Apple and Pear Model for Optimal Production and Fruit Grade in a Changing Environment
Miguel L. Sousa,
Marta Gonçalves,
Délia Fialho,
António Ramos,
João P. Lopes,
Cristina M. Oliveira,
J. Paulo De Melo-Abreu
Affiliations
Miguel L. Sousa
Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, I.P.—Estação Nacional de Fruticultura Vieira Natividade, Estrada de Leiria, 2460-059 Alcobaça, Portugal
Marta Gonçalves
Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, I.P.—Estação Nacional de Fruticultura Vieira Natividade, Estrada de Leiria, 2460-059 Alcobaça, Portugal
Délia Fialho
TriPortugal & Frutus—Estação Fruteira de Montejunto CRL, EN 366, km 4, 2550-452 Peral, Portugal
António Ramos
Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco, Av. Pedro Álvares Cabral 12, 6000-084 Castelo Branco, Portugal
João P. Lopes
LEAF—Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food Research Center, Associated Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal
Cristina M. Oliveira
LEAF—Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food Research Center, Associated Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal
J. Paulo De Melo-Abreu
LEAF—Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food Research Center, Associated Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal
Apple and pear crops are very important to the rural economy of Portugal. Despite significant improvements in productivity and quality, due to the introduction of new management techniques, model-based decision support may further increase the revenue of the growers. Available simulation models of orchard growth and production are scarce and are often highly empirical. This study presents a mechanistic model for the simulation of productivity and fruit grade of apple and pear orchards under potential and water-limited conditions. The effects of temperature extremes and rain on fruit set are addressed. The model was validated on apple and pear datasets derived from extensive experiments conducted in Central and Southern Portugal. Model performance is high and depicts the effect of crop load on productivity and fruit-size grade and the distribution of both crops. A simulation example shows the relationship between productivity and average fruit size for a hypothetical six-year-olc apple orchard. The model herewith presented is a tool that can be used to estimate optimal crop load for maximum revenue and productivity, fruit size distribution, water use, and other variables relevant for pome fruit production.
