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Journal of Wood Science

Official Journal of the Japan Wood Research Society

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Windthrow resistance of apple trees grafted in an orchard

Journal of Wood Science volume 54, pages 10–15 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Pull-down tests were conducted for apple trees grafted in an orchard and for support posts in order to discuss the failure mode in windthrow damage, the effect of rootstock types on the uprooting strength, and the reinforcing effect of support posts on young trees. The test samples were ten mature trees (20–23 years old) of three varieties grafted on two types of rootstocks, three young trees (7 years old) grafted on dwarf rootstocks, and nine support posts of larch logs and steel pipes. The failure modes were found to be uprooting for mature trees and rootstock breakage for young trees. The uprooting strength of apple trees was considerably smaller than the uprooting strength of forest trees reported in previous studies. However, the windthrow resistance of the apple trees with respect to the critical wind velocity was estimated to be sufficient despite their low uprooting strength because of their small height. Young trees should be supported with wooden posts for a few years after grafting so that they acquire sufficient windthrow resistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, N9 W9, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan

    Akio Koizumi

  2. Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan

    Hajime Araki

  3. Yoichi Orchard, Hokkaido University, Yoichi, 046-0012, Japan

    Hirotaka Hori

  4. Fruit Tree Section, Hokkaido Central Agricultural Experiment Station, Naganuma, 069-1395, Japan

    Yutaka Inagawa

Authors
  1. Akio Koizumi
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  2. Hajime Araki
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  3. Hirotaka Hori
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  4. Yutaka Inagawa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Akio Koizumi.

Additional information

Part of this study was published in the report for the Grant-in-Aid for Collaborative Research by NOASTEC (No. H17-kyo-048)

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Koizumi, A., Araki, H., Hori, H. et al. Windthrow resistance of apple trees grafted in an orchard. J Wood Sci 54, 10–15 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-007-0907-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-007-0907-7

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