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: (02) 8295 2300 Fax: (02) 8295 2399 © 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 2 HAL Project AP06069 Project Leader Paul James Rural Solutions SA C/- Lenswood Centre Lenswood SA 5240 Phone 08 8389 8800 Mobile 0419 826 956 Fax 08 8389 8899 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 3 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. 4 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 5 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 6 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 7 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. 8