• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2013

This study was conducted to compare the local climate conditions and growth periods for the apple (Malus domestica 'Borkh') orchards at different altitudes (330, 500, and 670 m) in Jangsu-Gun, Korea. Observation data for the growth period show that the monthly mean air temperatures at the 'Hongro' apple orchard sites decrease with height at the rate of 1.0 to $3.0^{\circ}C$/100 m. The monthly minimum temperatures in April (blooming period for 'Hongro' apple) were 4.3, 2.9, and $0.4^{\circ}C$ at 330, 500, and 670 m, respectively. The monthly mean temperatures in September (i.e., the coloration and maturation period) were 20.6, 18.7, and $14.5^{\circ}C$, respectively. The annual precipitation range varied from 1,234 to 1,439 mm, which tended to increase with height. The heavy rainfall occurred in summer (June to August) and amounted to 827-933 mm. No significant differences in the duration of sunshine were observed amongst the orchards at three different altitudes. The earliest bud break was observed at the 330 m altitude (18 March 2009), which was 4 and 11 days earlier in comparison to those at 500 and 670 m, respectively. The time of full bloom at 330 m was 12 days ahead of that at 670 m. The optimal maturation of fruit (based on skin redness > 80%) was observed between 7 and 10 September at 330 m, 15 and 18 September at 500 m, and 21 and 23 September at 670 m.