Fruit wall system

4 May 2011
Erik Buitenhuis
Introduction
Fruit wall system or Le Mur Fruitier
Mechanical pruning
Experiences from all across Europe
Philosophy: keep it simple
Introduction
Since 2006
Orchards that were pruned mechanically for 5 years
Question that time: is it possible
Answer now: yes
Why change to fruit wall?
Financial reasons
Organisation: more surface, more pears
Fruit growing needs a lot of handwork
No alternative for older orchards
Principles
Important principles for fruit wall:
Fruitwall: no volume but square meters
Fruit easy to reachlower cost price
Quality and production should be the same
Picking robot?
Principles(Ctifl/EFM)
Principles
Theoretical production:
(H x LR x NR x 2) x NF x AFW / 1.000.000
H = height of tree -0,50 cm
Height : distance between rows = 1:1
LR = length of rows
NR = number of rows per hectare
NF = number of fruits per m
2
on one side
AFW = average fruit weight
Principles
Example:
Distance between rows: 3,5 m 28 rijen
Length: 100 m
Height: 3,5 -0,50 3
NF = 25 fruits per m
2
AFW = 170 gram
(2,75 x 100 x 30 x 2) x 25 x 170 /1.000.000 =
71 ton per hectare
Principles
2009
Elstar, planted in spring 2000
3,50 x 1 m; mechanical pruned since 2001
No correction, no thinning
What will happen?
Elstar Manual Mechanical
Fruits per tree 117 178
Number > 65 mm 114 139
Changing
First time before blooming
Distance: maximum 40 cm, at the top 25-30 cm
Second time: end of May-begin of June in the same
year
Distance: maximum 40 cm, at the top 25-30 cm
Changing (foto: EFM)
Changing
Changing
Changing (i.s.m. DLV Plant)
Jonagored, 3,25 x 1 meter
8
th
year of growth; start mechanical pruning 2010
Object Kilo per tree Number of
fruits
Average
fruitweight
Winter 14,6 76 193
Winter + summer 19,9 93 214
Summer 18,7 109 171
Changing
Elstar, 2009 in third year of growth
3,50 x 1 m
Elstar Fruits/tree Fruits > 65 mm
1. Handpruned+ 2x ATS 100 91
2. Winter (februari) 96 72
3. Pink bud 103 87
4. 6-8 leaves 150 65
5. 6-8 leaves + 2x ATS 118 102
6. 10-12 leaves 150 109
Summer
In Europe different moments of pruning
Around 10-12 new leaves
Pink bud
8
th
leave Netherlands and Belgium
Winter
Summer
Moment around 6-8 leaves
Distance max. 40 cm; boven 25-30 cm
Count number of fruits per m
2
3 reasons:
1. Flower buds
2. Short, compact structure
3. Fruits on outside of tree
Summer
Summer
Summer
Summer
Summer
Summer
Summer
Summer
Summer(foto: Gerhard Baab)
Summer
Summer (foto: DLV Plant)
Experiences
Experiences
Experiences
Bi-annual effect less big
Higher productions
More uniform quality
Less sunburn
More kilos per hour picked
Experiences
Picking time few days later
Important to keep tree vital
Thinning more important
Experiences
Discussion about correction by hand:
Braeburn: 15 tot 25 hours per hectare
Golden: 40 hours per hectare
Jonagold: 10 tot 15 hours per hectare
Do nothing? in general: reduction of 50-90%
Experiences
Be carefull with correction by hand
focus on weak growing branches
Make sure that there will be a wall of fruits!!!
Experiences
Experiences
Experiences
Elstar; 2
nd
year mechanical pruned
12
th
year of growth: 3,5 x 1,2 m
Thinned with Darwin thinning machine (8,1 km/hour)
Object Kg/tree Number of
fruits
Average
fruitweight
% > 70 mm
Hand/260 25,5 164 156 88%
Mech/260 27,2 158 173 90%
Mech/250 +
correction
23,9 143 167 92%
Darwin
Before thinning at Gala
After thinning at Gala
Darwin
Thinning with Darwin
Braeburn, 6th year of growth
Planting distance: 3,25 x 0,8 m
Rpmof Darwin: 260
Speed: 8,1 km/hour
Object Kilo/tree Fruits per
tree
Average
fruitweight
Control 24,6 182 135
Darwin 13,5 79 171
Darwin + 1x
ATS + 1x BA
8,7 42 207
3x ATS + 1x BA 14,2 90 158
Mechanical thinning
Advantages:
Thinning effect immideately visable
For all varieties possible
Independent of weathter
Stopping bi-annual effect
Combination possible with chemical
Mechanical thinning
Disadvantages:
Early moment of use
Possible damage of leaves
Stronger natural fall of fruits in June
Shape of tree adapted to machine
Fruitwall
Mechanical thinning
Gala, 8th year of growth; 3 x 1 m
3rd year mechanical prunde
Harvest 2010
Object Fruits per tree
Handpruned without thinning 163
Hand +1x ATS + BA 131
Mech. pruned + Darwin 220 127
Mech. pruned + Darwin 230 113
Mech. pruned + Darwin 240 91
Mech. pruned + 1x ATS + BA 122
Supporting system
Do not underestimate the importancy of a good
construction/supporting system
Trees good fixated .
Better bamboos then only wires
Supporting system
Supporting system
Conclusion
Anser now: fruit wall system is possible
High productionshigher profits
More efficiency
Conclusion
Important to keep in mind:
Not a standard recepy
Each orchard is different
Some older orchards do not have ideal planting
distances.
Planting system
Diplod: in row not wider than dan 80 cm
Triplod: in row not wider than 100 cm
Height : distance between rows = 1:1
Minimum 14.000m
2
wall per hectare
Planting system
Planting system
Planting system
Planting system
Questions ?
Thanks for your attention
Erik Buitenhuis
EB Fruit Projects BV
info@ebfruit.nl