TRV, TCA and photopoint measurements

December 2015 | Prepared by AgFirst | Future Orchards® measurement instructions

This Future Orchards® guide provides standard instructions for measuring tree row volume (TRV), trunk cross-sectional area (TCA) and orchard photopoints. Consistent measurement allows growers and advisers to document canopy development and compare tree growth over time.

TRV provides an estimate of canopy volume using row and tree dimensions, while TCA gives a repeatable measure of trunk size and tree growth. Used together, these measurements can help describe orchard structure and support comparisons between blocks, systems and seasons.

The photopoint protocol adds a visual record. The guide calls for photographs twice each year, including a tree view and a row view, with one set taken alongside TRV/TCA measurements and another before harvest to show the canopy carrying a full crop. Consistent framing makes the images more useful for year-to-year comparison.

The strength of the method is standardisation. Measurements and photographs become more valuable when they are collected from the same points and in the same way each season, creating a practical record of canopy development that can complement production and financial data.