Producing Sustainable Crop Load

The use of new heat mapping technology to determine the sustainable number of high-quality fruit that a canopy is able to produce is being trialled by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

Predicting the crop load of apple trees to maximise yield and fruit quality is a fundamental challenge for growers.

Disruptions in production resulting from inconsistency of crop load and apple quality can create severe economic losses of up to 30%. In addition, spatial variability within the orchard may compound difficulties in orchard management and farm profitably.

DPIRD, in collaboration with Agriculture Produce Commission Apple producers committee and Aero Vine Pty Ltd, has initiated a one-year pilot study to map and monitor orchard growth using new digital imaging technology that delivers information in the form of heat maps.