MILLENNIUM PLANTING DENSITY TRIAL OF ‘BRAMLEY’S SEEDLING’ APPLE ON M.9 AND M.27 ROOTSTOCKS 2000-2007

Increasingly, traditional ‘Bramley’ orchards in Ireland are being replaced with high density orchards.
These new orchards have a much higher capital charge against them which must be repaid through increased efficiencies and higher yields.
In order for growers to determine their optimal planting density/rootstock combination; it is necessary to commercially evaluate different planting densities.
In 2000, a range of different densities was planted: 672, 961 and 1492 trees ha-1 on M.9 rootstock and 1279, 1492 and 1957 trees ha^-1 on M.27 rootstock.
Yield increased year on year and by the fourth harvest, the costs of production were matched by the value of yield for all densities and rootstocks.
By 2007 returns from all planting densities had repaid the costs of establishment and subsequent maintenance, with trees planted on M.9 at 3.7×1.8 m (1492 trees/ha) being the most profitable.

IX International Symposium on Integrating Canopy, Rootstock and Environmental Physiology in Orchard Systems

S. Mac an tSaoir, G. Cross, R. Harun

Malus × domestica, costs, bioeconomics, shallow planting

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2011.903.86