Improving the Capacity of Improving the Capacity of the Afghanistan Ministry of the Afghanistan Ministry of Agriculture Irrigation and Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock to Deliver Livestock to Deliver Extension Services.Extension Services.

Apple Production inApple Production in New York StateNew York State

Mahboobullah OryakhelMahboobullah Oryakhel

Cornell UniversityCornell University

TopicsTopics

Orchard SystemsOrchard Systems– Planting SystemsPlanting Systems– Tree Density and its effects on YieldTree Density and its effects on Yield– Light InterceptionLight Interception

Orchard SystemsOrchard Systems

Major Training Major Training systems in Use in New systems in Use in New York.York.

Gala Super Spindle/M.9

Slender Spindle/M.9

Tall Spindle/M.9

Tall Spindle/M.9

Geneva Y-trellis/M.26

V-Slender Spindle/M.9

3 Year Old Gala/M.9 Trained 3 Year Old Gala/M.9 Trained to a Vertical Axisto a Vertical Axis

Vertical Axis/G.202

Tree Density:Tree Density: The Key to Early ProductionThe Key to Early Production

The Geneva Planting Systems The Geneva Planting Systems TrialTrial((Planted 1997)Planted 1997)

SystemSystem SpacingSpacingSlender Pyramid/M.7Slender Pyramid/M.7 10' X 18'10' X 18'Slender Pyramid/M.26Slender Pyramid/M.26 8' X 16'8' X 16'Vertical Axis/M.9Vertical Axis/M.9 7' X 15'7' X 15'Vertical Axis/M.9Vertical Axis/M.9 6' X 14'6' X 14'High Density Vertical Axis/M.9 High Density Vertical Axis/M.9 5' X 13'5' X 13'High Density Vertical Axis/M.9 High Density Vertical Axis/M.9 4' X 12'4' X 12'Tall Spindle/M.9 Tall Spindle/M.9 3' X 11'3' X 11'Super Spindle Super Spindle 2' X 10'2' X 10'

0

50

100

150

200

6 Y

ear

Cu

mu

lati

ve Y

ield

(M

T/H

a

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Year

Effect of Tree Density on Cumulative Yield

5382 Tree/ha

3262 Trees/ha

2243 Trees/ha1655 Trees/ha

1283 Trees/ha

1026 Trees/ha840 Trees/ha598 Trees/ha

2 Year Old Gala/M.9 trained to Super Spindle

0

50

100

150

200

Cu

mu

lati

ve Y

ield

(M

T/H

a)

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000

Tree Density/Ha

Effect of Tree Density on Cumulative Yield

Year 6Year 5Year 4Year 3Year 2

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Trun

k C

ross

-Sec

t. A

rea

(cm

2 )

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000

Tree Density/Ha

Effect of Tree Density on TCSA

M.7

M.26

M.9

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

6 Y

ear

Cum

ulat

ive

Yie

ld (t

/ha)

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000Tree Density/Ha

ElstarJonagold

From Balkhoven- Baart et.al, 2001

0

200

400

600

80022

Yea

r C

umul

ativ

e Y

ield

(Mt/

ha)

0 500 1000 1500 2000

Tree Density (trees/ha)

DeliciousEmpire

Tree Density and Training System Tree Density and Training System Influence on early YieldInfluence on early Yield

• Tree density has a larger impact on Tree density has a larger impact on early yield than training system.early yield than training system.

• Systems that utilize heading cuts in the Systems that utilize heading cuts in the early years such as Central Leader have early years such as Central Leader have lower yields than systems which lower yields than systems which employ minimal pruning during the first employ minimal pruning during the first 5 years.5 years.• Slender PyramidSlender Pyramid• Vertical AxisVertical Axis• Tall SpindleTall Spindle• Super SpindleSuper Spindle• Y-trellisY-trellis• V-Super SpindleV-Super Spindle

Tree Density and Training System Tree Density and Training System Influence on Fruit QualityInfluence on Fruit Quality

Smaller trees generally have better light Smaller trees generally have better light distribution and fruit quality.distribution and fruit quality.

Some very small stature trees have dense Some very small stature trees have dense canopies because limbs are placed close canopies because limbs are placed close together. together.

Narrow canopies with open space Narrow canopies with open space between the limbs have the best light between the limbs have the best light distribution and the best fruit quality.distribution and the best fruit quality.

Very close tree spacings have slightly Very close tree spacings have slightly less fruit color than wide tree spacings.less fruit color than wide tree spacings.

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1,000

1,100

Yie

ld (b

u/ac

)

5 10 15 20

Year

Annual Yield of 5 Systems

Super Spindle (2178 tr/ac)

Tall Spindle (1340 tr/ac)

Vertical Axis (908 tr/ac)Vertical Axis (622 tr/ac)Central Leader (340 tr/ac)

(20,000)

(10,000)

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

Acc

umul

ated

Cas

h F

low

($)

0 5 10 15 20

Year

Cash Flow 5 Systems

Super Spindle (2178 tr/ac)

Tall Spindle (1340 tr/ac)

Vertical Axis (908 tr/ac)Vertical Axis (622 tr/ac)Central Leader (340 tr/ac)

(20,000)

(15,000)

(10,000)

(5,000)

0

5,000

10,000N

et P

rese

nt V

alue

($)

0 5 10 15 20

Year

NPV for 5 Systems

Super Spindle (2178 tr/ac)

Tall Spindle (1340 tr/ac)

Vertical Axis (908 tr/ac)Vertical Axis (622 tr/ac)Central Leader (340 tr/ac)

(5,000)

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000N

et P

rese

nt V

alue

($)

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

Trees Density (Trees/Acre)

Effect of Fruit Price on Profitability

$5.50/bu Fruit Price$6.50/bu Fruit Price

$4.50/bu Fruit Price

Conclusions About Conclusions About Tree DensityTree Density

• High tree densities = high early yields High tree densities = high early yields • Under NY conditions densities up 2,200 Under NY conditions densities up 2,200

trees/acre are manageable and produce trees/acre are manageable and produce extremely high cumulative yields but the extremely high cumulative yields but the optimum density depends on economic optimum density depends on economic factors and is less than the extremely factors and is less than the extremely high densities.high densities.

• High mature orchard yields depend on High mature orchard yields depend on high light interception. Trees must be high light interception. Trees must be designed to intercept 70% of available designed to intercept 70% of available light by having tree height at least 80% light by having tree height at least 80% of row spacing.of row spacing.

• Open canopies give better quality than Open canopies give better quality than compact dense forms.compact dense forms.

Light Interception:Light Interception: The Key to High Mature YieldsThe Key to High Mature Yields

The Apple TreeThe Apple Tree

Vegetative Parts

Fruit

Leaf

Solar Radiation

% Light Interception

Depth of Canopy Affects Light Distribution and Fruit Quality

Large CL/M.7

Small CL/M.9/MM.111

Short Slender Spindle/M.9

Y-Trellis/M.26

Geneva Y-trellis/M.26

50

100

150

200

250

300

8 Y

r. C

um Y

ield

(MT

/ha)

20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Canopy Light Interception (%)

Pal. Trellis

Y-trellis

Sl. Spindle

Vert. Axis

y = -20 + 4.4xr2 = 0.84

How To Assure High Light How To Assure High Light Interception?Interception?

• Develop proper height of tree.Develop proper height of tree.• For semi-dwarf trees, tree height should be 80% of the For semi-dwarf trees, tree height should be 80% of the

tree row width.tree row width.• For 18 ft rows tree height should be 14.5 ft.For 18 ft rows tree height should be 14.5 ft.• For 16 ft rows tree height should be 13 ft. For 16 ft rows tree height should be 13 ft.

• For dwarf trees, tree height should be 90% of the tree For dwarf trees, tree height should be 90% of the tree row width.row width.

• For 14 ft rows tree height should be 12.5 ft.For 14 ft rows tree height should be 12.5 ft.• For 12 ft rows tree height should be 10.8 ft. For 12 ft rows tree height should be 10.8 ft. • For 10 ft rows tree height should be 9 ft.For 10 ft rows tree height should be 9 ft.

AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments

Photos provided by:Photos provided by: Ian Mervin – Cornell UniversityIan Mervin – Cornell University Terence L. Robinson Terence L. Robinson

New York State Agricultural New York State Agricultural Experiment Station Experiment Station

Cornell University - Geneva, Cornell University - Geneva, NYNY