Cultivo

Cycle of Seminars for Technical and Commercial Improvement in Leading Export Fruit Species Avocado

organized by the Asociacion de Exportadores de Chile A.G. (ASOEX) in conjunction with Comité de Paltas Chile May 3-4, 2006

Plantaciones en ladera y alta densidad
(Plantings on hillsides and high densities)

Reuben Hofshi www.avocadosource.com

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Plantaciones en ladera y alta densidad2

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Planting systems on hillsides – a holistic approach

Planting Design

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Ability to adapt planting system for hillsides
Low Density (6 x 6) Hedge Row (3.6 x 6) High Density (3 x 3)

Medium

Worst

Best

Trees per Hectare
Low Density (6 x 6) Hedge Row (3.6 x 6) High Density (3 x 3)

Least 277

Medium 463

Most 1,110

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Planting Orientation
Low Density (6x 6) Hedge Row (3.6 x 6) High Density (3 x 3) No specific orientation since trees are equidistant

Contour

North/South preferred

Tree Height
Low Density (6 x 6) Hedge Row (3.6 x 6) High Density (3 x 3)

Highest
Unpruned

Medium
Depends on distance between rows

Lowest
Depends on distance between trees

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Tree Dimension

Low Density (6 x 6) 4 sides plus top
(until treesgrow into a solid canopy)

Hedge Row (3.6 x 6)

High Density (3 x 3)

2 sides plus top 4 sides plus top

A low density planting from CA

The external wall appears productive….. But walk inside and one sees empty non-productive space

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Low density planting

A California Hedgerow

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California Hedgerow

High Density

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High Density in California

Exposed canopysurface area
Low Density (6 x 6) Good only until trees touch; then only top of tree and sides of the block Hedge Row (3.6 x 6) High Density (3 x 3)

Acceptable if N/S planting is achievable

Best since all sides exposed

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Light penetration into the canopy

Low Density (6 x 6) Worst

Hedge Row (3.6 x 6) Intermediate

High Density (3 x 3) Best

Half-tree contour of lightpenetration – Hedge Row

Extent of effective light penetration

Matan Hadari. 2005. MSc Thesis. A Three Dimensional Model of the Light Regime in an Avocado Orchard. Technion. Haifa. Israel.

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Light penetration into the tree

60% reduction of light penetration within 0.5 m (20 inches)

Matan Hadari. 2005. MSc Thesis. A Three Dimensional Model of the Light Regime in an Avocado Orchard.Technion. Haifa. Israel.

Standard Tall Tree Hedge Row

High Density

Hours in which PAR was above threshold levels

Matan Hadari. 2005. MSc Thesis. A Three Dimensional Model of the Light Regime in an Avocado Orchard. Technion. Haifa. Israel.

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Management Strategies

Tree Removal
Low Density (6 x 6) Hedge Row (3.6 x 6) High Density (3 x 3)

Yes

No

No

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Tree removal whencrowded

Rejuvenation Strategy
Low Density (6 x 6) Stump trees; keep same trees forever Hedge Row (3.6 x 6) Side replacement every 3 years High Density (3 x 3) Tree replacement every 10+ years

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Rejuvenation of tall trees

Pruning Activity
Low Density (6 x 6) Hedge Row (3.6 x 6) High Density (3 x 3)

Least

Intermediate
Some annual pruning with aggressive pruning every 3 yearsHighest

Low branches only

On-going

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Hedgerows require severe pruning every 2 to 3 years

Mechanical Pruning of Hedgerows on Flat Ground

Mechanization is more complicated and costly on hillsides

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High Density Maintenance Light pruning 2 to 3 times/year
BEFORE

AFTER

Branch support (staking) and probability of branch breakage
Low Density (6 x 6) Hedge Row (3.6x 6) High Density (3 x 3)

High

None

None

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Staking and limb breakage

Limb breakage

regrowth

Limb breakage

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Cost and ease of spraying for pests
Low Density (6 x 6) High
Requires helicopter in most cases when trees are mature

Hedge Row (3.6 x 6) Medium
Helicopter and some ground application depending on slope and accessibility

High Density (3 x 3) Low...