Early-Stage Growth Performance of Apple Trees Under Different Biochar Application Methods in Mineral and Organic Fertilisation Regimes

Biochar has gained attention as a promising soil amendment capable of improving soil structure, nutrient retention and plant resilience to stress. However, its performance in perennial horticultural systems, particularly during the early stages of orchard establishment, remains insufficiently documented. The effectiveness of three methods of using biochar at a dose of 10 t ha-1 (application before ploughing prior to orchard establishment, application to planting holes, and surface spreading) in combination with compost or mineral nitrogen fertilisation was assessed in a young apple orchard of the ‘Gala Brookfield Baigent’ cultivar grafted onto dwarfing P 60 rootstock. Neither growth nor fruiting potential were affected by biochar, which made the comparison of its application methods inconclusive. Mineral nitrogen showed a tendency to promote the formation of mixed-type buds on short shoots, a propitious growing pattern for intensive orchard management. In contrast, compost fertilisation favoured vegetative growth over generative development. Nonetheless, the overall growth response of apple trees in the first year after planting to the applied soil-enriching practices was rather modest, with this observation validating the strategy of reducing fertiliser doses during orchard establishment on productive soils maintained in good agricultural condition.