HolaHola

GiddayGidday

Gracias Gracias a a los oranizadores los oranizadores de de

el el simposium simposium y a y a unifrut por unifrut por

darme darme la la oportunidad oportunidad de de

darles esta charladarles esta charla

Development of New Australian

Apple Orchards

Paul James

Rural Solutions SA

South Australia

Outline of PresentationOutline of Presentation

� Brief outline of Apple & Pear Production in Australia

– Maps

– Statistics

– South Australia

� Historical trends in Australian orchard development

� Future Orchards 2012

– Changing structure of orchard design in Australia

� Redevelopment strategies

� 5 “easy steps”

� Grower practices

Apple Production in Australia

Western Australia

Northern

Territory

Queensland

South

AustraliaNew South Wales

Victoria

Tasmania

Australian Apple & Pear Australian Apple & Pear

IndustryIndustry

� Farm Gate Value - approx $Aus 400m ($US 370m)

� 3rd largest horticultural Industry (grapes & citrus)

� Apples – approx 350,000 tonnes (23% processing)

� Approx 15,000 ha - 1100 growers – 20 regions

� Pears – approx 210,000 tonnes (30% processing)

� Approx 5, 600 ha – 700 growers – 8-9 regions (3 main)

� CA capacity 222,000 tonnes ↑

� Approx 90,000 tonnes - regular storage

� Domestic Australian market focus – some exportReference - APAL

ProductionProduction

0.5%15%2Tasmania

7%15%4Western Australia

0.5%10%1Queensland

4%8%3South Australia

0.5%19%4New South Wales

70%87.5%33%6Victoria

Asian pearPearsApplesRegionsState

Reference APAL

Production Production (tonnes (tonnes –– 2004**)2004**)

73037,3002Tasmania

9,70037,7504Western Australia

72527,9001Queensland

5,54020,1703South Australia

740?47,7604New South Wales

?121,18084,0806Victoria

Asian pearPearsApplesRegionsState

Reference APAL

Major VarietiesMajor Varieties

� Cripps Pink (Pink Lady™)

� Red Delicious – striped, block & spur

� Granny Smith

� Gala’s

� Fuji (Naga Fu 2 – block)

� Cripps Red (Sundowner™)

Variety mix varies from State to State

New Plantings New Plantings -- Main Main

VarietiesVarieties

� Cripps Pink (Pink Lady™) – Rosy Glow

� Gala’s – Galaxy, Brookfield™, Buckeye™

� Fuji (Naga Fu 2 – block)

� Cripps Red (Sundowner™)

� Some Granny Smith & Red Delicious

South AustraliaSouth Australia

� 3 regions– Adelaide Hills (85%)

– Riverland (7.5% - drought affected)

– South East (7.5%)

� Highly innovative

� Highest proportion of high density orchards on dwarfing rootstocks

� Close cooperation amongst growers

South AustraliaSouth Australia

� Main Varieties

– Cripps Pink - 21% production – 32% tree no’s

– Granny Smith – 16%

– Gala’s – 14%

– Red Delicious - 13%

� Main New Plantings

– Cripps Pink – (Rosy Glow) – 39%

– Gala’s – 14%

– Granny Smith - 16%

Trends in Orchard Trends in Orchard

DevelopmentDevelopment� Pre 1985

– Vase Shape

– Vigorous Rootstocks (seedling, Northern Spy etc)

– Low tree density (400 trees /ha)

� 1985 – 2005– Introduction of Central Leader systems – rapid adoption

– ↑tree density – up to 1250 + trees/ha

– Extensive grower experimentation

– ↑ Use of dwarfing rootstocks (M.26)

� 2005– Industry review

– Project Future Orchards 2012

Future Orchards 2012Future Orchards 2012

� Major push to change the way we do things

� Encouraging orchard adjustment

– New orchards

– Replanting old orchards

Future Orchards 2012Future Orchards 2012

� Objective – lift the productivity of Australian apple & pear orchards to world competitiveness– Lower production costs

– Increase fruit pack-outs

– Lift /ha production – 20 t/ha yr 2 – 150 t/ha yr 5

– Increase orchard densities – up to 2500 trees /ha

– Focuses on new and existing orchards

� Builds on lot of work already undertaken

� Managed by AgFirst – NZ consultancy firm

Future Orchards 2012Future Orchards 2012

� Major Project ($1m Aust +)

� NZ Expertise

� Australian experts & specialists

� International expertise� Terrance Robinson, John Palmer, Bruce Barritt et al

� Field days, workshops, monitored orchards, excellent written information & presentations, web based information

Redevelopment Redevelopment –– general general

orchard strategiesorchard strategies

Replanting orchards is like “Climbing stairs”

� Lot of steps and several ways to get there

� Taking every step might be longer and involve more effort but the results are much better

Best Practice Guidelines

Redevelopment Redevelopment –– general general

orchard strategiesorchard strategies

5 “Easy Steps”

1. Plan ahead

2. Remove as much of the old orchard as possible

3. Prepare the site

4. Plant wisely

5. Care for your trees

Planning AheadPlanning Ahead

“Plan to perform”

Establishing an orchard is expensive so don’t waste

money by taking short cuts

Planning AheadPlanning Ahead

Early planning (pre tree removal) enables

– Drainage & other problems to be identified

– Nutritional requirements can be determined

– Determine orchard training & trellising systems to be used

– Order the right variety x rootstock combinations

– Plan labour requirements

– Plan management and cultural requirements

� Ripping, marking out

Planning AheadPlanning Ahead

Specifically advise1. Test soils – nutrients, salinity and organic matter

2. Test for Specific Apple Replant Syndrome

3. Identify lime, gypsum and/or dolomite requirements for the site

4. Determine if other soil amendments / soil health adjustments areneeded

5. Accurately map old orchard (use aerial photographs)

6. Order the right Varieties and Rootstocks – 2+ years

7. Check local advice

8. Budget accurately

9. Consider site rotation and possible cover crops

Varieties & RootstocksVarieties & Rootstocks

Varieties – market determines options

� Adjusting variety mixes on a orchard

� Highly Coloured strains – Rosy Glow, Gala

� “Club Varieties” – Jazz, Kanzi, Green Star

Varieties & RootstocksVarieties & Rootstocks

� Rootstocks – major issue for Australian orchardists

– Availability and quality issues

– Virus freedom !!!!!!!!!!!

� MM.106 other Vigorous stocks

� M.26

� M.9 – scarce but ↑demand

– EMLA, NAKB 337, Pajam 1, Pajam 2

� No Cornell Geneva Rootstocks

Varieties & RootstocksVarieties & Rootstocks

Interstocks (Interstems)

– Undervalued option

– Need good nurseryman

– Cost not a major factor

– Adjust combinations for site specific problems� Anchorage / vigour management

– Being considered in replant situations

Interstocks Interstocks –– Predo Jotic Predo Jotic --TasmaniaTasmania

0.6219.68.43.7MM.106

1.0012.69.13.6M9/MM106

0.8013.97.63.6M.26

1.0810.57.83.5Ottawa 3

Yield

efficiency

Kg/cm²

TCSA

(cm²)

Yield 3rd

leaf

Kg/tree

Yield 2nd

leaf

Kg/tree

Rootstock

Reference – Tasmanian Apple Industry Field Day proceedings (200?) HRDC project AP 98022

Interstocks Interstocks –– Predo Jotic Predo Jotic --TasmaniaTasmania

15.1512.11250MM.106

36.312.72857M9/MM106

32.011.22857M.26

50.211.34444Ottawa 3

Calculated

Cumulative

Yield/ha

Tonnes

Cumulative

crop/tree

kg

Tree

density/ha

Rootstock

Reference – Tasmanian Apple Industry field day proceedings (200?) HRDC project AP 98022

Old Orchard RemovalOld Orchard Removal

� Right soil conditions – removal of old roots

� Collect & dispose of old roots

� >4-5cm & 30-40cm

� Don’t burn trees on land to be replanted

� Prevent erosion problems

– Interceptor drains, rough ploughing, cover crops

Site PreparationSite Preparation

� Crucial to Success� Ripping – aeration, drainage, compaction, roots, rocks

� Rough cultivation – more root removal

� Mark out new rows

– Minimise planting in old tree rows

� Fumigation – options ?

� Even out site levels (if required)

� Apply and incorporate fertiliser, soil amendments, lime etc

– 20cm

– P & Ca

� Recultivate – final soil preparation

� Cover crops

FumigationFumigation

� Methyl Bromide – not an option

� Chloropicrin

� Telone (1,3 Dichloropropene)

� Telone C35 (Telone & Chloropicrin)

� Biofumigants� Brassica species

Qld – no fumigation

Jumbo Sorghum & 20 t/ha Bull manure

Plant WiselyPlant Wisely

� Look after nursery trees carefully

� Plant early – early root growth

� Avoid late planting (wherever possible)

� Fertiliser use & placement

� Plant quality trees

� Don’t plant poor quality trees

� Planting depth – consistent graft union height

� Irrigate / water in at planting

Plant WiselyPlant Wisely

� Minimise all stress

� Install irrigation systems asap

� Where used – install support systems asap� Wind – huge issue

Tender Loving Care (TLC)Tender Loving Care (TLC)

Doing everything you can to maximise tree

growth and minimise stress and other problems

to the trees

1st 2 years after planting – most critical

Poor establishment = reduced performance and

profits

Tender Loving Care (TLC)Tender Loving Care (TLC)

� Fertilise little and often – foliar sprays

� Avoid moisture stress – irrigate little & often

� Keep young trees weed free

� Protect trees from animal & herbicide damage

� Protect from wind – support adequately

� Keep trees pest & disease free

� Mulches ?

� Avoid the temptation to overcrop early

� Attention to detail = results & increased profit

Taking TLC to the maximum

More steps taken More steps taken –– better the better the

resultresult

Taking more “Steps” doesn’t necessarily mean

spending more money

just paying attention to the small details

What Not To Do

73 t/ha

2007

What Happens When You Get It Right

ReferencesReferences

� APAL (Apple & Pears Australia Ltd) Website

� Successfully Replanting Orchards – 5 easy Steps A Best Practice Guide

� Predo Jotic - Tasmanian Apple Industry Field Day Proceedings (200?)

HRDC project AP 98022

ThankyouThankyou

Muchas Gracias

Al comite organizador y a

Union Agricola Regional de

Fruticultores del Estado de Chihuahua

Por la invitacion para exponer esta

platica