Rootstock and crop load determine orchard profitability by sweet cherry | Porte-greffe et charge sont déterminants pour la rentabilité du verger de cerisiers
2009
Monney, Ph. | Bravin, E. | Evéquoz, N., Station de recherche Agroscope Changins-Waedenswil ACW, Conthey (Switzerland). Centre de Conthey
Four training systems (V-trellised multiple leader, Palmette, Solaxe and Y-trellised), with the variety Summit on semi dwarfing rootstock P-HL A and dwarfing rootstock Gisela 5 were compared during nine years. P-HL A revealed too vigourous for planting densities between 570 and 890 trees/ha. V-trellised multiple leader produced the highest cumulated yields. Despite its training method supposed to increase early production, Solaxe did not perform significantly better than the three other systems during the first production years. Rootstock and training did not significantly influence fruit commercial quality. Nevertheless, by equivalent fruit load (number of fruit/trunk cross section area) Gisela 5 showed an obvious tendency to better fruit size, although it was often affected by to high productivity. V-trellised multiple leader and Solaxe obtained the best cumulated yields/ha, proved to be easy in tree formation and showed well balanced crowns. Both were analysed for profitability under Swiss conditions on the basis of trial datas. Simulations with different crop yields and commercial quality levels showed that very high fruit size objective (60% fruits 28 mm) causing a decrease of about 35% in production would not improve orchard profitability, considering prices and quality standards in Switzerland. In contrast, slightly better fruit load control applied in order to obtain 45% of fruits 28 mm instead of 35% doesn't influence the production too much (-9% to -14%) and finally improves the profitability through better commercial crop value and harvest efficiency.
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