Evaluating chemicals for inducing budburst in peach orchard grown in subtropical conditions

Abstract

The availability of chill hours influences the break dormancy, sprouting and production of temperate fruit trees in different regions. During the winter, the chilling requirements for growing peaches in subtropical locations are restricted, and certain chemicals are required to overcome dormancy and induce budburst. As a result, further information concerning the use of these compounds on stimulating sprouting in peach trees is required. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of hydrogen cyanamide, nitrogen fertilizer, and calcium nitrate to trigger budburst in the ‘Douradão’ peach orchard, which is in the subtropical area of São Paulo state, Brazil. The following tree chemicals were tested: 0.6 % hydrogen cyanamide, 2.5 % nitrogen fertilizer with 4 % calcium nitrate, 4 % calcium nitrate, and control. The hydrogen cyanamide accelerated, predicted, and focused blooming on plants, along with improving fruit set and output. Furthermore, combining nitrogen fertilizer with calcium nitrate accelerated budburst, which boosted flowering, output per tree, and yield. The spraying of the peach plants with just calcium nitrate produced results like those obtained in the control. The results allow for the use of hydrogen cyanamide or nitrogen fertilizer + calcium nitrate as an option for triggering budburst in Douradão cultivar peach trees under subtropical circumstances, depending on the orchards system management used.