2015 Progress Report-e Orchard Trellis Project

摘要

Apple growers are looking to increase productivity and profits through new tree cultivars, higher plant densities, and management practices to produce larger apples on smaller trees in as small a land area as possible. Planting new trees is a long term investment with a 30 year or more expected life span, it is important to have a durable, effective and economically viable infrastructure. One management practice that is essential to these high planting density orchards is an external tree support system (trellis) due to the heavy fruit loads, the weak tree bases due to grafted root stocks, and the tree layout pattern in a densely packed narrow fruiting wall, making the trees more susceptible to wind, snow and ice damage.