Process / pipelineFruit development and quality optimization
Crop Load Management
Crop load management uses quantitative assessment of fruit number and tree vigor to optimize yields and fruit quality through selective thinning and load balancing. This method combines visual assessment of fruitlet density, calculation of target fruit number based on tree age and vigor, physical or chemical thinning, and yield monitoring to achieve the optimal balance between productivity and fruit size and flavor.
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Sources
- Ackley, W. B., & Wattendorf, R. J. (1962). The relationship of crop load to yield, fruit quality, and return bloom in apples. Proceedings of the American Society for Horticultural Science, 80, 73–83. link ↗
- Wagenmakers, P. S., Callesen, O., & Goulding, K. (2001). Nutrient management of apple orchards in Northern Europe. Horticultural Reviews, 27, 1–64. DOI: 10.1002/9780470650721.ch1 ↗