The advancement of the harvest and the concentration of flowering have been constantly under the scrutiny of researchers and, in particular, the impact of dormancy breakers on these variables, in a permanent search for strategies that lead to greater profitability in the cherry business.
Dormancy breakers (RD) continue to be widely studied, in an effort by researchers to replicate in cherry orchards different strategies that allow advancing or homogenizing the initial phenological states with the focus on advancing or homogenizing the harvest. For this reason, it is of utmost importance to consider the opportunity of these strategies. How and when to use them, whether hydrogenated cyanamide or a dormancy breaker, becomes a fundamental decision that depends on several requirements that will define the success or failure of this commercial strategy and, as a consequence, determine the productive potential of the orchard.
From cyanamide to dormancy breakers
Alternative dormancy breakers originated as a result of the search for options to replace hydrogenated cyanamide, which was suspended more than ten years ago in the European community. However, in Chile its use continues regularly and with good results since, on its own, hydrogenated cyanamide generates a great action on the advancement of phenological states and harvest. For their part, dormancy breakers play a more participative role in the synchronization or homogenization of said states.
For this reason, the decision to use it must necessarily be accompanied by a clear strategy in favour of production and minimising the risks whose consequences may be contrary to the stated objective. In this sense, there are many factors that influence it, which raises questions about how to carry out an effective strategy, what type of RD to use or at what time the intervention of the cherry phenological state should be developed. There are many aspects to consider for the strategy to be truly effective, where planning and the order in the application of cyanamide or a RD is essential. In this line, the requirements for the use of RD must be kept in mind: garden health, foenology for breaking dormancy, post-application ambient temperature, use concentration, optimal coverage volume for application and maintenance and calibration of application equipment.
Despite the above, the application strategies for hydrogenated cyanamide and RD will depend exclusively on the goals pursued for each orchard, in line with the area in which it is located, the climate of said area, correct application of the products and calibration of the machines with which it will be carried out, among other factors, and that it does not become only a purely commercial issue.
Without a doubt, cyanamide is by far the best tool to advance flowering, even though its use could eventually be restricted, as occurred in the European community. When that time comes, alternative RDs (harmless to the operator, plants and the environment) will be its natural replacement, even though it is difficult to match the cyanamide effect. However, RDs have a characteristic that cyanamide does not have: they homogenize and synchronize flowering, which brings great benefits from a productive point of view, since it results in nutritional, phytosanitary or growth regulator programs that they make more efficient. The fundamental thing is that the decision on the strategy to be used, whether with one, the other or both, is based on the greatest amount of information possible, is coherent and timely.
