Table 2. The effects of urea application technique on the trunk and shoot growth of Summerland Red 

 Mclntosh/Mark trees planted in 1986. 



*No significant differences existed. 



ammonium nitrate and determine if a smaller dose may be 

 appropriate for newly planted trees. 



Nitrogen Application Technique 



The second planting (Summerland Red Mcintosh/ 

 Mark) established in 1986 studied the effects of nitrogen 

 application technique the year of planting on tree growth. 

 In 1986 trees all received 0.25 pound of urea, but it was 

 applied either dry to the soil on May 15, in solution as a soil 

 drench on May 8, or in foliar applications on May 25 and 

 June 8. In 1987 all trees received a soil treatment of 1 

 pound of ammonium nitrate. Tree growth was measured 

 as in the first planting. Data are reported in Table 2, and 

 they showed that application technique did not alter the 

 amount of tree growth during the first or second leaf. 



Mulching and Vydate 



In the third planting established in 1986 Gala/M.26 



trees were either mulched with 0.5 bale of hay after 

 planting, treated with foliar applications of Vydate 2L^^ (2 

 quarts/100 gallons) just after leaf emergence and in mid- 

 July, mulched and treated with Vydate, or not treated. 

 Mulch was reapplied in 1987. Tree growth was measured 

 as in the first planting, and data are reported in Table 3. 

 Mulch was included in this planting because it often is 

 able to encourage better tree growth, even beyond its weed 

 control abilities. In this experiment weed control was 

 maintained with herbicides. Vydate was used to control 

 nematodes which may reduce growth. Neither mulch nor 

 Vydate treatments affected the growth of these trees. 

 However, mulch significantly increased the quantity of 

 bloom in 1988. It is clear that this response could signifi- 

 cantly improve early returns. Additionally, mulched trees 

 are less susceptible to extremes in water availability, so 

 that over a number of years plantings established with 

 mulch would be expected to have better growth even 

 though we did not see it in this planting. 



