An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Based Artificial Pollination in a Frost-affected Walnut (Juglans regia L.) Orchard

Authors : Dilan AHI KOŞAR, Eküle SÖNMEZ, Adem ARGAÇ, Umran ERTÜRK

Pages : 765-776

Doi:10.15832/ankutbd.1163150

View : 288 | Download : 335

Publication Date : 2023-09-25

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The winter and spring frosts are an important problem in some walnut cultivation areas. The frost damage of catkins and female flowers results in low fruit set and yield. The temperature dropped -17.2 °C in January 2021 in the Yenişehir, Bursa, an important walnut production area in North-Western Turkey. The present study was carried out to determine the natural frost damage on catkins of some walnut cultivars and the effectiveness of an unmanned aerial vehicle insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(UAV); pollination, which has been developed and used in artificial pollination studies recently, on fruit set and fruit characteristics. In the experiment, two pollen concentrations insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(T1: 5% pollen two times; T2: 5% pollen in the first, 20% pollen in the second time); and the open pollination insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(control); were tested. Observations showed that frost damage on catkins varied from 57.31% insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Ronde de Montignac); to 99.33% insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Franquette);. The initial fruit set was significantly higher in the T1 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(87.74%); followed by T2 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(83.89%);. The final fruit set in T2 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(75.16%); was higher than the T1 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(74.11%);, but the difference was insignificant. The box and whisker plot shows that UAV pollination treatments insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(T1, T2); increased the fruit set, but it was not uniform on the tree compared to open pollination. The highest nut weight, thickness, and length were obtained from control, followed by T1. The results showed that the fruit set was higher in pollination with UAV, and using less pollen insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(T1); was sufficient. The research results provide support for UAV treatment on supplementary pollination for walnut.
Keywords : Winter frost, Agriculture drones, UAV, Supplemental pollination, Pollen, Supplemantal pollination, Catkins, Fruit set

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