Uman National University | today: 05/20/2026
| Author(s) |
Трушев І. М., , , Chetsky B.A., , , Uman National University of Horticulture Кучер І. О., , , Pelekhatyi V.N., Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, , Zhytomyr National Agroecological University |
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| Category | The Agronomy | ||
| year | 2026 | issue | Issue 108 part 1 |
| pages | 104-111 | index UDK | 634.11:581.1:631.52 | DOI | 10.32782/2415-8240-2026-108-1-104-111 (Link) |
| Abstract | The article presents the results of studies on the peculiarities of leaf apparatus formation and crown architecture, as well as their influence on the productivity of apple trees of the ‘Champion Arno’ cultivar grafted on MM.106 rootstock under the conditions of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Patterns of relationships between biometric parameters of leaf area, structural characteristics of the crown, and orchard yield were established. It was determined that the optimal combination of leaf apparatus development and spatial organization of the crown contributes to increased efficiency of photosynthetic activity, improved fruiting performance, and yield stability. As a result of the conducted studies, a close relationship was established between the parameters of the assimilative surface, crown growth characteristics, and the yield level of apple trees of the ‘Champion Arno’ cultivar. Optimization of mineral nutrition and the application of foliar fertilization enhanced growth processes, which positively affected the formation of orchard productivity. The application of calculated fertilizer rates and foliar fertilization with nitrogen and boron ensured a significant increase in the number of leaves (by 8-11%) and leaf blade area (by 9–11%), contributing to the development of a more powerful assimilative surface. Under these conditions, an increase in crown volume up to 4.07 m³ (11% compared to the control) was observed, creating optimal conditions for balancing growth and fruiting processes. The application of the biostimulant ‘Vuksal Bio Aminoplant’ further enhanced the positive effect. An increase in the parameters of the leaf apparatus and crown was directly reflected in yield performance, with the maximum level (31.9 t/ha) obtained in 2023. The optimized fertilization system provided a 4% increase in yield compared to the production control (N120P90K90) and a 32% increase relative to the unfertilized treatment, while foliar fertilization increased yield by 17% and the application of the biostimulant ‘Vuksal Bio Aminoplant’ by 7%. Thus, balanced soil nutrition combined with foliar fertilization is an effective tool for achieving high orchard productivity through the optimization of growth processes and photosynthetic activity of trees. | ||
| Key words | apple tree, ‘Champion Arno’, soil fertilization, foliar fertilization, assimilative surface, crown parameters, yield | ||