Early High Yield Technique of Japanese Pear ‘Kousui’ Grown in a High Density Soil Mound Rhizosphere Restricted Culture

Abstract

This study evaluated tree growth, yield and fruit quality when the Japanese pear ‘Kousui’ was grown on 1) a two-scaffold Y-shaped dense-planting system on soil-mounds of 150 L (2SY/SM); 2) a two-scaffold Y-shaped dense-planting system in an open field (2SY/OF); and 3) a conventional four-scaffold pergola training system in an open field (4SP/OF). The yield in the 2SY/SM was 18 t·ha⁻¹ in the second year, then reached 61 t·ha⁻¹ in the fifth year. The first yield in the 4SP/OF was 4 t·ha⁻¹ in the fourth year and reaching 13 t·ha⁻¹ in the fifth year. The sum of the yield in the 2SY/SM was 854% to the 4SP/OF. Average fruit weight was greater and Brix was higher in the 2SY/SM. Adequate irrigation, best-matched to the water absorption abilities of the trees may have resulted in a high yield and high fruit quality by trees grown by 2Y/SM. Probably due to adequate irrigation, those trees also featured high density, more abundant absorbing roots and better vegetative growth after transplanting, as well as more bearing branches with more floral buds and leaves.