Experts share agricultural wisdom with fruit farmers to ensure harvest

An expert teaches fruit farmers pear tree cultivation techniques. [Photo by Li Li for chinadaily.com.cn]

In the past few days, in a pear orchard in Niulou village, Binhe Subdistrict, Dingtao district, Heze, Shandong province, more than 10 people have been working among the pear blossoms, removing excess flowers from the branches one by one.

This is done to reduce the nutritional needs of the trees, allowing the remaining flowers to receive more adequate nourishment.

"More flowers than usual have bloomed this year. If we don't thin them out, the fruit will grow slowly. By removing the excess flowers, the tree can produce higher-quality fruit," said Niu Yueli, a resident of Qianchuzhuang village, Binhe Subdistrict.

In order to help fruit farmers address difficulties related to fruit tree management, technical staff members have taken the classroom to the fields. 

They have provided hands-on demonstrations to fruit farmers on essential techniques for thinning pear blossoms and offered tailored guidance based on the growth status of the fruit trees. This approach aims to ensure a bountiful harvest for pear trees this year.

"The optimal time for thinning pear blossoms is during the period when the flower buds separate. Additionally, this period is crucial for disease and pest control, with a primary focus on preventing pear rust disease," said Li Xuejun, senior engineer at the Dingtao district forestry service center. (Edited by Huang Junyao)