Future orchard planting systems - do we need another revolution?
2014
Tustin, D. S.
Modern intensive planting systems, implemented to differing degrees with apple, pear, cherry and stonefruit orchard production, are now more than fifty years into their evolution. In that time there has been little change to the principles originally developed with apple as the Slender Spindle dwarf tree high density planting systems. Rather, improvements in crop production and fruit quality have occurred where the advances in understanding the control of tree and fruit growth have led to improvements in tree architecture and canopy management to enhance the functions of intensive planting systems. Furthermore we have seen few recent advances based on principles of crop physiology to address how to increase the productivity of intensive planting systems beyond their present potential. Over the same timescale, the metaphorical âlandscapeâ in which fresh fruit production systems must function has manifestly changed by almost every measure and context. These factors together beg the question âDo we need another revolution?â in innovation to provide the future production systems beyond the present foundations of our now 50+ year old high density planting systems. In this presentation we explore the questions and scope for future research in production systems innovation. Global imperatives show increased food production from existing agricultural land is needed to meet population growth, of which fruit crops contribute both nutrition and health benefits. Three areas of physiological opportunity are proposed: advancement in rootstock-mediated plant development; raising productivity potential by increasing radiant energy utilisation; exploiting both the diversity and the manipulation of tree architecture into new tree configurations that enhance canopy light relations when integrated within new planting systems designs.
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