Management of Water Sprouts to Increase Persimmon Tree Productivity

Only the Strong Branches Are Thinned Out, and the Rest Are Guided Horizontally

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] The Gyeongsangnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services has urged thorough management of water sprouts in advance to stabilize the vigor of persimmon trees and increase productivity.

Every year in June, water sprouts begin to appear on persimmon trees.

If there are many water sprouts, sunlight penetration and ventilation are hindered, resulting in poor fruit growth and an increased risk of diseases such as anthracnose.

Therefore, water sprout management should be completed by early July, before the base of the branches hardens.

It is recommended to thin out mainly the vigorous water sprouts and bend the remaining ones so that their tips are horizontal or lower to guide their growth.

However, removing all water sprouts at once can cause continuous new sprout growth and make it difficult to secure fruiting spurs for the following year.

Thus, branches intended to be used as fruiting spurs next year should be bent and cut to about 40cm in length, then fixed and guided using wire or E-shaped clips.

The other branches can be gathered together and bent down under other branches to guide their growth.

According to research by the Gyeongsangnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services Persimmon Research Institute, this method secured 1.7 times more fruiting spurs compared to removing all water sprouts. Additionally, persimmon yield increased by 76%.

Kim Eun-kyung, cultivation manager at the Gyeongsangnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services Persimmon Research Institute, stated, "Orchards where water sprouts have occurred need to stabilize vigor and secure production through appropriate guiding work during the summer."