Organic Mulch Impact on Vegetative Growth, Productivity and Fruit Quality of “Anna” Apple Trees

This experiment was conducted in two successive seasons (2016 and 2017) on 10-year-old “Anna” apple trees planted at 3*4 m apart in sandy soil under drip irrigation system at 6^th October company orchard, Ismailia, Egypt. The objective was to study the effect of organic orchard floor management systems (peanut shells and wood chips with three layers differed in thickness; 0.0 control , 7 and 15 cm) on soil properties, weed control, vegetative growth, tree yield and fruit quality. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design.The application with thicker layer of organic orchard floor management systems (wood chips and peanut shells) decreased soil temperature (°C), increased soil moisture (%) and was more effective in suppression weed growth. Peanut shells mulch increased number of leaves/shoot and leaf area per shoot (cm²) while, 7 cm thick of peanut shells increased number of shoots per branch. However, both wood chips and peanut shells increased shoot length. Thicker layer of wood chips increased tree volume (m³) whereas thicker layer of peanut shells increased trunk cross sectional area (TCSA m²). As for “Anna” apple tree productivity, the thicker layer of wood chips increased number of fruits per tree, average fruit weight (g) & length (cm), fruit shape index, tree yield (kg) and yield efficiency however, both wood chips and peanut shells increased fruit diameter (cm) while, 15 cm thick of peanut shells increased soluble solids content (SSC%). In addition, the thicker layer (15 cm) of organic mulch materials especially wood chips can be recommended for mulching in “Anna” apple orchards.