By: Carlos Tapia T.
We are at the right time to make a strategic decision on the use of dormancy breakers. Deciding whether to use them or not and with what objective we will do so must be done with a prior evaluation of each season, and thus combine the different factors that intervene in the optimal productive potential of an orchard, such as the agroclimatic, logistic-operational and commercial indicators that determine the specific objectives that each producer seeks. The decision will always go hand in hand with the vision that the producer has and what he hopes to achieve.
Dormancy breakers used appropriately, in the sense that their application must go hand in hand with strict established requirements, may allow for an advance and/or uniformity of the harvest and flowering, which, combined with the season, could eventually translate into better profitability of the orchard, but how can I determine if this strategy will be effective, what type of dormancy breaker should I use, how do I know if my orchard is in appropriate conditions to carry out this intervention on the phenological state of the cherry tree, what risks does it entail?
There are many questions that may arise regarding dormancy breakers and the commercial decision to use them. However, there are several aspects that must be taken into consideration. On the one hand, the decision to advance phenological states, such as flowering, setting, and harvest, mainly for early varieties and in early areas to advance or partially cover part of the surface of an orchard, in the case of a large area, and also to advance or synchronize varieties that need to be pollinated with another variety, or “simply” based on a commercial decision depending on the current year, such as a personal vision of each producer and their strategy.
Another important aspect to consider is that Chile has always been more familiar with the use of hydrogenated cyanamide. This product is mainly characterized by advancing phenological states and harvest; however, a little over a decade ago, other alternative dormancy breakers (RD) appeared that are not necessarily characterized by advancing initial phenological states.
These alternative RDs have the ability to achieve homogenization or synchrony in the initial phenological states, even having a great power of action on the vegetative buds generating many more blooms accompanied by leaves.
It is also necessary to take into account that RD applications can generate greater risks of damage from spring frosts in the floral primordia and in the case of the dart can cause the death of the vegetative bud which would be detrimental to the renewal of this reproductive organ.
Today, with a lot of information on the subject, we can conclude that hydrogenated cyanamide alone has a great effect on the lifting of phenological states and alternative RDs, and plays a major role in synchrony, rather than in advancement. But the final decision to use it must be accompanied by a clear strategy that truly benefits production and does not put it at risk. It is often mistakenly believed that its direct application will be effective and will allow for greater profits in the season; however, there are many factors that influence and determine the success or failure of an orchard's production. It is essential to make this decision with as much information as possible and to establish a coherent strategy. However, doubt will always remain on our side with a decision that was made early and with an answer that we will see only in 3 or 4 months and that we hope will be accurate.
