ECONOMIC OUTCOMES OF EARLY CROPPING AND TREE SPACING DECISIONS IN BRAEBURN APPLES ON MALLING 9 ROOTSTOCK

This paper describes research to predict the economic outcomes of early (precocious) cropping and tree spacing decisions in Braeburn/M.9 apples in Canterbury, New Zealand.
The research integrates results from a field trial with economic parameters.
The trial collected data on yield, fruit quality, vegetative growth, and pruning for trees at two in-row spacings and two cropping regimes: early cropping (the first crop in Year 2) and later cropping (the first crop in Year 3).

A computer model was developed using the trial results to predict yield, fruit quality and pruning for a range of decision scenarios.
Other research results and orchard records were used to predict labor hours and material usage.
Output from the model includes cash flow, net present value, internal rate of return and the payback period.
The economic outcome of four decision scenarios are discussed.

The computer model is designed as a decision support system.
It was also important in bringing together a range of factors to give a systems approach to the research study and to highlight areas where further research is necessary to improve the accuracy of predictions.

VI International Symposium on Integrated Canopy, Rootstock, Environmental Physiology in Orchard Systems

M. B. Cahn, R. B. Stevens, Anne C.A. van de Klundert

intensive, systems, orchard, New Zealand, net present value

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1997.451.64