Blossom thinning
Accurate blossom thinning is vital to match fruit numbers to leaf area to manipulate fruit loading.
However, assessing tree flower numbers to better target ammonium thiosulphate (ATS) applications can be a laborious, labour-intensive process, particularly on more variable orchards.
Agrovista’s new drone service marks a big step forward in data gathering. Flying at 80m above the orchard, the drone can cover about 10ha an hour, measuring blossom density on the trees at more than 90% accuracy.
For more information click here.
Vigour mapping
Excessive shoot growth can adversely affect flowering potential and quality so must be effectively controlled to balance vegetative growth and fruit bud set.
PGRs may be required on vigorous varieties such as Bramley, or where areas have been frosted and you want to control the growth.
Agrovista’s new vigour mapping service measures crop height, vegetation index and vigour using a drone, offering rapid identification of areas that require attention. Flights commence as soon as extension growth is visible, around the end of June.
For more information click here.
Fruit counting
Agrovista is also testing pre-harvest fruit loading to obtain a more accurate estimation of yield and to aid selective harvesting.
The system uses cameras mounted on an ATV, which travels up to 10kph, zoning orchards in to high, medium and low yielding areas.
The sytem is 96% accurate, calibrate on two trees per block, one high load and one low load.
For more information click here.