ISHS Acta Horticulturae 243: IV International Symposium on Research and Development on Orchard and Plantation Systems
INFLUENCE OF ORCHARD SYSTEM ON CANOPY DEVELOPMENT, LIGHT INTERCEPTION AND PRODUCTION OF THIRD-YEAR GRANNY SMITH APPLE TREES |
| Author: | Bruce H. Barritt |
| Abstract:
Canopy development, light interception and fruit production data are presented for the third growing season of a replicated 'Granny Smith' trial which compares orchard systems: a) free-standing central leader with EMLA.26 and Mark rootstocks (889 trees/ha), b) vertical-axis with EMLA.26, EMLA.9 and Mark rootstocks (1270 trees/ha), and c) slender spindle with EMLA.9 and EMLA.26 rootstocks (1667 trees/ha). Vertical-axis trees were the tallest with the greatest canopy volume while the free-standing central leader trees were the shortest with the least canopy volume. Total leaf area/ha and the percentage of light intercepted were greatest for the slender spindle system and least for the free-standing central leader system. Production was highest for slender spindle/EMLA.9 (23.3 tonnes/ha) and vertical-axis/EMLA.9 (16.0 t/ha) and lowest for free-standing central leader/EMLA.26 (6.9 t/ha). Light interception was correlated with total spur and shoot leaf area/ha, r=.912 (n=28). Fruit production (t/ha) was correlated with both total leaf area/ha, r=.855, and light interception, r=.795. | |
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