Articles
Combining new rootstocks and training systems for sustainable production in deciduous tree crops
Article number
1395_25
Pages
187 – 196
Language
English
Abstract
The common trend for orchard design with all these crops is intensification, combining mid- to low-vigour rootstocks with training systems based on bidimensional canopies.
In deciduous species as apple, peach and cherry, the use of size-controlling rootstocks, such as M9 and low vigour Geneva® selections in apple, Rootpac® series in peach or Gisela® and Adara rootstocks in cherry, combined with intensive training systems has produced earlier and higher cumulative yields than using the traditional open vase.
Combining intensification, size controlling rootstocks and planar canopies resulted in greater efficiency in the use of labour and mechanization as mechanical flower thinning and mechanical pruning.
It also helps improve the harvest rate efficiency reduces production costs and increases fruit quality.
However, an increase in skilled labour requirements was recorded when the number of axes increased from a central axis to bi-, tri- and multi-axes.
In almond, super high density (SHD) developments with the size-controlling rootstocks Rootpac®20 and Rootpac®R, allowed the full mechanization of pruning and harvesting, resulting in very early yields and a reduction in production costs compared with the traditional open vase, in particular crop protection.
Furthermore, all these planar canopies were better adapted to the application of precision technologies based on artificial vision (AV) and artificial intelligence (IA) for fruit counting, yield forecasting and robotic harvesting.
In deciduous species as apple, peach and cherry, the use of size-controlling rootstocks, such as M9 and low vigour Geneva® selections in apple, Rootpac® series in peach or Gisela® and Adara rootstocks in cherry, combined with intensive training systems has produced earlier and higher cumulative yields than using the traditional open vase.
Combining intensification, size controlling rootstocks and planar canopies resulted in greater efficiency in the use of labour and mechanization as mechanical flower thinning and mechanical pruning.
It also helps improve the harvest rate efficiency reduces production costs and increases fruit quality.
However, an increase in skilled labour requirements was recorded when the number of axes increased from a central axis to bi-, tri- and multi-axes.
In almond, super high density (SHD) developments with the size-controlling rootstocks Rootpac®20 and Rootpac®R, allowed the full mechanization of pruning and harvesting, resulting in very early yields and a reduction in production costs compared with the traditional open vase, in particular crop protection.
Furthermore, all these planar canopies were better adapted to the application of precision technologies based on artificial vision (AV) and artificial intelligence (IA) for fruit counting, yield forecasting and robotic harvesting.
Authors
I. Iglesias, R. Botet, G. Reig
Keywords
deciduous crops, rootstocks, high-density, planar canopies, production cost, efficiency, sustainability
Groups involved
- Division Temperate Tree Nuts
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Tropical and Subtropical Fruit and Nuts
- Working Group Precision Management of Orchards and Vineyards
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