Response of Young ‘Misri’ Sweet Cherry Trees to Orchard Floor Management

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the response of young ‘Misri’ cherry trees, grafted onto Colt rootstock, to orchard floor management practices using different intercrops. Those vegetative covers evaluated were legumes such as pea (nutrient providing) red clover, French bean and, heavy feeder (requiring higher level of soil nutrients) crop types of maize, oats, cabbage and strawberry compared to a clean cultivation which was kept control. Growth of young ‘Misri’ (Bigarreau Noir Gross) on Colt rootstock cherry trees during 2008 and 2009 was significantly affected by the vegetative intercrops. Cherry trees intercropped with leguminous crops, such as pea, red clover and french bean, had greater tree growth as measured by annual extension shoot growth, tree girth, height and spread than those under clean cultivation and heavy feeder crops like oats and maize. Yield, leaf nutrient status (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) and relative economic yield (system equivalent yield) of cherry trees intercropped with pea, red clover and French bean were greater than clean cultivation. However, lowest yield and yield related characters like (Fruit no. Fruit weight and Fruit volume), leaf nutrient status and economics in terms of Benefit:Cost ratio were lower in cherry trees with maize, oats and strawberry