The Influence of the Extension Service on Innovations in Planting Systems and Tree Training in the South Tyrolean Fruit Industry | The Influence of the Extension Service on Innovations in Planting Systems and Tree Training in the South Tyrolean Fruit Industry
2012
Waldner, Walther
In South Tyrol the landscape from Mals (Vinschgau) to Salurn (Etsch Valley) and from Brixen-Vahrn (Eisack Valley) to Bozen (Etsch Valley) on the valley floor and on the hillsides up to 1,200 m above sea level is nowadays shaped by high density apple plantings, with trees mainly on the M9 rootstock. These orchards amount to a total apple growing area of 18,729 ha. At present there are about 60 million apple trees in this area. The modern high density orchards have been preceded by various stages of development, which began as early as about 100 years before the South Tyrolean Extension Service for Fruit- and Winegrowing was founded in 1957. In the first decade after the establishment of the Extension Service the technical advisers favoured a three-branch hedge based on the Ferrarese Palmette system. The history of high density apple orchards with trees on M9 began in South Tyrol in 1968 in response to a financial emergency situation. In the absence of a local research station the complete know-how had to be transferred by the Extension Service from the Dutch and Belgian apple growing regions. A decade later about 10 % of the South Tyrolean apple orchards had been converted into high density plantings. Two decades later the Extension Service proved that extremely high density plantings (super spindle and string tree) do not bring any economic advantages. Since 1993 the South Tyrolean Extension Service has been pursuing its own path with regard to planting systems and tree training. It recommends the “tall slender spindle”, which is currently the predominating tree shape.
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