Planting systems on hillsides a holistic approach. Planting Design

Transcription

1 Planting systems on hillsides a holistic approach Planting Design 1

2 A regular planting from CA The external wall appears productive.. But walk inside and one sees empty non-productive space A California Hedgerow 2

3 in California Trees per Hectare Least Medium Most ,110 3

4 Planting Orientation Contour North/South preferred No specific orientation since trees are equidistant Ability to develop a planting system for hillsides Medium Worst Best 4

5 Tree Height Highest Medium Lowest Unpruned Depends on distance between rows Depends on distance between trees Tree Dimension 4 sides plus top (until trees grow into a solid canopy) 2 sides plus top 4 sides plus top 5

6 Exposed canopy surface area Good only until trees touch; then only top of tree and sides of the block Acceptable if N/S planting is achievable Best since all sides exposed Standard planting 6

7 California Hedgerow 7

8 Half-tree contour of light penetration Extent of effective light penetration Matan Hadari MSc Thesis. A Three Dimensional Model of the Light Regime in an Avocado Orchard. Technion. Haifa. Israel. Light penetration into the tree 60% reduction of light penetration within 0.5 m (20 inches) Matan Hadari MSc Thesis. A Three Dimensional Model of the Light Regime in an Avocado Orchard. Technion. Haifa. Israel. 8

9 Standard Tall Tree Hours in which PAR was above threshold levels Matan Hadari MSc Thesis. A Three Dimensional Model of the Light Regime in an Avocado Orchard. Technion. Haifa. Israel. Management Strategies 9

10 Tree Removal Yes No No Tree removal when crowded 10

11 Rejuvenation Strategy Stump trees; keep same trees forever Side replacement every 3 years Tree replacement every 10+ years 11

12 Hedgerows require severe pruning every 2 to 3 years Mechanical Pruning of Hedgerows on Flat Ground 12

13 Pruning Costs Least Intermediate Highest Low branches only Some annual pruning with aggressive pruning every 3 years On-going Maintenance Light pruning 2 to 3 times/year BEFORE AFTER 13

14 Branch support (staking) and probability of branch breakage High None None Staking and limb breakage 14

15 Limb breakage regrowth Limb breakage Cost and ease of spraying for pests and foliar nutrition High Requires helicopter in most cases when trees are mature Medium Helicopter and some ground application depending on slope and accessibility Low Ground application feasible 15

16 Pathway for honeybees Good in early years Medium Always 16

17 Productivity considerations Early production (on per hectare basis) Least Medium Most 17

18 Kilograms of fruit needed per tree to achieve production goal Tree spacing (m) Target Production (Kg/HA) 10,000 15,000 20,000 3 x x Productivity loss as trees mature and crowd Low until shading occurs Loss occurs every 3 rd year when one side is severely pruned Least 18

19 Harvesting considerations Cost of harvesting Highest Medium Least 19

20 Size picking accuracy in mature trees Low Medium Best Impact of planting density on ease of harvesting Good as long as trees are relatively small Depends on orientation of hedge row relative to the slope Always easier to pick 20

21 Harvest equipment required (ladders and picking poles) Most Medium None Worker environment Worker Efficiency Low Medium High Worker Friendly Least Some Most 21

22 Picking from the ground Even the inexperienced can do this! More experience is needed here to use the picking pole The Ladder Dangerous and inefficient 22

23 Average worker output per day vs. planting system kg per worker 800 per day bins/day bins/day 0 Planting Density 159,091 MT crop; 180 day picking season 1.78 bins/day Workers needed per day for CA industry vs. worker output per day Workers needed per day Worker output (kg) per day 159,091 MT crop; 180 day picking season 23

24 Workers needed per day vs. worker experience Workers Needed Most Moderate Least Worker Experience Age Specific Injury Rates AGE GROUP Number (thousands) Rate per James M Meyers School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA

25 Worker safety WCI CLAIMS Fall height Over exertion Slip Fall Struck by Transport Other James M Meyers School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA

26 FROM LADDER 67% WCI CLAIMS - FALLS SLIP/TRIP 16% SLIP/NO FALL 3% FROM ELEVATION 8% SAME LEVEL 6% James M Meyers School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA Efficient production is achieved through integrated management of the orchard system and its component parts Produce avocados of high quality, with a satisfied workforce and lower production costs and higher returns High-density plantings achieve these goals 26

27 International Plantings 27

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29 For extensive information about planting systems visit the the avocado world at at your fingertips 29