graeme fleming - grower success story 1 - canopy and orchard floor management
DESCRIPTION
2014 Australian Macadamia Society 40th Anniversary Industry ConferenceTRANSCRIPT
Knockrow Macadamias
Prepared by: Graeme Fleming
Title….Grower Success Story 1
Date….October 2014
Background and Orchard Outline
• Location - Knockrow
• Orchard Size - 35.2 Ha (11,000 mature trees)
• Tree spacing - 8m x 4m (contour)
• Varieties - 344, 333, 741, 246, 800
• Soil Type - Red krasnozem
Variety of slope and aspect make management a challenge
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Block Records
Block records indicated huge variability across the farm
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Tonnes/ha Block 1
Block 2
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Areas identified with yield problems
• Issues to address –
– Bare soil, root exposure
– Drainage
– Some tree decline,
– diminished grass cover,
– Canopy closing in,
– rat damage,
– insect control
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Bare soil and root exposure
Tree decline
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Improving soil and tree health
• Tree roots covered using soil profiler
• Drainage corrected where necessary
• Use of blowers eliminated or reduced
• Compost made on farm and used in areas of poor soil causing tree decline
• Weed spraying significantly reduced
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Vastly improved soil health, significant increase in feeder roots
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Closing canopy – lack off Grass cover
• Limb removal benefits
– Increased light for ground cover growth
– Increased organic matter in orchard
– Horizontal/cascading branch structure
– Reduced insect damage (open canopies, instead of dark canopies)
– Used in conjunction with hedging (early summer)
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This area previously suffered from die back and had no grass cover – production was low
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Rat control
• Gully vegetation management and regeneration
Changes over time 2006
2014
2009
2012
2013
Production from 5 blocks 2005-2014
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Block 1
Block 2
Block 3
Block 4
Block 5
Key Outcomes
Key Outcomes;
• Open Canopies
– Increased productive canopy
• (crop spread through canopy rather than top mushroom)
– Increased yield (horizontal branching)
– Reduced insect damage
– Increased light onto ground
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Key Outcomes
Key Outcomes;• Reduced Erosion
– Increased ground covers – Organic matter capturing soil water– Drainage preventing excess water entering orchard
• Improved soil health • Increased root volume • Machinery access easier (after rain)
– More air movement through the orchard (dries out after rain event)
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Summary
• Block Measurement
– Measuring enabled management
• Targeted key areas of orchard
• Integrated orchard management