Search Results (2)

By 2022, the total area of super high-density (SHD) almond orchards worldwide had spread to 14,622 ha. As well as factors such as spacing, and tree architecture, proper row orientation should ensure a more efficient sun exposure, yield and harvesting. This research was conducted in an irrigated SHD almond orchard of cv. Lauranne^® Avijor in Andria, Italy, in 2021 and 2022 (at 4th and 5th year from planting, respectively) to gain a deeper understanding on the effects of two row orientations on available Photosynthetic Active Radiation (PAR), Leaf Area Index (LAI), canopy growth, yield and harvesting efficiencies in this new planting system. The east-west row orientation in a SHD almond orchard negatively impacted LAI, canopy growth, yield, fruit quality and yield efficiencies, especially in the second year. The north-south row orientation allowed a better PAR distribution inside the whole canopy than east-west row orientation. This unevenness in PAR distribution inside the whole east-west oriented canopies could represent the driving engine of the effect on growth and yield parameters. Although some quality parameters differed between exposures, they all remained within the standard range of the cultivar. The results provide a scientific basis for improved SHD orchard management, helping to keep them as Sustainable and Efficient Systems (SES). Full article

Modern almond growing travels on the tracks of super-high density (SHD). Born in 2010, it has already reached 6700 ha planted all over the world. This new cultivation system needs to define efficient agronomic techniques in order to identify it as a “Super-Efficient System”. Among these, the choice of cultivar is a crucial technique and a key factor for sustainability. The purpose of this study was to compare different cultivars in terms of vegetative, productive, and efficiencies parameters in order to gain applicable relevant knowledge about the SHD almond cultivation technique. For this, 3 years of research was carried out during 2017–2019, on a young almond grove made in 2014 with row spacing of 3.80 m × 1.20 m (2190 trees/ha), to evaluate the agronomic behavior of the two most planted cultivars in Italy, Guara-Tuono and Lauranne^® Avijor, grafted on the Rootpac^®20 dwarfing rootstock. The main biometric, productive, yield, mechanical harvesting efficiencies, and almond quality parameters were evaluated. Cv Lauranne^® showed greater vigor, greater fruit yield, and damaged axes by mechanical harvesting, while higher values of yield efficiencies were observed for cv Tuono. Harvesting efficiency was related to canopy size and tree age. On the contrary, almonds quality parameters were strongly related to the cultivar, confirming the good performance of Tuono as varietal characters. Then, this cultivar seems to be the most suitable for an efficient SHD planting system, in line with the objectives of modern sustainable fruit growing. The better performance of cv Tuono could be related to the positive influence of the terroir as well. Full article