Dependence of apple yield on soil parameters in the conditions of the north of the Central Black Earth Region

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of our research was to establish the correlation between individual soil parameters and the apple yield on low-growing rootstocks. Of the studied soils the gray forest soil was distinguished by the smallest thickness of the humus horizon, while the largest was leached chernozem. The upper line of the typical chernozem carbonate site was closest to the soil surface, while on gray forest and chernozem-moist meadow soil carbonates were the deepest. The lowest bonitet score belonged to gray forest soil (bonitet class 7), the highest – to leached chernozem (bonitet class 9). Typical chernozem podzolized, meadow-chernozem, chernozem-meadow, chernozem-moist-meadow and meadow-chernozem soils belonged to the 8th class of bonitet. Only the gray forest soil was of average quality, the rest of the soils were the best. Apple varieties grafted on semi-dwarf rootstocks 62-396 give the highest yield when grown on typical chernozem, and varieties on medium-sized (54-118) and vigorous (seed) stocks - on podzolized chernozem. Of the three given rootstocks the seed rootstocks suffer the most from the proximity of groundwater, while the semi-dwarf rootstocks - the least. As the groundwater approaches the soil surface, apple yield decreases in varieties grafted on medium-sized rootstocks 54-118. This is due to the vigor of the rootstock growth. The higher the vigor of growth, the more dangerous soils become with similar groundwater levels for rootstocks. Apple seed stocks are less demanding on soil fertility than 62-396 and 54-118. With an increase in the amount of exchange bases in the soil, absorption capacity, degree of saturation with bases, total porosity and bonitet, the yield of apple varieties on stocks 62-396 and 54-118 increases. The varieties on the stock 62-396 prefer soils with close carbonates sites, and on seed ones - with a deep one.