Articles
Comparison of robotic precision thinning system and commercial air-blast sprayer for flower thinning on apple trees
Article number
1395_48
Pages
369 – 372
Language
English
Abstract
Thinning is one of the most important management strategies in apple orchards.
Not only the fruit quality (size, colour, sugar) of the current season is influenced, but also the return bloom of the next season is influenced.
Many apple cultivars are sensitive to alternate bearing, if the thinning is inadequate or performed too late in the season.
To prevent or overcome alternate bearing in apple orchards chemical or mechanical flower thinning are the most effective management practices.
Ammonium thiosulfate (ATS) is, beside lime sulfur the most used chemical flower thinner in South Tyrol.
The objective of this work was to 1) evaluate the thinning potential of ATS in CIVM49 apples (Malus domestica) trees, and 2) to compare two different spraying systems.
As standard treatment, the ATS sprays were conducted with a commercial air blast sprayer, this treatment was compared with the robotic system ADAM, developed by Aigritec.
This system used a robotic arm with a single spray nozzle.
Flower clusters were detected with computer vision and afterwards every single open flower cluster on the apple trees was treated individually.
Our experiment showed that the thinning efficacy was more than doubled, when ATS was applied precisely to each flower cluster with the ADAM system, compared to the commercial air blast sprayer.
Not only the fruit quality (size, colour, sugar) of the current season is influenced, but also the return bloom of the next season is influenced.
Many apple cultivars are sensitive to alternate bearing, if the thinning is inadequate or performed too late in the season.
To prevent or overcome alternate bearing in apple orchards chemical or mechanical flower thinning are the most effective management practices.
Ammonium thiosulfate (ATS) is, beside lime sulfur the most used chemical flower thinner in South Tyrol.
The objective of this work was to 1) evaluate the thinning potential of ATS in CIVM49 apples (Malus domestica) trees, and 2) to compare two different spraying systems.
As standard treatment, the ATS sprays were conducted with a commercial air blast sprayer, this treatment was compared with the robotic system ADAM, developed by Aigritec.
This system used a robotic arm with a single spray nozzle.
Flower clusters were detected with computer vision and afterwards every single open flower cluster on the apple trees was treated individually.
Our experiment showed that the thinning efficacy was more than doubled, when ATS was applied precisely to each flower cluster with the ADAM system, compared to the commercial air blast sprayer.
Authors
C. Andergassen, E. Bruni, D. Pichler, M. Peterlin, D. Facchin, F. Dallago, D. Mosca, E. Cappuzzo, F. Collaone
Keywords
fruit quality, Malus domestica, return bloom, thinning efficacy, yield
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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