Abstract
In 2009, an orchard with five cultivars (Mutsu, Gala, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, and Macoun) on dwarfing rootstocks was planted at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, NY, USA. In two experiments, we evaluated the benefits of biostimulants and plastic mulch on tree growth and yield over the first five years. Biostimulants did not have any effect on tree growth or yield with the exception of ‘Honeycrisp’ where cumulative growth and yield were improved. Plastic mulch increased cumulative yield but not tree growth. The positive effects of plastic mulch were greatest with ‘Honeycrisp’ and ‘Jonagold’.