Articles
THE SOUTH TYROLEAN APPLE PLANTATING SYSTEM
Densely planted orchards on M.9 rootstock have commonly been established since the beginning of the seventies, with the trees being trained the Slender Spindle system.
In this system the young trees were relatively strongly pruned in order to achieve an adequate volume of production.
The planting density varied between 1,800 and 2,500 trees/ha, depending on the planting system whether single-, or double row.
With the Dutch triple row system the density reached 3,000 trees/ha.
In 1988, the first guidelines for a programme of integrated fruit production were defined (AGRIOS-programme), and the IP-production started in 1989. Today about 80% of the growers in the region produce fruit that conforms to the IP-regulations.
Due to the stricter rules, in particular concerning the use of herbicides, the multiple row systems have recently been abandoned.
The discussion about the most appropriate planting system arose again at the end of the eighties, spurred by the need of higher per hectare yields, particularly in the first years after planting.
For this purpose, higher planting densities were necessary with 3,000–5,000 trees per hectare, reaching extremely high densities of 10,000–20,000 trees/ha with the so-called super spindle.
For such planting systems the preferred trees have set new requirements for the tree-nurseries.
In addition the training and pruning concepts have been adapted.
Presently in South Tyrol planting densities of 3,000–5,000 trees/ha are the most common, sometimes reaching as high as 6,500 trees/ha.
The so-called Super Spindle system with 8,000–12,000 trees/ha has a very low incidence due to the high management risks and the extreme costs involved.