Management of Citrus Tree Canopies for Fresh-Fruit Production

Krajewski, A. J.; Schumann, Arnold W.; Ebert, T.E.; Oswalt, Chris; Ferrarezi, Rhuanito Soranz; Waldo, Laura

doi:10.32473/edis-ss698-2021

Cited by 5 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…The average production ranges between 15-17 tons/ha, with total citrus production of 3,240,000 tons in 2020 (MALR, 2020). Pruning is a crucial canopy managing strategy for achieving and sustaining optimal yield with profitable fruit size plus quality (Krajewski et al, 2021). Pruning methods in citriculture are crucial in keeping plant health to achieve a satisfactory symmetry between reproductive and vegetative growth, which is an essential aspect of citrus crop development (Intrigliolo and Roccuzzo, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Manufacture of a Device for Pruning Fruit Branches

AL-Gezawe

COTTB

GAWAD

et al. 2023

INMATEH

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Fruit branch pruning is still done manually, resulting in high labor costs, ergonomic hazards, and low efficiency and productivity. Furthermore, there are some limitations with imported agricultural machines because of their high prices and inappropriate local conditions. Hence, the present study aims to manufacture a local device for fruit branch pruning based on validating the correct stem-cutting position using a branch guide. The manufactured device comprises a 60 W electric motor, a formed base, a teethed pruning disc, a telescopic tube made up of the picker-cutting mechanism of the device, and a 12–Volt rechargeable dry battery. The device was made from local and light materials to allow a telescopic tube to reach the high position of the citrus fruit branches and consider ergonomic aspects. Field trials were executed on sour oranges trees to assess the pruning device’s performance as a function of change in cutting disc speeds (9.81, 13.74, 17.66, and 21.59 m/s), cutting disc teeth numbers (60, 80, and 100 teeth), different groups of branches diameters {A (from 5 mm to less than 10 mm), B (10 mm to less than 20 mm), C (from 20 mm to less than 30 mm) and D (from 30 mm to less than 40 mm)}. The manufactured device was assessed in terms of device productivity, pruning efficiency, pruning damage, power requirements, specific energy, and operating cost. The results indicated that the highest device productivity and pruning efficiency were 780, 218, 100 and 65 branch/h; and 96.0, 94.0, 92.0 and 90.5%, while the lowest pruning branch damage were 4.0, 6.0, 8.0 and 9.5%, specific energy were 0.0447, 0.1645, 0.4050 and 0.700 Wh per branch, for the groups of branches diameters A, B, C, and D respectively. The current investigation recommended that the optimal operational conditions were using the manufactured device for pruning citrus trees at 17.66 m/s pruning disc speed with a pruning disc teeth number of 60 teeth.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Manufacture of a Device for Pruning Fruit Branches

AL-Gezawe

COTTB

GAWAD

et al. 2023

INMATEH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Pruning is an important canopy management strategy to achieve and maintain optimal production with marketable fruit size and good fruit quality (Krajewski et al, 2021). For citrus, there are many different pruning strategies with equally different responses depending on species, tree age, tree vigor, fruiting habit, climatic conditions, and production practices (Tucker et al, 1994;Van der Merwe, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For citrus, there are many different pruning strategies with equally different responses depending on species, tree age, tree vigor, fruiting habit, climatic conditions, and production practices (Tucker et al, 1994;Van der Merwe, 2012). The goal of pruning is to remove weak, dead, unproductive, and dense branches in order to improve light penetration, to develop and maintain a well-balanced tree structure with strong bearing branches that can support heavy crops of optimum-sized, high-quality fruit, and to optimize other cultural practices, such as pest and disease control, fertilization, servicing of irrigation systems, weed control, orchard sanitation, and harvest (Krajewski, 1996;Krajewski et al, 2021;Tucker et al, 1994). These goals can be achieved by pruning trees at the correct time (generally after harvest) and managing the vegetative regrowth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, fruit thinning through pruning may add to the overall benefits of pruning (Krajewski et al, 2021). The increase in light interception and the associated beneficial changes in carbohydrate assimilation and microclimate are crucial aspects of pruning as these influence the emerging time and strength of vegetative shoots, flower intensity, as well as crop load and fruit quality parameters, such as fruit color and size (Davenport, 1990;Khurshid and Krajewski, 2010;Krajewski et al, 2021;Suzuki et al, 1973;Tucker et al, 1994;Verreynne et al, 2004). Tree form as well as pruning severity are crucial in this regard (Krajewski and Pittaway, 2000;Krajewski et al, 2021;Van der Merwe, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Particularly in the warm subtropical areas of South Africa, its natural growth habit is characterized by vigorous growth, the development of long, upright growing shoots, which have the tendency to hang over and restrict light in the lower canopy area, as well as a strong alternate bearing pattern (Van der Merwe, 2012). In highdensity plantings, such growth habits make it challenging to maintain a balance between vegetative and reproductive growth (Krajewski, 1996;Krajewski et al, 2021;Tucker et al, 1994). In general, good yields are achieved in high-density orchards during the initial years, but early overcrowding restricts sustainable production in the long term (Tucker et al, 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Pruning Strategies for Young ‘Nadorcott’ Mandarin Trees Planted in High Density Orchards in South Africa

Cronje

Human

Ratlapane

2021

International Journal of Fruit Science

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The present study evaluated the effect of pruning according to different tree forms on yield, fruit size, and leaf starch reserves of young 'Nadorcott' mandarin trees planted at high density. Trees were selectively pruned by hand either according to form (pyramid or open center) by removing either lateral or central branches, or were left unpruned until trees touched each other in the row with minimal pruning thereafter (control). Form pruning, in particular the pyramid form, resulted in higher amount of biomass removal compared with the control treatment, affecting canopy volume and trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA). This led to a yield reduction in the first year, but steady yield increases in subsequent years. Fruit size was significantly larger in pyramid and open-center-shaped trees compared with the control treatment, but this difference declined as trees got older. Production efficiency (yield/canopy volume) of the pyramid form was significantly higher after the second year of pruning compared with the other treatments. Pruning did not influence leaf starch content, but indirectly affected crop load and subsequently the following year's crop size. Judicial removal of lateral branches, e.g. in pyramid-shaped trees, appeared to be the most beneficial tree form for 'Nadorcott' mandarin as it is closest to its natural growth habit and promotes sustainable yields with good marketable fruit size.

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Dynamic Slicing and Reconstruction Algorithm for Precise Canopy Volume Estimation in 3D Citrus Tree Point Clouds

Li,

Tang,

Hou

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Crop phenotyping data collection is the basis for precision agriculture and smart decisionmaking applications. In this study, a dynamic slicing and reconstruction canopy volume (DR) algorithm is proposed to accurately estimate citrus canopy volume. The algorithm dynamically slices nearby slices based on their proportional area change and density difference, subsequently conducting AS reconstruction and volume calculation for each slice using an iterative mean point spacing as the α-value. Compared with six point cloud-based reconstruction algorithms, the DR approach achieved the best results in removing perforations and lacunae (0.84) and exhibited volumetric consistency (1.53) that closely aligned with the growth pattern of citrus trees. The DR algorithm effectively addresses the challenges of adapting the thickness and number of canopy point cloud slices to the shape and size of the canopy in the ASBS and CHBS algorithms, as well as overcoming inaccuracies and incompleteness in reconstructed canopy models caused by limitations in capturing detailed features using the PCH algorithm. It offers improved adaptive ability, finer volume computations, better noise reduction, and anomaly removal. In conclusion, we recommend selecting appropriate operating environments for each algorithm based on their principles, geometric properties, volumetric values, running time, and linear relationships with one another to guide orchard mechanization and intelligent operation.

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Management of Citrus Tree Canopies for Fresh-Fruit Production

Cited by 5 publications

References 0 publications

Manufacture of a Device for Pruning Fruit Branches

Manufacture of a Device for Pruning Fruit Branches

Pruning Strategies for Young ‘Nadorcott’ Mandarin Trees Planted in High Density Orchards in South Africa

Dynamic Slicing and Reconstruction Algorithm for Precise Canopy Volume Estimation in 3D Citrus Tree Point Clouds

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