The document discusses a research initiative aimed at improving the productivity of tree crops like macadamia, mango, and avocado through intensification techniques. It details trials underway exploring high-density planting systems using dwarfing rootstocks and trellises, selective pruning versus mechanical hedging, and growth regulators. Preliminary results show selective pruning led to less vegetative growth and higher yields compared to mechanical hedging in macadamia orchards. The research seeks to understand key orchard components and integrate them into highly productive systems.
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John Wilkie - The small tree high - productivity initiative; what we are doing, why we are doing it and some initial results
1. The Small Tree High –Productivity Initiative; what we are doing, why we are doing it and some initial results
Prepared by: John Wilkie
Title:Principal Horticulturist, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Date:October 2014
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The Small Tree – High Productivity Initiative
macadamia project team
Dr John Wilkie (DAFF Queensland, Horticulturist)
Dr Jim Hanan (QAAFI Computational Modeller)
Helen Hofman (DAFF Queensland, Horticulturist)
Jarrad Griffin (DAFF Queensland, Experimentalist)
Dr Neil White (DAFF Queensland Computational Modeller)
Dr Bruce Topp (QAAFI Plant Breeder)
Dr Craig Hardner (QAAFI, Quantitative Geneticist)
Dr Neena Mitter (QAAFI, Molecular Biologist)
Dr Trevor Olesen (NSW DPI, Plant Physiologist)
Prof Christine Beveridge (UQ, Molecular Physiologist)
Dr Milos Tanurdzic (UQ, Molecular Biologist)
Dr Carole Wright (DAFF Queensland, Biometrician)
Dr Inigo Auzmendi (QAAFI, Computational Modeller)
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Apples – improving productivity of a tree crop
through intensification
Photo with thanks to Simon Middleton
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The evolution of apple planting systems in Queensland
Era Pre 1980 1980-90 1990-2000 2000 -
Tree density 280 280-1000 1000-1250 2000 +
Irrigated No No/Yes Yes Yes
Rootstock Vigorous Vigorous Semi-vigorous Semi-dwarfing/
dwarfing
Pruning/training Vase Vase-central
leader
Central leader Central leader
Yield (t/ha) 10-15 10-20 30-40 60-100+
Time to full
production
10 (5-6) 7-10 (3-6) 6-7 (3-4) 5 (2-3)
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The old and the new
Photo with thanks to Simon Middleton
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Energy requirements for fruit production
Energy in fruit
(109 J t -1)
Highest
commercial
yields (t ha -1)
Annual energy
in fruit (109 J
ha -1 year -1)
Relative yield
based on
energy capture
Orange 2.6 100 260 1.0
Apple 2.2 100 220 0.85
Avocado 6.7 38.3 257 0.99
Mango 2.7 28 76 0.29
Custard Apple 3.1 14.7 46 0.17
Macadamia
kernel
30.0 2.5 75 0.29
(Chapman and Stephenson, unpublished)
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What have we done about it?
The Queensland Government through DAFF Q has committed
funds over four years for the Small Tree – High Productivity
Initiative.
Significant additional funding and activities through HAL
Horticultural Transformational Investment Fund.
A collaborative research program with QAAFI and NSW DPI.
We see this as being a long term research program of 20 years
or more
We are working with mango, macadamia and avocado.
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What is the approach we are taking?
• Understand and develop key orchard system components
• Identified orchard system components
– Vigour management systems (rootstocks)
– Tree architecture
– Orchard light relations
– Crop load
• Molecular/genetic regulation of floral initiation etc.
• Integrate these key orchard systems components into a
highly productive orchard system for growers
– Planting systems trials
– Functional Structural Plant Modelling
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Purpose of the work
• Compare the effects of
mechanical hedging and
selective limb removal
canopy management
strategies in a high-density
orchard on vegetative and
fruiting responses.
• Evaluate the potential for
vegetative growth retardants
to moderate any negative
effects of mechanical hedging
on fruit set and yield.
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Methods
• Experiment undertaken near Bundaberg
• Two pruning strategies:
– Mechanical hedging
– Selective limb removal
• Two levels of growth regulator:
– No growth regulator
– Uniconazole as Sunny (1% a.i.)
• Cultivar ‘A203’ in a high-density macadamia
orchard planted at 1000 trees/ha
• Pruning and growth regulator applied in
winter 2013
• Shoot growth monitored
• Fruit set monitored
• Yield measured
• Preliminary results presented here
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Before selective limb removal
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Following selective limb removal
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The effect of canopy management strategy on
shoot growth
Treatment Shoot growth
(cm)
Hedged 28.6 a ***
Hedged + UCZ 22.7 a
Selective 7.7 b
Selective + UCZ 7.0 b
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The effect of canopy management strategy on
fruit set
Days after full bloom
20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Fruit per branch cross-sectional area (Fruit/cm2)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Hedged
Hedged + UCZ
Selective
Selective + UCZ
a
b
a
b
a
b
a
b
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The effects of canopy management strategy and
limb position on fruit set
Within canopy position
high low
Fruit per branch cross-sectional area (fruit/cm2)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Hedged
Hedged + UCZ
Selective
Selective + UCZ
a
ab
b
b
a
b
b
b
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The effect of canopy management strategy on
yield
Treatment Yield (NIS t/ha)
Hedged 2.37 b
Hedged + UCZ 3.09 b
Selective 4.44 a
Selective + UCZ 3.96 a
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Conclusions and further work
• Selective limb removal leads to less vegetative growth
following pruning compared with hedging
• Competition between vegetative growth and fruit set was
probably partly responsible for poor fruit set and yield in
hedged trees.
• The poor fruit set and yield in hedged trees was probably also
partly due to poor light distribution within the canopy.
• The pruning and monitoring the responses to pruning needs
to be continued.
• The effect of these pruning strategies on within canopy light
distribution needs to be determined.
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Acknowledgments
• Small Tree – High Productivity Initiative project team.
• This work is a collaboration between the Department of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry, The University of Queensland’s Queensland
Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation and NSW Department of
Primary Industries and is co-funded by these organisations and as well
as a significant investment from Horticulture Australia Limited.
• The many growers and advisors who are helping us with macadamia
work. This includes Hinkler Park Plantations, Alloway Macadamias, the
Manera family and Steinhardt farms for allowing us to undertake trial
work on their farms, the work would not be possible without this
collaboration. This also includes Ray Norris, Kim Wilson, Kevin
Steinhardt, Clayton Mattiazzi, Scott Alcott and Chris Searle for being
part of the Macadamia Planting Systems Trial advisory group.
• The program steering committee: Roger Broadley, Jim Hanan, Mark
Hickey, Jolyon Burnett, Clayton Mattiazzi, Ben Martin, John Nucifora
and John Tyas, Kathryn Young.
