Apple and Pear Model for Optimal Production and Fruit Grade in a Changing Environment

Abstract

Apple and pear crops are very important to the rural economy of Portugal. Despite significant improvements in productivity and quality, due to the introduction of new management techniques, model-based decision support may further increase the revenue of the growers. Available simulation models of orchard growth and production are scarce and are often highly empirical. This study presents a mechanistic model for the simulation of productivity and fruit grade of apple and pear orchards under potential and water-limited conditions. The effects of temperature extremes and rain on fruit set are addressed. The model was validated on apple and pear datasets derived from extensive experiments conducted in Central and Southern Portugal. Model performance is high and depicts the effect of crop load on productivity and fruit-size grade and the distribution of both crops. A simulation example shows the relationship between productivity and average fruit size for a hypothetical six-year-olc apple orchard. The model herewith presented is a tool that can be used to estimate optimal crop load for maximum revenue and productivity, fruit size distribution, water use, and other variables relevant for pome fruit production.

Management Information Systems for Tree Fruit—1: A Review

“…The timing of the 'decision to pick' requires information on fruit maturation. This can be estimated based on the heat unit requirements between flowering and fruit harvest maturity, e.g., Sousa et al [95] and Amaral et al [22], given the measurements of orchard temperatures. Depending on the commodity, fruit maturity can also be assessed based on the level of storage reserves, fruit skin colour, flesh colour and/or fruit shape.…”