Odlingsmetodernas påverkan på vitaliteten hos Prunus avium

Abstract: The objective of this study was to get a better understanding of how the cultivation methods influence the vitality in Prunus avium. The purpose was also to examine if there was any differences in shoot growth and trunk expansion depending on the method of cultivation. To find the answer to this question a literature study and a case study has been done. The literature study concerns the concepts vitality and stress. Different definitions of these concepts are shown and their connection whit establishment is explained. In the background the species Prunus avium, and the four method of cultivation that are included in this case study are described. Measurements of the shoot growth and trunk expansion were made in this study, and as a complement to these methods, a visual estimate of the vitality was made. The studied trees were planted on three different nurseries in Skåne and Halland. The different cultivation methods being compared was field cultivation, depot cultivation, root pruning and RCB (Root Control Bag). The result of the measurements showed a big difference in vitality between the cultivation methods. It has been shown in other studies that the cultivation methods had an influence on water stress tolerance, tree death and establishment by plantation. The result of the case study showed that trees in field cultivation and depot cultivation had the best vitality and growth. Trees in RCB and root pruned trees had inferior results in all the measurements. It this study it was not possible to demonstrate how well these trees are going to establish on a new location. The conclusion that trees with good vitality in the nursery should establish better by plantation is not possible to do.