Wild cherry tree (Prunus avium L.) growth in pure and mixed plantations in South America

Companion species can play an important role in cherry cultivation. With the exception of piche (Fabiana imbricata Ruiz & Pav.), cherry tree growth was faster and had better sanitary conditions in mixtures than in monocultures. Treatment (species associations) and environment interaction was significant, indicating the presence of different mechanisms underlying plantation effects at different sites, and the convenience of carefully identifying the characteristics of main and companion species, as well as site conditions, to propose suitable site-specific designs for mixed plantations. The growth characteristics of companion and primary species, as well as site conditions, should be selected and matched to improve plantation performance.