Will high density work for processing apples?

Similar to fresh market fruit, producers of fruit primarily destined for processing are interested in reducing costs and labor and increasing efficiency through the use of new pruning and training systems. This study looks at five different training systems established in two commercial orchards and examines the early yields, both on a weight per tree and $USD per acre basis, and growth of the processing cultivar 'York Imperial'. The sites were established in 1997 on M.9 and in 1998 on B.9 rootstocks. Systems utilized at both sites are: V Axe (V), Slender spindle (SS), Hytec (H), Vertical axe (A), and minimally pruned (UP). Trees in the V were planted at 0.9 m in the row while all other systems were planted at 1.8 m in the row. There were no differences in trunk cross sectional area (TCSA) through to the time of the third leaf at either site. TCSA, however, was smallest in the V system on M.9 and largest in the A system at the end of the 4th leaf. Yields on a per tree or area basis were not influenced by training system in the third or 4th leaf on M.9. Yields per tree of 'York Imperial'/B.9 were also not influenced by training system but were different on an area basis in the 3rd leaf. Yields in $USD per acre were determined for the systems based upon grading a sub sample of fruit and applying the percentages to total number of fruit of harvested trees. Prices from a local processing firm were utilized to estimate the economic returns for each system.