Optimizing planting density for production of high-quality apple nursery stock in China

Figures & data

Table 1 Planting density treatments.

Row space (cm)	Planting distance (cm)	Planting density (plants/m^2)
20	10	50.0
40 + 60	10	20.0
50 + 70	10	16.7
60 + 80	10	14.3
40 + 60	20	10.0
50 + 70	20	8.3
60 + 80	20	7.1
40 + 60	30	6.7
40	40	6.3
50 + 70	30	5.6
60 + 80	30	4.8

Note: values before and after + indicate the alternating narrow/wide row widths of the paired row planting pattern.

Figure 1 Mean air temperature, precipitation and sunshine duration during the experiment in 2011 and corresponding historical data.

Figure 2 Temporal changes in A, plant heights; B, trunk diameters; and C, end-of-season heights and diameters of 2-year-old apple trees planted at various densities. Each value is the mean with SED of three replicates.

Figure 3 Bud and leaf dry weight of 2-year-old apple trees grown at various densities. Each value is the mean with SED of three replicates. Data labelled with the same letter are not significantly different at P = 0.05.

Figure 4 Total dry weights and leaf areas of each part of 2-year-old apple trees grown at various densities. Each value is the mean with SED of three replicates. Data labelled with the same letter are not significantly different at P = 0.05.

Figure 5 Net biomass increase per unit land area and leaf area index of 2-year-old apple trees grown at various densities. Each value is the mean with SED of three replicates. Data labelled with the same letter are not significantly different at P = 0.05.

Figure 6 Concentrations of A, total soluble sugar; B, starch; C, total non-structural carbohydrate concentration; and D, total non-structural carbohydrates content of 2-year-old apple trees grown at various densities. Bars labelled with the same letter are not significantly different at P = 0.05.

Figure 7 A, Nitrogen content; B, N concentration; and C, TNC/N ratio of 2-year-old apple trees grown at different densities. Each value is the mean with SED of three replicates. Bars labelled with the same letter are not significantly different at P = 0.05.