Thinning of Apple Fruits with Foliar Fertilizers Goëmar BM 86 E and Goëmar Folical

Thinning is a regular pomotechnical measure, which is performed by using different chemicals that cause fruit drop in intensive apple orchards. It is common that some apple cultivars overbear, giving small fruits of poor quality. Effects of chemical thinners of apple fruits are as follows: higher productiveness in the next vegetation period, higher percentage of first class apples and the lesser fruit drop before harvest and so on. Hormonal thinners that are currently being used in the surrounding countries are not allowed in our country because of their ecotoxicological characteristics. These products are not applicable in the concept of integral fruit production. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of natural foliar fertilizer GOEMAR BM 86 E and GOEMAR FOLICAL on apple fruit thinning, and thus on the quantity and quality of harvested fruits. In this paper, four cultivars of apples are included: ‚Golden Delicious‘, ‚Granny Smith‘, ‚Braeburn‘ and ‚Idared‘. In treated trees, these natural fertilizers caused increased fruit drop in relation to the control. Results showed higher sugar content in treated fruits in relation to untreated control fruits. Further research should be conducted to obtain more complete results about the influence of these foliar fertilizers on the apple fruit quality and quantity.