Pomewest secures funding to undertake two APAL Future Orchards® Incubator Trials for 2025
Pomewest has been successful in attaining funding to undertake two of the APAL Future Orchards® Trial Incubator for 2025. The Future Orchards® Trial Incubator is a small-scale research program aimed at responding to emerging issues and enabling growers to explore new concepts on-farm and learn valuable skills along the way. The first WA trial is an investigation into the root cause of a poorly performing block that is experiencing advanced fruit maturity and the second is investigating current and alternative weed control treatments.
The root cause analysis of a poorly performing block
In Autumn 2024 a Pink Lady block showed a consistent pattern of advanced fruit maturity at harvest. It is suspected that the trees expressed signs of salinity stress or nutrient imbalance in 2024 after unseasonally dry conditions when the soil profile could not be flushed with winter and spring rainfall. A root causes analysis is being conducted to consider possible causes of advanced maturity observed in Autumn 2024. Apple trees have a low tolerance to salinity, and the accumulation of salts in the wood becomes toxic and then moves into the leaves, where signs of toxicity are observed. Last week, Jen and Susie began the investigation by taking soil samples. The root cause investigation will involve comprehensive soil, water, and leaf nutrient testing at different times during the season. The trial results will inform growers who observe suspected nutrient imbalance conditions on how to investigate or diagnose the problem and improve conditions within the soil profile.
Review of current and alternative weed control treatments in Pome Orchards of WA
The predicted loss of paraquat/diquat as one of the weed control options would disrupt the current standard practice in Australia, along with the potential pressure from Europe on glyphosate and glufosinate seeing longer-term restrictions. This potential loss of herbicide treatments is an issue of concern for many growers in the WA industry. Pomewest intends to investigate current weed management practices by WA Pome growers and determine their interest in alternative weed control treatments. Susie and Jen will undertake a survey of current grower practices via the survey link below and a series of phone interviews. After the information is collected from growers, a field investigation will be designed to compare different herbicides and mechanical and organic weed control options to highlight the available weed control options. If you would like to participate in this trial, please click the link above and complete the survey (link below) or call Susie or Jen to discuss your weed control plan.
Future Orchards® is delivered by APAL as part of the Developing Orchardists of the Future program (LP23001), which is funded through Hort Innovation Frontiers with co-investment from APAL and Pink Lady® and contributions from the Australian Government.