The Effects of Soil Management Systems on the Chemical Composition and Quality of Golden Delicious and Cox's Orange Pippin Apples- A Follow-up Study

Tests on Golden Delicious and Cox's Orange Pippin apples, evaluated in five and three seasons, respectively, between 1972 and 1980, indicated that method of soil management was still influencing fruit quality 15 years after commencement of the experiment, although to a lesser extent than in the earlier years. In 1973, the soluble solids content, skin colour and yield values of Golden Delicious differed between treatments but no differences were observed for fruit firmness in any of the five seasons when fruit were tested. Acidity values differed in 1972, 1973 and 1980. Overall herbicides gave the highest yields in 1973 and 1975 and the lowest levels of soluble solids. The yield of Cox's Orange Pippin fruit varied considerably between seasons; yields between treatments within seasons were only different in 1975. Correlation coefficients between yield and soluble solids were negative and ranged from -0.51 to -0.68.