Illuminating the relationship between canopy light relations and fruit yield in apple planar cordon orchard systems

Breen, K.C.; Wilson, John; Oliver, M.J.; Hooijdonk, B.M. van; Tustin, D.S.; Dayatilake, G.A.

doi:10.17660/actahortic.2020.1281.66

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…Studies have shown that this style of trellis system can intercept 65-75% (Breen pers.com) of incoming radiation and achieve high yields of premium quality fruit (Wunsche, Lakso, and Robinson 1995). New "planar cordon" trellis designs have been shown to reach 85 to 90% light interception (Breen et al, 2020), with improved yield and fruit quality (Tustin and van Hooijdonk 2016). For grapes, cane and spur pruning techniques have been established for a long time which allows for full vine canopy irradiance.…”

Section: Light Interceptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The planar trees are one-year younger, which may explain this result. A comparative study (Breen et al 2020) has measured light interception in 'Royal Gala' planar apple systems that are in their fourth leaf, showing that they reached 54-56% light interception which is greater than that of the vee (Figure 33). This suggests that had the planar trees been in fourth leaf, they would have reached these mean values too.…”

Section: Applementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since the planar canopy is one growth year behind the other two trellis systems, this can explain the lower light interception results. Breen et al(2020) has…”

Section: Apple Trellis Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, Wilson, (2020) showed that planar 'Scifresh' and 'Royal Gala' apples in their fifth leaf had an LAI of 2.6 to 3 which does not exceed the optimum range (Palmer 1989). This suggests that the planar trellis system is better designed to intercept light, and that there is more even light distribution throughout the canopy (Breen et al 2020).…”

Section: Apple Trellis Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Section 1.2.1 showed productivity of modern apple systems is limited by light interception at a whole-orchard level (Breen et al 2016(Breen et al , 2020Tustin, van Hooijdonk, and Breen 2018). Lakso (1994) has shown through multiple comparative studies on apples, that the practical maximum light interception of a whole-orchard level is 60-70% of incoming light.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Understanding the effect of canopy design on crop evapotranspiration for Scilate apple and Syrah grape in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

Schurmann¹

2021

Preprint

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Efficient and effective irrigation scheduling is strongly dependent upon accurate estimation of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), this requires understanding and incorporation of the effects that different soil conditions, orchard designs and trellis systems have on ETc. Orchard designs and trellis systems are designed to harness ≥ 85% light interception when fully grown, which is expected to lead to high yield and fruit quality. To investigate the effectiveness of such designs, an experiment in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, was carried out. Scilate apple trees of fifth-leaf vee and tall spindle, fourth-leaf planar, and Syrah grapes that were seven-years-old grown on silt-loam soil, and fourteen-years-old grown on stoney soil were used to investigate how light interception (LI), leaf area index (LAI), yield and fruit quality differed among these orchard designs, and ultimately affected evapotranspiration during the 2019/20 season. Frequency domain reflectometers measuring soil water content (SWC), and tensiometers (matric potential) were used to continuously measure the soil water balance and estimate crop evapotranspiration. Light interception (LI-COR, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA) and manual LAI readings were taken over four periods from budburst to full canopy. Fresh weight yield was extrapolated from a sample per tree/vine (n=30), maturity was measured by starch pattern index in apples, and quality was estimated from dry matter content (DMC%), and soluble solids content. Hourly ETo was computed using the FAO standardised Penman-Monteith equation, and data collected by an automated on-site weather station. ETc was estimated for ‘well-watered’ conditions using extrapolated daily light interception measurements, and compared with measured changes in SWC. The apple trellis systems showed variation in LI (vee: 56%, tall spindle: 50%, planar: 36%), and LAI (vee: 3.2, tall spindle: 1.6, planar: 1.3). The vee system had the largest fresh weight yield in tonnes per hectare (vee: 141, tall spindle: 108, planar: 54). The different aged vines and soil type also showed variability in LI (young Syrah: 36%, old Syrah: 22%) and LAI (young Syrah: 1.3, old Syrah: 0.7). This variability was particularly obvious in the SWC results, where tall spindle showed the highest ETc and change in SWC, whereas planar and vee the lowest which was attributed to an ‘over-irrigated’ environment causing waterlogging, and ultimately decreasing transpiration, despite vee having the highest LI and LAI. Differences in orchard design and trellis system caused changes in ETc and soil water content which can be illustrated by light interception and LAI. However, this thesis demonstrated that soil and groundwater heterogeneity can cause significant variability in results which needs to be accounted for when modelling, irrigating and growing. Future work suggestions are the inclusion of transpiration measurements using sap flow meters to differentiate drainage and groundwater effects from ETc, and to further clarify when the trees/vines are being over-watered.

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Section: Light Interceptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Applementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since the planar canopy is one growth year behind the other two trellis systems, this can explain the lower light interception results. Breen et al(2020) has…”

Section: Apple Trellis Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Apple Trellis Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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