Articles
ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF HIGH DENSITY VERSUS STANDARD ORCHARD CONFIGURATIONS; CASE STUDY USING PERFORMANCE DATA FOR ‘GOLDEN RUSSET BOSC’ PEARS
Article number
800_101
Pages
739 – 746
Language
English
Abstract
Interest in size-controlling rootstocks and high-density plantings has recently increased among U.S. pear growers.
A replicated trial was performed in a commercial orchard to evaluate the performance of ‘Golden Russet Bosc on five training systems and nine rootstocks.
Trees grafted onto Old Home x Farmingdale (OHxF) 69, 97, 217, 333 and 513, and P. betulaefolia rootstocks were planted in May 1993. Seedlings of OHxF 40 and 87 and Quince BA29C/Comice interstem were simultaneously grafted to ‘Golden Russet Bosc. Final height of freestanding trees was approximately 4.5–4.7 m, while the Tatura height was limited to 2.7 m to avoid use of ladders for pruning and harvest.
No fruit thinning was performed, as is normal in California.
From 1996–2002 (4th–10th leaf) the calculated average per hectare gross returns showed the Tatura trellis and parallel hedgerow to be the best performing training systems and OHxF 69 the best performing rootstock.
Tatura trellis/OHxF 69 was the best performing combination.
In 2005 (13th leaf), there were no differences among training systems.
OHxF 69 and 97 were the highest grossing rootstocks and Tatura trellis/OHxF 69 still the highest grossing combination.
Productivity data derived from trial yields was utilized to develop a set of three economic analyses comparing high density plantings to standard spaced plantings.
Overall, the high density plantings came into production sooner, showing an estimated profit in year 6 compared to year 9 for the standard planting, and reached 56 tonnes per hectare at full production compared to 45 tonnes for the standard planting, an increase in profit of $10,378 per hectare.
Establishment costs were recovered in year 10 for high density systems versus 21 years for the standard spaced planting.
A replicated trial was performed in a commercial orchard to evaluate the performance of ‘Golden Russet Bosc on five training systems and nine rootstocks.
Trees grafted onto Old Home x Farmingdale (OHxF) 69, 97, 217, 333 and 513, and P. betulaefolia rootstocks were planted in May 1993. Seedlings of OHxF 40 and 87 and Quince BA29C/Comice interstem were simultaneously grafted to ‘Golden Russet Bosc. Final height of freestanding trees was approximately 4.5–4.7 m, while the Tatura height was limited to 2.7 m to avoid use of ladders for pruning and harvest.
No fruit thinning was performed, as is normal in California.
From 1996–2002 (4th–10th leaf) the calculated average per hectare gross returns showed the Tatura trellis and parallel hedgerow to be the best performing training systems and OHxF 69 the best performing rootstock.
Tatura trellis/OHxF 69 was the best performing combination.
In 2005 (13th leaf), there were no differences among training systems.
OHxF 69 and 97 were the highest grossing rootstocks and Tatura trellis/OHxF 69 still the highest grossing combination.
Productivity data derived from trial yields was utilized to develop a set of three economic analyses comparing high density plantings to standard spaced plantings.
Overall, the high density plantings came into production sooner, showing an estimated profit in year 6 compared to year 9 for the standard planting, and reached 56 tonnes per hectare at full production compared to 45 tonnes for the standard planting, an increase in profit of $10,378 per hectare.
Establishment costs were recovered in year 10 for high density systems versus 21 years for the standard spaced planting.
Publication
Authors
R.B. Elkins, K. Klonsky, R. DeMoura, T.M. DeJong
Keywords
European pear (Pyrus communis), ‘Golden Russet Bosc’, training systems, rootstocks, Tatura trellis, ‘Old Home’ × ‘Farmingdale’ (Brooks® series), high density systems, orchard economics
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