Orchard performance of apple worsens as weed competition increases: a long-term field study under Mediterranean conditions

Crop-weed competition (CWC) for water and nutrients can negatively affect orchard performance, especially in high-density apple orchards. With this study, we compared the effects of three CWC levels: Weak, Moderate, and Strong for the orchard performance of apple in the Mediterranean area. The study was conducted at a ‘Golden Delicious’/M.9 orchard in a high-density formation (3.5 × 1 m spacing). Cumulative yield was greatest in Weak-CWC, and it decreased as CWC increased. Overall, Weak-CWC performed remarkable results for successful apple production under Mediterranean conditions.