Precision orcharding to manage variability – new field study

Authors: Rose Daniel (Technical Manager, APAL) and Nic Finger (Consultant, Fruit Help)

Can precision orcharding and variability mapping help to improve returns in tree fruit orchards? 

APAL and Fruit Help recently successfully secured funding through the AgriFutures Australia Producer Technology Uptake Program to support a small-scale field study to evaluate the potential efficiency gains from using variable mapping to identify poorly performing trees that are ‘cash-negative’. 

Figure 1: Green Atlas uses LIDAR and imaging technologies to capture information on every tree within a block

Why is this important?

Whilst adoption of labour-tracking software and orchard machinery aimed at achieving labour efficiencies is gaining traction, precision orcharding and variability identification tools to improve orchard management have remained largely untouched outside of R&D projects and their partner-grower farms.  

What data is being collected?

Over the last month soil samples, scans and tree images have been collected in commercial apple orchards in the Goulburn Valley, Victoria. The soil samples, taken on a GPS grid across selected blocks, will be used to create variable rate application (VRA) maps using Gridfarm™.

Additional data has also been collected using EM38 scans (soil conductivity). Scanning of the same blocks with Green Atlas technology allows the identification of ‘above ground’ variability with information about fruit set and canopy characteristics captured and processed.  

Figure 4: EM38 data out of the same block. It is hoped that similarities between soil and tree characteristics can be demonstrated in an actionable way with this project.

The data collected using these three methods will be analysed. By exploring and comparing the soil and tree variability data together it is hoped that different tree performance zones can be identified and that this can help with making more targeted management decisions. 

Figure 5: The soil grid sample across this block that will be sent for laboratory analysis as part of the Gridfarm™ soil analysis.

How will this support on-farm decision-making?

Trees or areas in an orchard that are identified to be ‘underperforming’ can then be targeted for treatment, both through variable rate application of soil amendments and management practices such as variable rate spraying. 

It is expected that there will be cost savings by limiting treatments to only those areas of the block that need it and, more importantly, significant gains in fruit returns by improving poor performance areas within the block more efficiently. 

What happens next?

The AgriFutures Program also provides the opportunity for interested growers and orchard staff to participate in a technology workshop that will be held later in the year – details will be provided at a future date.

The demonstration trial outcomes will also be shared with the wider apple and pear growing community at this time.