Soil content in the garden
An important element in the care of the garden is the soil maintenance system, which provides good water supply and nutrition for fruit trees. The main thesis in this system is to increase soil fertility, create favorable conditions for the growth and development of fruit trees, and increase their productivity.
In areas of insufficient moisture, such as, for example, Western Kazakhstan, good results are obtained from the content of soil in the garden under black steam. The studies of the Aktobe State Agricultural Experimental Station found that the content of row spacing under black steam allows not only to keep the soil clean from weeds, but also creates more optimal conditions for the growth and development of fruit trees compared to sodding. Black vapor contains significantly more moisture than areas where alfalfa is sown. If on black steam the soil moisture in the horizon of the location of the main mass of roots — 0–50 cm varied within 18.5–20.2%, then in the area with alfalfa it was 13.2–13.8%, i.e., the soil was drained.
The soil analysis of the experimental plot, conducted by the agrochemical laboratory, showed a significant difference in the nitrogen content. On the black pair it was larger compared to the sod area, where alfalfa absorbed nitrogen, and almost no mineralization took place. Lack of water and nutrients (especially nitrogen) in the sod area negatively affected the growth and development of young fruit trees.
In connection with the best growth in trees on a black pair, fruiting began earlier. Shoot maturation was good in both cases. Similar results were obtained by V.V. Selikhov (1947, 1949), V.I. Vasiliev and L. B. Balashova (1954), L.F. Vavilina and O.P. Bankovskaya (1957) at the Ural fruit support point. Thus, the studies convincingly show the advantage of black steam compared to sodding in young gardens.
However, given that at a young age fruit trees do not fully use the occupied garden area with sufficient water supply, it is most advisable to combine alternating black steam with the cultivation of vegetables (early cabbage, onions, root crops), potatoes, and strawberries between rows. Trunk circles should be kept under black vapor. Studies conducted at the Ural fruit stronghold (V. Vasiliev, L. Balashova, 1954; L. Vavilina, O. Bankovskaya, 1957) showed that the cultivation of vegetables and strawberries in the rows between a young garden does not have any negative effect on growth and apple tree development.
If the aisles are kept under black steam, tillage is reduced to the following. In the fall (in September), row-spacing and row-digging circles are plowed. Near the fruit tree stem, plow or dig the soil to a shallower depth. Digging the soil, it is necessary to put a shovel with an edge to a tree trunk so as not to damage the skeletal roots. It is necessary to plow after the end of active root growth, which occurs approximately in the second decade of September, but not to be late with plowing, so that some time is left before frosts to restore damaged roots.
In the early spring, immediately after the drying of the soil, to preserve moisture, the soil is loosened in near-stem circles with simultaneous harrowing of row-spacings. As weeds appear and after irrigation (with the aim of destroying the soil crust and closing irrigation furrows), weeding and loosening of trunks and cultivation of row spacing are carried out. To cultivate the soil in the gardens, you can use both special garden tools (disc harrows, a garden milling cutter), and general-purpose cultivators.