Plantation density of Corylus avellana influences the precocity and kinetics of burgundy truffle production
Abstract
Recommendations for truffle orchards establishment and further management are not always adapted to the ecology of each truffle species, in interaction with its host trees. As an example, the most common plantation density for Burgundy truffle orchards in the past 40 years was often adopted from Périgord black truffle.
In this context, a study was launched 23 years ago, with the objective to test the influence of tree density on the production of burgundy truffle and its evolution up-to-date.
A Burgundy truffle hazel orchard was planted in 1985, with four plantation densities in Commercy located in the North East part of France (48°45’42 N, 5°35’31 E), 250 km East of Paris. Four densities were tested: 2000, 1000, 666 and 333 trees per ha.
The first harvest was obtained at the highest densities (2000 and 1000 trees. ha-1), 11 years after plantation. Then, high densities produced during four years and then ceased almost to produce 9 years after the first harvest (from the 20th year after plantation). The lowest plantation density (333 trees. ha-1) starts to produce significantly 15 years after the establishment of the orchard. Then, the production increased every year and the production peak is not reached yet.
Recommendations to the growers of Burgundy truffle orchard need to include advices (plantation density and tree pruning), not only at the establishment, but also during the life span of the truffière. This is crucial in order to optimize the economic yield of this crop.
Origin | Files produced by the author(s) |
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