Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-21T17:10:51.989Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Interference Between Apple (Malus domestica) Seedlings and Four Ground Cover Species Under Greenhouse Conditions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

John M. Shribbs
Affiliation:
Dep. Hortic. Sci., North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC 27695-7609
Walter A. Skroch
Affiliation:
Dep. Hortic. Sci., North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC 27695-7609
Thomas J. Monaco
Affiliation:
Dep. Hortic. Sci., North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC 27695-7609

Abstract

Seedlings from golden delicious apples (Malus domestica Borkh. ‘Smoothee’) were grown in the greenhouse with orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L. # DACGL), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L. # POAPR), red sorrel (Rumex acetosella L. # RUMAA), and Korean lespedeza (Lespedeza stipulacea L. # LESSL) at four densities and four fertility levels. Orchardgrass and red sorrel inhibited tree growth more than Kentucky bluegrass on a per plant basis. Korean lespedeza inhibition of apple growth was associated with the amount of root nodulation on the Korean lespedeza. Apple shoot dry weight over all fertility levels, ground cover species, and densities was predicted by a regression model based on increase with fertility and decrease with ground cover dry weight. These results indicate that the competitiveness between equal number of ground cover species is due to differences in biomass production. Addition of nitrogen to the system increased nitrogen levels in apples but did not completely overcome apple growth inhibition.

Type
Weed Biology and Ecology
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 by the Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

1. Atkinson, D. 1983. Optimum cultural inputs into modern orchard systems. Compact Fruit Tree 16:116.Google Scholar
2. Baxter, P. and Newman, B. J. 1971. Effect of herbicides and nitrogen on growth and yield of young apple trees in permanent pasture. Aust. J. Exp. Agric. Anim. Husb. 11:105112.Google Scholar
3. Bould, C. and Jarrett, R. M. 1962. The effect of cover crops and NPK fertilizers on growth, crop yield and leaf nutrient status of young dessert apple trees. J. Hortic. Sci. 37:5882.Google Scholar
4. Boynton, D. and Oberly, G. H. 1966. Apple nutrition. Pages 150 in Childers, N. F., ed. Nutrition of Fruit Crops. Horticultural Publications, Rutgers State Univ., New Brunswick, NJ.Google Scholar
5. Cullinan, F. P. and Batjer, L. P. 1943. Nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium interrelations in young peach and apple trees. Soil Sci. 55:4960.Google Scholar
6. Elmore, C. D., Brown, M. A., and Flint, E. P. 1983. Early interference between cotton and four weed species. Weed Sci. 31: 200207.Google Scholar
7. Goode, J. E. and Higgs, K. H. 1977. Effects of time of application of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers on apple trees in a grassed orchard. J. Hortic. Sci. 52:317334.Google Scholar
8. Goode, J. E. and Hyrycz, K. J. 1976. The effect of nitrogen on young, newly planted apple rootstocks in the presence and absence of grass competition. J. Hortic. Sci. 51:321327.Google Scholar
9. Haynes, R. J. 1980. Competitive aspects of grass-legume association. Adv. Agron. 33:227261.Google Scholar
10. Haynes, R. J. 1980. Influence of soil management practice on the orchard agro-ecosystem. Agro-Ecosystems 6:332.Google Scholar
11. Haynes, R. J. 1981. Some observations on the effect of grassingdown, nitrogen fertilization and irrigation on the growth, leaf nutrient content and fruit quality of young Golden Delicious apple trees. J. Sci. Food Agric. 32:10051013.Google Scholar
12. Hibbard, A. D. 1944. The growth of young peach trees under different systems of soil management. Proc. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci. 44:6670.Google Scholar
13. Henson, J. F. and Jordan, L. S. 1982. Wild oat (Avena fatua) competition with wheat (Triticum aestivum and T. turgidum durum) for nitrate. Weed Sci. 30:297300.Google Scholar
14. Mason, A. C. 1958. The effect of soil moisture on the mineral composition of apple plants grown in pots. J. Hortic. Sci. 33: 202211.Google Scholar
15. Neilsen, G. H., Meherick, M., and Hogue, E. J. 1984. The affect of orchard floor management and nitrogen fertilization on nutrient uptake and fruit quality of Golden Delicious apple trees. HortScience 19:547550.Google Scholar
16. Perring, M. A. 1975. The effect of orchard factors on the chemical composition of apples IV. Some effects of soil management and NPK fertilizers. J. Hortic. Sci. 50:425433.Google Scholar
17. Ray, A. A. 1982. SAS User's Guide: Statistics. SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC. 584 pp.Google Scholar
18. Rogers, W. S., Raptopoulos, T., and Greenham, D.W.P. 1948. Cover crops for fruit plantations IV. Long-term lays and permanent swards. J. Hortic. Sci. 24:228270.Google Scholar
19. Skroch, W. A. and Shribbs, J. M. 1986. Orchard floor management/An Overview. HortScience. 21(3).Google Scholar