Application of agrotechnical methods for obtaining branched annual apple seedlings

High yields in the up-to-date intensive orchards depend on the quality of plant material. In the soil and climatic conditions of Orel region the field experiment was carried out. The reaction of apple varieties on the manual methods (nipping of annual seedlings and nipping with the removal of 3-4 upper leaves) and chemical methods (treatments with epin, rastvorin and urea solutions) was studied in the nursery of the Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (VNIISPK). The aim of this work is to assess the agrotechnical methods of impact on the seedlings for the purpose of obtaining branched annual seedlings of different varieties. It was observed that manual methods and chemicals influenced upon branching and growth processes of annual apple seedlings in different ways. The manual methods (nipping and nipping together with the removal of 3-4 upper leaves) occurred to be the most effective. Depending on the cultivar these methods provide the formation of 1,9-4,0 lateral shoots per one annual seedling, on the average. The sprays with chemical preparations did not have a real effect on the lateral branching. As a result of the research it was found that the application of the manual methods significantly increased the awakening of axillary buds and lateral shoot formation, while the application of chemicals positively influenced on the quality indicators of seedlings in certain cultivars. For the purpose of obtaining well-branched apple annual seedlings the manual methods (nipping and nipping with the removal of 3-4 upper leaves) are the best methods for the stimulation of lateral branching.