işik, doğan erciyes üniversitesi - seyrani ziraat fakültesi - bitki koruma bölümü, Kayseri, turkey , türkmen, gülhanım erciyes üniversitesi - seyrani ziraat fakültesi - bitki koruma bölümü, Kayseri, turkey , demir, zeynep toprak, gübre ve su kaynakları merkez araştırma enstitüsü müdürlüğü, Ankara, turkey , macit, idris karadeniz tarımsal araştırma enstitüsü müdürlüğü, Samsun, turkey

The Effects of Some Cover Crops on Yield and Quality in Semi Dwarf Apple Orchards

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Agriculture in an important sector in Turkish economy and horticulture is a crucial component. Apple planted areas cover approximately 7% of total fruit planted area in Turkey. There are many biotic and abiotic factors affecting yield in the apple orchards. Weeds are one of the most important yield limiting factors in the apple orchards. Alternative weed control methods are needed because of the various side effects of herbicides. Using cover crops for weed control in fruit orchards is one of the broadly applied alternative methods. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of some cover crop used in weed control on yield and quality in semi dwarf apples orchards. These experiments were conducted in 2012-2013 in semi dwarf apple orchards in Develi district of Kayseri province in Turkey. The cover crop treatments consisted of Trifolium repens L., Festuca rubra rubra L., Festuca arundinacea Schreb., and a mixture of perennials (40% T. repens + 30% F. rubra + 30% F. arundinacea), Vicia villosa Roth. and Trifolium meneghinianum Celm. Cover crop treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications, and all cover crops were grown on the same plot during the experimental periods. Control plots such as weedy control, herbicide control and mechanical control were added as reference plots. The highest yield was obtained from V. villosa (hairy vetch) while the lowest total yield was obtained from the mechanical control plots. None of the cover crops caused a decrease in yield of apple yields. This research demonstrated that cover crops could be used as living mulch to manage weeds in apple orchards.

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Apple , Weeds , Competition , Cover crops , Yields

Erciyes University Journal Of The Institute Of Science an‎d Technology

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