Abstract:

To reduce labor cost and improve economic benefit of apple orchard, taking conventional pruning apple orchard as the control, the effects of quantitative pruning on labor cost of thinning flower and fruit, fruit quality and economic benefit of orchard were monitored in Weibei dry plateau. Taking fruit bagging (paper bag) as the control, the effects of spraying apple mask (humic acid type apple bag-free liquid film agent) instead of fruit bagging on labor cost, apple quality and economic benefit of orchard were monitored in the hilly-gully region of northern Shaanxi. The results showed that quantitative pruning paid 4500 yuan/hm² labor cost more than conventional pruning in winter, but paid 11250 yuan/hm² less when thinning flower, and 2250 yuan/hm² less when thinning fruit. Quantitative pruning increased mean fruit weight and fruit quality, the fruit output value increased by 13.73%, and economic benefit of orchard was 34860 yuan/hm² higher than that of conventional pruning orchard. Compared with fruit bagging and debagging, spraying apple mask reduced labor cost by 22850 yuan/hm² and reduced material consumption by 8250 yuan/hm², improved the appearance commodity value and storage and transportation performance of apple, and the fruit output value increased by 50.01%, the economic benefit of orchard was 192900 yuan/hm² higher than that of fruit bagging orchard. In conclusion, quantitative pruning and spraying apple mask can reduce labor cost and improve economic benefit of apple orchard, which should be actively carried out in the process of apple orchard management.

Key words: apple, quantitative pruning, apple mask, economic benefit