ISHS Acta Horticulturae 475: VII International Symposium on Pear Growing
A TEN-YEAR HORTICULTURAL AND ECONOMIC COMPARISON OF THREE TRAINING SYSTEMS IN THE HOOD RIVER VALLEY: HORTICULTURE |
| Authors: | E.A. Mielke, C.F. Seavert |
| Keywords: | Pyrus communis, Tatura Trellis, Lincoln Canopy Trellis, Bartlett, d'Anjou |
| Abstract:
A ten-year comparison of the Tatura and Lincoln Canopy trellises and a conventional system with d'Anjou and Bartlett pears demonstrated that the Tatura Trellis out yielded the conventional system by almost 70 t/ha for d'Anjou and 64 t/ha for Bartlett. The Lincoln Canopy was about half as productive as the Tatura for d'Anjou and similar to the conventional system for Bartlett. Fruit size averaged approximately 15% larger in the Tatura system for both cultivars. Harvest maturity was delayed in the Tatura and Lincoln Canopy systems. Harvest efficiency was increased 40% in the Tatura and 26% in the Lincoln Canopy. Nine tree densities ranging from 598 to 1281 trees/ha were included in the trial. In the Conventional system tree densities greater than 850 trees/ha resulted in yield reductions by year eight. This was not a problem with the Tatura Trellis. Increased fruit size and quality increased grower returns over $40/ton for d'Anjou and $80/ton for Bartlett. The Tatura system cost an additional $10,000/ha. However, the earlier yields and higher fruit value offset the additional establishment costs. | |
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