Intensive Apple Orchard Production Systems

209 Pages·2011·6.95 MB·English

Intensive Apple Orchard Production
Systems - Comparison and economic
assessment under Australian Conditions -
Stage 2

Paul James

Rural Solutions SA

Project Number: AP06069
AP06069
This report is published by Horticulture Australia Ltd to pass
on information concerning horticultural research and
development undertaken for the apple and pear industry.
The research contained in this report was funded by
Horticulture Australia Ltd with the financial support of the
apple and pear industry.
All expressions of opinion are not to be regarded as
expressing the opinion of Horticulture Australia Ltd or any
authority of the Australian Government.

The Company and the Australian Government accept no
responsibility for any of the opinions or the accuracy of the
information contained in this report and readers should rely
upon their own enquiries in making decisions concerning their
own interests.

ISBN 0 7341 2600 X

Published and distributed by:
Horticulture Australia Ltd
Level 7
179 Elizabeth Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

© Copyright 2011
Intensive Apple Orchard Production Systems
Comparison and economic assessment under Australian
conditions
Stage 2

Final Report

HAL
Project

AP06069

Paul James
Senior Horticultural Consultant
Intensive Apple Orchard Production Systems
- Comparison and economic assessment under
Australian conditions
Stage 2

Final Report

HAL Project -AP06069

Paul James
Rural Solutions SA

SA Pome Fruit Improvement Committee Inc

Dr Simon Middleton - Horticultural and Forestry Science - AgriScience Queensland
Dr John Wilkie - Horticultural and Forestry Science - AgriScience Queensland
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HAL Project AP06069

Project Leader

Paul James
Rural Solutions SA

C/- Lenswood Centre
Lenswood
SA 5240

Phone [phone]
Mobile [phone]
Fax [phone]
E-mail [email protected]

Other Key Personnel –

Dr Simon Middleton – Horticultural and Forestry Science - AgriScience Queensland
Dr John Horticultural and Forestry Science - AgriScience Queensland
Co-authors of the section on light interception
South Australian Pome Fruit Improvement Committee Inc

Final Report
January 2011

Funding Sources & Collaborative Institutions

Cover Photo: - Elevated view of project planting just prior to harvest 2010
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Disclaimers

Any recommendations contained in this publication do not necessarily represent
current HAL Limited policy. No person should act on the basis of the contents of
this publication, wether as to matters of fact or opinion or other content, without
first obtaining specific, independent professional advice in respect of the matters
set out in this publication

Rural Solutions SA and its employees do not warrant or make any representation
regarding the use, or results of the use, of the information contained herein as
regards to its correctness, accuracy, reliability, currency or otherwise. Rural
Solutions SA and its employees expressly disclaim all liability or responsibility to
any person using the information or advice.

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Contents

Acknowledgements.......................................................................................................................7
Introduction to the Project...........................................................................................................8
Media Summary............................................................................................................................9
Technical Summary....................................................................................................................11
Introduction.................................................................................................................................14
Materials and Methods...............................................................................................................18
The demonstration planting...................................................................................................18
Planting layout......................................................................................................................18
Site Establishment.................................................................................................................18
Rootstocks.............................................................................................................................19
Varieties................................................................................................................................19
Tree and Row Spacing..........................................................................................................19
Orchard Systems...................................................................................................................21
Tree quality and establishment.............................................................................................21
Replacement trees.................................................................................................................22
Pollinators.............................................................................................................................22
Orchard management practices............................................................................................22
Cultural management............................................................................................................23
Tree training and development..............................................................................................24
Tree Attachment....................................................................................................................25
Crop level management..........................................................................................................25
Blossom removal – first season............................................................................................25
Thinning Strategies...............................................................................................................25
Harvest..................................................................................................................................26
Tree Size...................................................................................................................................26
Recording and Evaluation......................................................................................................26
Light Interception...................................................................................................................27
Labour cost considerations....................................................................................................28
Financial analysis..................................................................................................................30
Results and General Discussion.................................................................................................32
Section 1 - Orchard Performance..........................................................................................33
General Pest and Disease Observations................................................................................33
Tree Performance..................................................................................................................33
Tree Height...........................................................................................................................34
Tree height - row width ratio................................................................................................37
Comparing orchard system performance..............................................................................37
Tree Row Volume (TRV).....................................................................................................37
Trunk Cross Sectional Area’s (TCSA).................................................................................42
Root Ripping.........................................................................................................................44
Section 2 - Yield Performance...............................................................................................46
Yield Performance - 2006 - 2010..........................................................................................50
Section 3 - Performance Comparisons..................................................................................57
Yield Efficiency....................................................................................................................57
Tree Row Volume - Yield efficiency Performance..............................................................60
Number of harvests...............................................................................................................62
Photo: Open V system – side viewFruit Quality Assessments............................................63
Fruit Quality Assessments....................................................................................................64
Fruit Size (grams).................................................................................................................80
Sunburn – Sun damage.........................................................................................................91
Section 4 - Light Interception................................................................................................96
Light Interception of Cripps Pink Orchard Systems.............................................................96
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Light Interception of Cripps Red (SundownerTM) Orchard Systems..................................100
Diurnal patterns of light interception..................................................................................100
Section 5 - Labour Costs.......................................................................................................103
Labour use efficiency..........................................................................................................110
Labour Use..........................................................................................................................113
Section 6 - Economic Analysis.............................................................................................136
Orchard Establishment Costs per Hectare..........................................................................136
Tree Support........................................................................................................................139
Financial Performance Comparison....................................................................................140
Cripps Pink - Financial analysis.........................................................................................142
Summary of Cripps Pink financial performance................................................................164
Cripps Red Financial analysis.............................................................................................166
Summary of Cripps Red financial performance.................................................................190
Summary, Observations and Suggestions...............................................................................192
Technology Transfer.................................................................................................................199
Key messages for growers........................................................................................................203
References..................................................................................................................................204
Appendix 1..................................................................................................................................205

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Acknowledgements

The successful completion of this project would not and could not have occurred without the
invaluable contributions of the following people and organisations.

Members of the South Australian Pome Fruit Improvement Committee Inc (SAPFIC), whose
commitment, dedication, willingness to assist and overall contributions over the long life of this
project (12 years) is sincerely acknowledged. Without the commitment and involvement of these
growers the information obtained and presented in this report would not be as commercially
relevant as it is.

Dr Simon Middleton - Horticultural and Forestry Science – Department of AgriScience,
Queensland has provided invaluable input into the project through his advice and light
measurements. He is specifically acknowledged for the detailed data collection, collation,
evaluation and interpretation of the projects light interception studies of the projects orchard
combinations. He has been of immense value as a sounding board for ideas, concerns and
editorial aspects of the project. Additionally Dr John Wilkie - Horticultural and Forestry Science
- AgriScience Queensland has also been of invaluable assistance in undertaking some of the light
measurements and data evaluations in the project. These two individuals have jointly co-
authored the sections on Light interception

Mr Phil Taylor, Principal strategic economist (PIRSA) provided excellent assistance in setting up
the economic templates used in the economic analysis. Mr Martin Carter (PIRSA) is also
acknowledged for his assistance in providing guidance on the interpretation of the economic
results.

Lenswood-Forest Range Agricultural Bureau and the Apple and Pear Growers Association of SA
for their generous assistance in the technology transfer activities of the project.

The Tree Fruits and Australian Fruit Grower magazines for their assistance and support of the
technology transfer activities of the project.

A number of companies provided regular assistance to the project through the provision of
materials and/or services. These include, Lenswood Rural, Lenswood Irrigation Services, and
Stafford Farm Monitoring.

The financial support of Horticulture Australia Limited, and Apples and Pear Australia Ltd is
acknowledged for their joint funding of this project.

Special thanks is made to the SARDI field staff for their work in ensuring spraying, irrigation,
mowing and other activities requested of them were carried out professionally

Special thanks must go to my wife (Jenny) and family for their patience and support of the long
and unusual working hours spent undertaking this project.

•Queensland Department of Primary Industries
•Horticulture Australia Ltd
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Introduction to the Project

In establishing the original project the initial objectives of the project team were to develop an
orchard demonstration planting that was able to demonstrate to growers the development and use
of various high-density orchard productions systems that were in front of what was currently
being commercially used in Australia. In undertaking this the project was also structured to
determine the various capital investment costs, the management and labour requirements of each
orchard system and to provide an economic comparison of each using Australian cost, quality
and price factors.

At the time of the plantings establishment there was considerable debate within Australia on
what tree spacings and planting systems the industry should use. The merits of using more
intensive (higher density) systems were being promoted. It was claimed that these systems
offered earlier production, better, more even fruit quality through the better and more efficient
use of available light, were less labour intensive and were easier to manage. Growers returning
from overseas, Europe in particular was extolling the virtues of these higher density systems.
America was showing a lot of interest in “V” systems and many growers were just not sure how
they would perform under Australian conditions. This was particularly important because of our
sunburn and vigour management issues and the perennial Australian problem (perceived or real?)
of the cost and quality of Australian nursery trees.

Since the start of the original project there has been dramatic changes to the orchard systems that
are now being established for Australian apple (and to a lesser extent – pear) orchards. Of
particular importance, have been the National Future Orchards 2012 project and its various
activities. These 2 projects have been able to work closely and collaboratively together to
significantly improve Australian orchardist’s knowledge, confidence and use of higher density
orchards.

This stage 2 project extends the activities of the original project and finalises the economic and
performance assessments of the different orchard systems under evaluation.

In establishing the planting it was not possible to source all of the required trees or various
variety x rootstock combinations from the same nursery, in fact the required combinations could
not be sourced collectively from any of our Australian nurseries. Subsequently the South
Australian Pome Fruit Improvement Committee had to produce the trees required for this project
themselves.

Additionally because of the strong focus on planting the “newer” higher density orchard systems
and a lack of space in the project site the project’s widest tree density was set at 2000 trees per
hectare. This spacing was approx twice the tree density (2x as close) as the industry was
generally planting at the time the project commenced. This has unfortunately not enabled us to
make any direct comparisons between what was the current practice and what is now commonly
referred to as higher-density planting systems.

The project has had several components in addition to the principal grower demonstration
planting. It has been an invaluable teaching tool and the various measurements and calculations
undertaken throughout the project have enabled the Australian apple industry to now have a
comprehensive physical and economic understanding of how these higher density orchards
systems perform under the intense Australian environmental and marketing conditions.

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