Summary 



Mixing lime with the soil used in planting hole for apple 

 trees enhanced Ca levels for only the first 2 years. Ca(N03)2 

 and KNO3 are neutral in reaction and have not affected soil pH, 

 whereas NO4NO3 increased soil acidity, N source or time of appli- 

 cation had little influence on N, K, Mg , and Ca content of leaves, 

 no effect on the incidence of bitter pit, and no appreciable influ- 

 ence on fruit Ca. Thus, it would appear, under the conditions of 

 this experiment, that no change is needed in the "old idea" that 

 price per unit of actual N should determine choice of nitrogen 

 fertilizers for orchards. 



HOW ETHEPHON IS BEING USED TO ADVANCE THE MATURITY OF APPLES 



IN MASSACHUSETTS 



12 2 



W. J. Lord , J. Williams and K. Hauschild 



Ethephon has been used commercially for several years on early- 

 maturing cultivars and on Mcintosh to stimulate red color develop- 

 ment, hasten fruit maturity, and advance the harvest season. We 

 published a circular with suggestions on the use of ethephon in 

 1976. The information was up-dated last year and the suggestions 

 appeared in the July/August, 1979 issue of FRUIT NOTES . 



Climatic conditions vary in the state and affect the rate of 

 ethephon needed to obtain the desired response. Furthermore, 

 ethephon 's use is influenced by the marketing needs of the grower. 

 Thus, the purpose of this article is to describe how ethephon is 

 being used commercially by some growers in Massachusetts. 



Horticultural Research Center . Tony Rossi, farm foreman, needs Mc- 

 intosh apples the first week of September for sale to the University 

 of Massachusetts dining halls. He applies ethephon at 1 pint, plus 

 20 ppm 2,4,5-TP, per 100 gallons of water with an air blast sprayer 

 at IX. Tony uses 2,4,5-TP rather than NAA because it provides bette 

 pre-harvest drop control and contributes more than NAA for advancing 

 fruit maturity. The data in Table 1 show the 1974 to 1979 dates of 

 ethephon application and harvest. Tony selects vigorous young trees 

 because the fruit are larger and the ethephon effect is greater be- 

 cause of less shading. Direct sunlight enhances the fruit color res 

 ponse to ethephon. 



It can be noted in Table 1 that the fruit have been harvested 

 7 to 10 days after the ethephon application. Except in 1979, the 

 fruit have been harvested in one picking. 



r 



1 



Extension Pomologist 

 2 



Regional Fruit Specialists in Massachusetts 



