Study on Effective Methods for Reducing the Alternate Bearing in Golden Delicious Apple Cultivar

The effects of nitrogen application (Urea, 46% N), fruit thinning and ringing on flower bud formation of “Golden Delicious” apple trees were studied in two independent experiments in 1992 and 1993. In the first experiment, the effects of nitrogen application and fruit thinning at levels of 0, 25, 50 and 75% on flower bud formation were studied in full-bearing trees. In the second experiment, the effects of nitrogen application and ringing on flower bud formation were studied in poor-bearing trees. The results showed that full-bearing fertilized and unfertilized apple trees produced almost the same flower buds, but the thinning treatments at levels of 50 and 75% produced higher flower bud formation as compared with controls (P< 0. 0 1). For poor-bearing trees, both ringing and application of nitrogen together or alone showed an increase in flower bud formation in the following year compared to the controls (P< 0. 0 5).