ORGANIZATION AND ADJUSTMENT OF CROSS-POLLINATION IN MODERN INTENSIVE ORCHARDS

Abstract

The article studies the conditions and dynamics of cross-pollination of fruit
tree flowers. A series of two-factor experiment on optimum fruit formation of apple, cherry,
plum and peach trees was carried out in conditions of the Central Fore-Caucasus in 1960-
1970. Based on the experimental data, formulas for calculating the need for insect pollinators
for specific orchard plots were developed. During the period of work of insect pollinators, the
methodology of accounting and evaluation of pollen transfer quality are proposed. When the
results of actual activity of bees and pollinating varieties blooming with serious deviations
from predictions are received, there is a need to analyze the reason and make decisions to stabilize the process. In cases of frost damages of individual organs of flowers in 2020-2022,
experiments on strengthening the growth of parthenocarpic fruits by foliar fertilizing with
amino acids with auxin and gibberellins were conducted to compensate unsatisfactory conditions of fruit formation. As a result, the number of ovaries that reached picking maturity increased by 2,7–5 times. The use of bumblebees for orchard pollination is economically less
effective in comparison to bee pollination. In order to save time and labor of professional observers, it is possible to use modern digital and cybernetic technologies. In the conditions of
the Southern Federal District of Russia, over the past 10 years the area of cross-pollinated
crops with a high degree of agricultural techniques intensification has significantly increased.
The number of used chemical crop protection products and mineral fertilizers has increased,
which contributes to the mass death of insect pollinators of endemic species and apiaries of
honeybees. The contradictory tendency of increasing demand for bees alongside a decrease in
the number of bee colonies continues. In the south of Russia the ratio is 0.26 of bee colony
per 1 thousand hectares of entomophilous crops, which is 3-4 times less than necessary. The
economic effect of agriculture is markedly reducing without intensive bee pollination.