The apricot tree is a common fruit tree, which belongs to the deciduous tree plant of the family Rosaceae and the genus Apricot. Its features and characteristics are as follows:
Morphological characteristics: The trunk of the apricot tree is gray-brown or reddish-brown, and the surface is smooth or cracked;The branches are long and short, brown or grayish-brown;The leaves are single-leafed, broadly ovate or rounded, apex acuminate, base rounded or heart-shaped, margins serrated or obtusely serrate, smooth surface**, but young leaves are sometimes sparsely pubescent;The flowers are solitary or in clusters of 2-3 and are pink or white;The fruit is round or oblong, yellow or orange-yellow in color, and has a smooth and shiny surface.
Growth characteristics: Apricot trees are adaptable, drought-tolerant, cold-tolerant, barren-tolerant, and can grow well in a variety of soil types. At the same time, apricot trees are also more tolerant to salinity and can grow in soils with high pH values. Apricot trees grow quickly and have a long lifespan, up to more than 100 years. Under suitable growing conditions, it blooms in March and April every spring, and the fruit ripens in May and July.
Propagation method: The propagation of apricot trees mainly adopts two methods: sowing and grafting. Sowing and propagation are simple and easy, but seedlings are prone to mutation, so grafting is generally used to ensure the inheritance of excellent characteristics of varieties.
Cultivation management: The cultivation management of apricot trees mainly includes soil, fertilizer and water management and plastic pruning. Soil fertilizer and water management requires fertilization and watering according to the growth stage and fertilizer needs of apricot treesPlastic pruning is carried out according to the growth characteristics and cultivation purpose of apricot trees, so as to keep the tree structure reasonable, ventilation and light, and the tree is robust.
Pest control: The main pests and diseases of apricot trees are apricot brown spot disease, apricot boils, peach aphid, almond bees, etc. The prevention and control of pests and diseases should follow the principle of "prevention first, comprehensive control", strengthen cultivation management, and improve tree resistanceAt the same time, a combination of biological control and chemical control is adopted for prevention and control.
Edible value: The fruit of the apricot tree is rich in nutrients and contains a variety of vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin C and minerals with high content of calcium and iron. Apricots can be eaten fresh or processed into jams, juices, preserved fruits and other foods. At the same time, almonds are also a food ingredient with high nutritional value, which can be eaten raw, roasted or processed into various foods.
Medicinal value: In addition to its edible value, the apricot tree also has certain medicinal value. Almonds have a certain antitussive and asthmatic effect;Apricot bark can be used as medicine, with the effect of clearing heat and removing fire;Apricot twigs can be made into traditional Chinese medicine for certain diseases.
To sum up, the apricot tree is a fruit tree with a variety of values and characteristics. Not only can it be eaten as a fruit, but it also has certain medicinal value and ornamental value. In cultivation management, it is necessary to strengthen soil, fertilizer and water management and plastic pruning, and pay attention to the prevention and control of pests and diseases.