their reputation for Ljh yields under a system of jSn cultivation, but if mown S-ass could be established under fruit trees the problem of erosion the Nelson hills would be this possibility, the De--artment of Scientific and Industrial Research began an experiment in 1950 at the Appleby research orchard. Nelson. Results of the first six years *how that erosion has been checked, but at the price of a 20 per eent reduction in apple yield. For this test, a block of mature Jonathan trees was selected. For 35 years they had been under dean cultivation, well manured, and regularly sprayed. Heavy nnnmer rains had removed a good deal of topsoil, but growth was vigorous and crops good. Part of the block was sown w ith white clover and perennial ryegrass, part kept under clean cultivation. As it is common knowledge in England that trees under grass need extra nitrogen, some trees under both systems were given extra nitrogenous fertilisers. - To prevent undue competition with the trees the grass was kept mown like a golf course fairway. Looking at these two sets of trees at any time during the last six years gave the impression that all were producing equally good crops, but records of crop weights told a different story. With all other things equal grass caused a fall in crop of

so ™ e per cent - Where an extra 21b of nitrogen was given to grassed trees, reduction in yield was about 8 per cent. An orchard covered with mown grass is a far more pleasant place work in than a dry, dusty one, the Price of this luxury is nign. The experiment is continuing, and in the long, run, checking of erosion may allow grassed trees to catch up with their neighbours.