Experience in optimizing the pollination of fruit crops

Abstract

Studying the dependence of the yield and quality of fruit crops on pollination by bees is necessary, among other things, from the point of view of the protection of bees and biodiversity. Perennial fruit plantations in the Rostov region occupy 30 thousand hectares. Fruit trees such as apricot, quince, plum, cherry, sweet cherry, pear, and apple are essential honey plants for bees. The study aimed to develop methods and techniques for optimising the pollination of fruit crops based on established flowering periods and varietal characteristics of plants and determining the bioresource potential of gardens in the region. Using the method of accumulating sums of effective temperatures, it was established that the flowering of gardens begins with the mass flowering of apricot in the second ten days of April and ends with the flowering of quince at the end of May. The average duration of flowering of plants was 7–14 days. Observations of yield dynamics showed an increase in the number of fruits when optimising pollination by 20–27 times in cherries and sweet cherries. Taking into account the changes in the natural and climatic conditions of the Rostov region when moving through the territory, the physiological characteristics of fruit trees, as well as the mutual pollination of different varieties, the timing of migrations of bee colonies for cross-pollination and planting patterns when planting an orchard are proposed. Monitoring of the bioresource potential of gardens showed that the total area of parks in the region is 27 thousand hectares, with a bioresource potential for honey collection of 434.1 tons. The most significant bioresource potential for honey collection is characterised by the area of gardens in the territory of the 4th honey collection district (154.1 tons). In the 1st region, this figure is 95.5 tons, slightly less in the 3rd region - 73.4 tons. Using all listed methods for regulating work with an apiary and agricultural technology for growing gardens will create conditions for increasing their productivity by 10.8 times, or by 73.3%.