Future Orchards Project
description
Transcript of Future Orchards Project
![Page 1: Future Orchards Project](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022062315/56816568550346895dd7f4ff/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Future Orchards Project
Root PruningOakleigh Orchards
2013 - 14
![Page 2: Future Orchards Project](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022062315/56816568550346895dd7f4ff/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Project OutlineA demonstration site was set up in a block of 3 year old Fierro Fuji’s grafted onto 10 year old M.26 rootstocks (previously Sundowner) still filling their allocated canopy area.
The trees are drip irrigated. A root pruning demonstration site was set up in the most vigorous part of the block. The site had the following treatments
• Control – no ripping• Ripped both sides• Single Ripped – North side• Single ripped – South side
![Page 3: Future Orchards Project](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022062315/56816568550346895dd7f4ff/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Trees at ripping time
![Page 4: Future Orchards Project](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022062315/56816568550346895dd7f4ff/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
The ripping lines were a vertical incision 500mm from the trunk
and 400mm deep.
![Page 5: Future Orchards Project](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022062315/56816568550346895dd7f4ff/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
No measurements of fruit yields or characteristics
Trees in their first significant crop year whilst still developing tree canopy.
Crop yield was 24.23 t/ha
Planned netting was added to the block during the growing season.
Trellis extensions had already been added to support the leaders
The height of the net is 4.5 m above ground level.
All of the trees have attained the desired tree height in their 3rd season.
![Page 6: Future Orchards Project](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022062315/56816568550346895dd7f4ff/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Control Trees – end of growing season
![Page 7: Future Orchards Project](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022062315/56816568550346895dd7f4ff/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Control Trees
![Page 8: Future Orchards Project](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022062315/56816568550346895dd7f4ff/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Trees Ripped South Side
![Page 9: Future Orchards Project](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022062315/56816568550346895dd7f4ff/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Double Ripped
![Page 10: Future Orchards Project](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022062315/56816568550346895dd7f4ff/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Ripped North Side
![Page 11: Future Orchards Project](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022062315/56816568550346895dd7f4ff/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Results Summary** (averages of 20 measured trees)
Measurement Control Ripped North Side
Double Rip
Ripped South Side
Starting Circumference (cm)
15.8 16.3 16.2 15.9
End of season Circumference (cm)
17.5 17.8 17.9 17.6
% difference - tree circumference
10.8 9.2 10.5 10.7
Tree Height (m) 4.59 4.36 4.49 4.53
Number of Branches above 2.5 m*
26.2 32.9 33.5 33.3
![Page 12: Future Orchards Project](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022062315/56816568550346895dd7f4ff/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Apart from • Slight reduction in tree circumference for the
North side ripped treatment • Slight reduction in tree height for North side
ripped treatment• and a significant (approx 27%) difference in
actual branch numbers (>5cm long and above 2.5 m) for the ripped trees there was no appreciable difference in tree
performance.
Discussion
![Page 13: Future Orchards Project](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022062315/56816568550346895dd7f4ff/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Concluded that whilst the treatments may have had some small impacts the
3 ripping treatments did not significantly influence tree canopy
development in this season.
North side ripped treatment?
![Page 14: Future Orchards Project](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022062315/56816568550346895dd7f4ff/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Why Not?
![Page 15: Future Orchards Project](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022062315/56816568550346895dd7f4ff/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Where were the roots before ripping?
(Drip irrigated block)
![Page 16: Future Orchards Project](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022062315/56816568550346895dd7f4ff/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Dig and find out where the roots are before ripping – don’t guess!
If you don’t know – you cannot get the impact you want
Or worse – you could get too severe an impact.