Biennial bearing is a term used in horticulture to describe the phenomenon where a plant produces a large crop of fruit or flowers one year, followed by a much smaller crop the following year. This pattern of alternating high and low yields is common in many fruit trees, such as apples, pears, and cherries, and can have significant economic and agricultural implications.
Definitions
Biennial bearing is a term that refers to the tendency of certain plants to produce a large crop of fruit or flowers in one year, followed by a much smaller crop the following year. This pattern is thought to be caused by a combination of factors, including the plant’s physiology, environmental conditions, and management practices.
Origin
The term biennial bearing is thought to have originated in the field of horticulture, where it has been used for many years to describe the phenomenon of alternating high and low yields in certain fruit trees. The exact origin of the term is unclear, but it is likely that it was coined by horticulturists or agricultural researchers who were studying the causes and effects of this pattern.
Meaning in different dictionaries
The meaning of biennial bearing is generally consistent across different dictionaries and reference sources. For example, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines biennial bearing as “the tendency of certain fruit trees to produce a large crop of fruit in one year and a smaller crop in the following year.” Similarly, the Oxford English Dictionary defines biennial bearing as “the alternate heavy and light cropping of fruit trees.”
Associations
Biennial bearing is associated with a number of factors, including the plant’s physiology, environmental conditions, and management practices. Some of the factors that can contribute to biennial bearing include poor pruning, inadequate nutrition, and weather conditions such as frost or drought. In addition, some fruit trees are naturally more prone to biennial bearing than others, and may require special management practices to maintain consistent yields.
Synonyms
There are several synonyms for biennial bearing, including alternate bearing, on-and-off cropping, and irregular bearing. These terms all refer to the same phenomenon of alternating high and low yields in fruit trees, and are used interchangeably in the horticultural literature.
Antonyms
The antonym of biennial bearing is annual bearing, which refers to the pattern of producing a consistent crop of fruit or flowers every year. Annual bearing is desirable in most fruit trees, as it allows for more consistent and predictable yields, and can be achieved through careful management practices such as pruning, fertilization, and irrigation.
The same root words
The term biennial bearing is derived from the Latin word biennis, which means “lasting for two years.” This root word is also found in other English words such as biennial (occurring every two years) and biennium (a period of two years).
Example Sentences
- “The apple orchard experienced biennial bearing this year, with a bumper crop in 2020 followed by a much smaller yield in 2021.”
- “To avoid biennial bearing, the cherry grower implemented a strict pruning and fertilization regime to encourage consistent annual yields.”
- “The peach tree was prone to biennial bearing, but with careful management and appropriate nutrition, it was able to produce a consistent crop every year.”