Articles
Effects of above-canopy photovoltaic arrays on crop yield and fruit quality in a pear orchard
Article number
1403_34
Pages
259 – 266
Language
English
Abstract
Agrivoltaic systems have the potential to simultaneously protect agricultural crops from excessive direct sun while generating energy.
This study evaluated the effects of shading from 45° West (45W) and 5° West (5W) angle configurations of static photovoltaic arrays – positioned above tree canopies – on productivity and fruit quality of the Australian blush pear cultivar ‘ANP-0118’. A control, unshaded treatment was included in the experiment.
The effects of treatments on the variation of fruit diameter and color development index (CDI, i.e., a proxy for redness development) over time were measured prior to harvest.
Fruit number, fruit weight, yield, soluble solids concentration (SSC), flesh firmness (FF), blush coverage, percent green coverage of the peel, and sunburn were measured at harvest.
Fruit diameter and CDI were consistently higher (p<0.05) in control trees compared to 45W and 5W in the 2-3 months preceding harvest.
At harvest, fruit weight and fruit number were highest in control trees.
Yield reductions of 37 and 47% were estimated in 45W and 5W compared to control trees.
Control fruit had 13 and 12% higher SSC than 45W and 5W (p<0.05) but no FF differences were observed.
Blush coverage was 21 and 23% lower than control fruit in 45 W and 5W fruit, respectively.
Sunburn occurrence was relatively small in control trees (3%) and it was significantly reduced in 45W and 5W trees (<0.5%). Between the two photovoltaic arrays, the 45W configuration outperformed the 5W in terms of total yield and blush coverage on the fruit skin.
The significant negative effect that above-canopy photovoltaic arrays had on fruit weight, yield, SSC, CDI and blush coverage outweighed the positive impact on sunburn reduction.
However, the season in which this research was performed did not experience extreme heat events similar to previous years, and further economic analysis during extreme conditions is essential to fill the knowledge gap.
This study evaluated the effects of shading from 45° West (45W) and 5° West (5W) angle configurations of static photovoltaic arrays – positioned above tree canopies – on productivity and fruit quality of the Australian blush pear cultivar ‘ANP-0118’. A control, unshaded treatment was included in the experiment.
The effects of treatments on the variation of fruit diameter and color development index (CDI, i.e., a proxy for redness development) over time were measured prior to harvest.
Fruit number, fruit weight, yield, soluble solids concentration (SSC), flesh firmness (FF), blush coverage, percent green coverage of the peel, and sunburn were measured at harvest.
Fruit diameter and CDI were consistently higher (p<0.05) in control trees compared to 45W and 5W in the 2-3 months preceding harvest.
At harvest, fruit weight and fruit number were highest in control trees.
Yield reductions of 37 and 47% were estimated in 45W and 5W compared to control trees.
Control fruit had 13 and 12% higher SSC than 45W and 5W (p<0.05) but no FF differences were observed.
Blush coverage was 21 and 23% lower than control fruit in 45 W and 5W fruit, respectively.
Sunburn occurrence was relatively small in control trees (3%) and it was significantly reduced in 45W and 5W trees (<0.5%). Between the two photovoltaic arrays, the 45W configuration outperformed the 5W in terms of total yield and blush coverage on the fruit skin.
The significant negative effect that above-canopy photovoltaic arrays had on fruit weight, yield, SSC, CDI and blush coverage outweighed the positive impact on sunburn reduction.
However, the season in which this research was performed did not experience extreme heat events similar to previous years, and further economic analysis during extreme conditions is essential to fill the knowledge gap.
Publication
Authors
R. Singh, A. Scalisi, L. McClymont, I. Goodwin
Keywords
agrivoltaics, blush coverage, crop load, Pyrus communis, shading, solar panels, sunburn
Online Articles (42)