The study looked at how different ways of managing orchard floors and levels of nitrogen fertilizer affect the growth and quality of 'Golden Delicious' apple trees. They found that the type of vegetation management had a bigger impact on tree nutrition than the amount of nitrogen fertilizer used. Trees had lower leaf nitrogen and trunk diameter, but better fruit color and firmness when the orchard floor was covered in sod. High nitrogen levels only increased leaf manganese, not tree growth. Sod also led to higher fruit calcium levels and leaf magnesium and potassium levels in some years.