New Tools for Mechanical Thinning of Apricot Fruitlets

Alberto Assirelli, Giuseppina Caracciolo, Giancarlo Roccuzzo and Fiorella Stagno
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Alberto Assirelli: CREA—Centro di Ricerca Ingegneria e Trasformazioni Agroalimentari, Via Della Pascolare, 00015 Roma, Italy
Giuseppina Caracciolo: CREA—Centro di Ricerca Olivicoltura, Frutticoltura e Agrumicoltura, Via La Canapona 1 bis, 47121 Forlì, Italy
Giancarlo Roccuzzo: CREA—Centro di Ricerca Olivicoltura, Frutticoltura e Agrumicoltura, Corso Savoia 190, 95124 Acireale, Italy
Fiorella Stagno: CREA—Centro di Ricerca Olivicoltura, Frutticoltura e Agrumicoltura, Corso Savoia 190, 95124 Acireale, Italy

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 11, 1-11

Abstract: In this study, the thinner machine with yellow rod equipment was tested in relation to tree branch length and orientation in April 2019, in a narrow-canopied apricot orchard of Emilia Romagna Region, Italy. The trees were mechanically thinned with manual finishing, and comparative tests were carried out simultaneously with the ordinary hand thinning (control). Three groups of two plants were identified as replication for a total of six plants per row. Three rows were checked, considering field uniformity average. The branches were grouped into four classes according to their length: <30 cm, 30–60 cm, 60–90 cm and >90 cm. Branch inclination on the plant, radial or longitudinal with respect to the row, was evaluated. Fruit number before the thinning, after the first and the second machine intervention, after three days of the mechanical thinning and after the hand finishing was recorded. This experience showed satisfactory results in terms of thinning efficiency and reduced damage to both fruits and branches, as a function of the class length and insertion point in the main branch of the plant. Thinning efficiency was always kept above 37% of the left load after hand finishing, and on average between the treatments close to 44%. Fruit damages always remained below the economic thresholds to marketable production or to the plant.

Keywords: Prunus armeniaca L.; crop load; young fruits; thinning machine (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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