Pollination, fertiliser planning, pest monitoring and spraying are contracted out. Remainder of work is completed by owners.
Canopy management
Tree spaced 7m X 7m
Trees are managed as individuals
Max height of trees in 10m
Light interception is the highest priority when pruning followed by access for picking and spraying, crop load management, structural tree balance and removal of dead or diseased material.
Trees are structurally pruned once a year in autumn with an estimated average of 25% of the canopy removed each year.
Soil and soil moisture management
Orchard is predominately sandy loam.
Leaf litter and avocado pruning are used to mulch trees.
Soil moisture is not monitored on the orchard and does not have irrigation.
Pollination
Pollinizer species include Bacon and Zutano at a percentage of 5-7%
Honey bee hives are brought onto the orchard at 5-10% flowering at a rate of 8-10 hives per hectare. Hives are located in the middle of orchard as there is an open clearing.
Soil and fertiliser application
Soil and leaf tests are carried out once a year in April.
A consultant provided a fertiliser plan based on test results and crop loading.
Both ground and foliar applications are used to add fertiliser with ground application being more common.
Boron fertilisers are applied as ground and foliar applications every year.
Calcium fertiliser is applied as a ground application when levels are deficient.
Fertiliser in some form is applied 8 times a year.
Tree health management
Trees are injected once a year with phosphonate in autumn with no root testing done to verify root concentrations.
Frost protection
No frost protection is in place in the orchard.
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General management