Effect of soil management systems on bearing and fruit quality of apple cv. red delicious

Long term effect of seven orchard soil management systems, viz., mulching with black polythene, sod culture with red clover, white clover, lucerne and lotium, mulching with hay and clean cultivation on growth, yield and fruit quality of apple was studied. Mulching with black polythene resulted in the highest growth and yield followed by white and red clover but hay and clean cultivation had intermediate effect. Lucerne and lolium grass resulted in the lowest yield and growth. The highest fruit set was recorded with black polythene and the lowest fruit drop with lolium grass. Black polythene also resulted in the highest fruit weight and size with maximum juice content. Lolium grass had the lowest fruit weight and size.