Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
1 INTRODUCTION
The best practice guidelines presented in this document are a summary of the knowledge currently
available on how to use pruning to balance avocado trees. The preparation of this document has
involved growers, contractors, consultants, and scientists that have participated in the development
of different pruning methods aimed to balance avocado trees. Not much scientific work has been
done on this subject, so much of the information presented in these guidelines is based on anecdotal
evidence rather than on replicated trials. Two five year projects led by NZ Avocado have started in
New Zealand in 2014 that will help us answer some of the many questions we still have about
pruning to balance avocado trees. This document will be updated on a regular basis to include the
knowledge derived from those projects.
Pruning to balance trees has been practiced by some growers in the Far North for almost 15 years
now and in the Bay of Plenty for almost 10 years (Elmsly, 2010). In recent years, more and more
growers and rural professionals claim that pruning is playing a very important role in the balance of
our orchards, and the interest in balancing trees by both, flower pruning and structural pruning, has
grown exponentially. Flower pruning gained interest from late 2000s and its understanding was
promoted through industry activities (Dixon, 2008; Mitchell, 2009; Elmsly, 2011). Parallel to this,
structural pruning has been discovered by our industry after years of considering that the only
effective strategy to canopy management was to make room in the orchard for larger trees by
thinning and to buy larger Hydraladas as the trees grew bigger.
In the last years, with the practice carried out by growers and contractors in our orchards, our
understanding of the role of flower pruning and structural pruning in tree balance has evolved. Many
growers and contractors now consider a correct strategy to carry out structural pruning at times and
in ways in which it has an effect on tree balance, and use flower pruning when it is clear that
structural pruning has not achieved this goal. This doesnt mean that we already know how this is
done for certain, but, with time, the industry has developed tools that we are confident that will play
an important role in the mitigation of irregular bearing. This document attempts to describe what we
know about these tools.
Of course, even though pruning could be considered to be the most effective method to balance
avocado trees, it is by no means the only management practice that needs to be considered when
aiming to balance avocado trees. What is suggested in these guidelines should be considered in the
context of all management practices that are known to influence total yield and its consistency.
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NZ Avocado Best Practice Guidelines Managing avocado tree balance by pruning
What can we do to mitigate irregular bearing? We basically need to do two things. We need to
manage our trees to balance them and we need to avoid as much as possible any external stress that
can drastically reduce the production of our trees.
To have balanced trees will mainly require:
maintaining the plant nutrients at the right levels,
maintaining the right soil conditions to maximize root health,
controlling pests and diseases,
following an adequate canopy management strategy,
and, of course, balancing competition of the different seasons crops that the tree is carrying
(e.g., in spring: flush, flowers and mature fruit).
Avoiding external stresses mainly requires identifying the main risks present in the orchard and
implementing all possible protection measures to avoid them. Some of the main risks that have been
identified by industry professionals in New Zealand orchards are frost, drought during key
phenological moments, unsuitable environmental conditions for pollination, heavy continued rainfall,
high winds, high pest or disease pressure, and cold temperatures during flower and fruitlet
development.
This document deals mainly with how to identify unbalanced trees and with how to manage these
trees to help them reach their balance.
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NZ Avocado Best Practice Guidelines Managing avocado tree balance by pruning
Figure 1. This young tree produced the equivalent of 15 ton per hectare in 2013, has a fruit load sufficient to produce again
15 t/ha in 2014, and has grown enough new flush to secure good flowering intensity for 2014, which would eventually be
the 2015 crop.
It is obvious that at orchard level it is highly desirable to have balanced trees and that at industry
level it is highly desirable to rely on a high population of balanced orchards. Industry data show that
there are a number of balanced orchards spread through NZ avocado growing regions (Figure 2. A.),
but orchards that have highly unbalanced trees are a large majority (Figure 2. B).
Figure 2. A. Average tons per hectare of export and local market fruit of the orchards with highest yields and lowest
Irregular Bearing Index (IBI) in the different growing regions of NZ. The graph shows average data for 31 orchards from the
Bay of Plenty, 14 orchards from Far North, 12 orchards from Whangarei, and 2 orchards from the rest of New Zealand. B.
Average tons per hectare of New Zealand avocado orchards.
Avocado trees carry several crops at any time during its annual phenological cycle. A balanced tree is
a healthy tree able to sustain crops in adequate proportions for the current and future seasons
(Table 1).
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NZ Avocado Best Practice Guidelines Managing avocado tree balance by pruning
An unbalanced tree has flowers, fruit and flush in a proportion that is inadequate to support
consecutive sufficient crops.
In Table 2 and Table 3 two extremes of unbalanced trees are described.
Table 2 An unbalanced tree with an excessive number of flowers in spring has the potential to set an excessive crop for the
following season, which will lead to the production of insufficient flush and, consequently, to the presence of insufficient
flowers in the following spring:
Unbalanced tree
Spring 2013 Summer 2014 Autumn 2014 Spring 2014 Spring 2015
Crop 2013 Insufficient mature fruit
Crop 2014 Excessive flowers Excessive fruit set Excessive fruit load Excessive mature fruit
Crop 2015 Insufficient flush Insufficient flower Insufficient flower Insufficient flowers Insufficient mature fruit
induction buds
Table 3 On the contrary, a tree with little flowers in spring will usually set an insufficient crop for the following season, but
will most likely produce a large amount of flush that will lead to excessive flowering the following season:
Unbalanced tree
Spring 2013 Summer 2014 Autumn 2014 Spring 2014 Spring 2015
Crop 2013 Excessive mature fruit
Crop 2014 Insufficient flowers Insufficient fruit set Insufficient fruit load Insufficient mature fruit
Crop 2015 Excessive flush Excessive flower induction Excessive flower buds Excessive flowers Excessive mature fruit
As can be seen from the tables above, we are talking about a cyclic process.
In most blocks, most of the trees coincide in their balance status. In any particular block most trees
tend to be either balanced or unbalanced. However, it is common to have trees with different
balance status in any particular block (Figure 3).
Figure 3. In this orchard most of the trees are balanced. However, there are some trees that are not balanced. The tree on
the left has little fruit and a large amount of flush, while the tree on the right has a very large amount of fruit and very little
flush.
For this reason, it is necessary to consider that although in a block most trees will be in a similar
balance situation, it is important to pay attention to each individual tree to manage it according to its
condition.
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NZ Avocado Best Practice Guidelines Managing avocado tree balance by pruning
Figure 4. Warwick Coles indicating where he would be cutting to remove some fruit.
Ian Fulton believes that flower pruning in the last years in his Far North 8.3 orchard has helped him
to achieve his average yield of 13 t/ha and IBI of 13. He removes excess flowers from the areas in the
canopy where flower intensity seems to be excessive by cutting about 2/3 of each panicle, back to 3
to 4 cm diameter wood.
Pruning to balance trees can be classified in 3 different categories: structural pruning, flower pruning
and fruit pruning.
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NZ Avocado Best Practice Guidelines Managing avocado tree balance by pruning
This type of pruning is the most commonly used form of pruning to balance avocado trees in our
orchards. There seems to be consensus about flower pruning being an effective way of avoiding an
excessive fruit set and obtaining good flush growth to sustain a return flowering the following spring.
Farre et al. (1987) observed that flower pruning done in Spain in March (equivalent to September in
New Zealand) did not reduce the crop the following year and reduced alternate bearing drastically.
However, no further scientific evidence has been produced in the last years about its effectiveness or
about the right timing of pruning or of the right intensity to obtain best results. Most of the practice
at the moment is based on anecdotal evidence.
One quite clear case of the effectiveness of flower pruning can be seen at an orchard in Katikati
where half of a large tree was flower pruned in early spring 2012, leaving a vertical division between
the pruned and the unpruned parts of the tree (Figure 5).
Figure 5. Michael Dillon flower pruning half of the canopy of the tree on the right in spring 2012.
Both halves set large amounts of fruit that spring, but flush growth was much more intense in the
pruned part. In spring 2013 a slightly larger amount of fruit was harvested from the unpruned half,
but, while the pruned part had practically no flowering and fruit set, the pruned half set a similar
crop to the previous one as seen in the photos of Figure 6 taken in April 2014.
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NZ Avocado Best Practice Guidelines Managing avocado tree balance by pruning
April 2014
2012
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NZ Avocado Best Practice Guidelines Managing avocado tree balance by pruning
Original cut
Figure 7. Branch flower pruned in spring showing fruit wet and flush development the following May. (Photo Jerome Hardy)
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NZ Avocado Best Practice Guidelines Managing avocado tree balance by pruning
Original cut
Figure 8. Effect of early flower pruning with cut done on a 2 to 3 cm diameter branch.
4.1.3 Flower pruning intensity
If too little is cut there will be no response and if too much is cut the current season crop may be
compromised.
The amount of flowers removed by flower pruning will depend on how unbalanced the tree is, being
higher in trees carrying an exceptionally intensive flowering. Growers usually eliminate from 30% to
50% of the flowers of the tree, though it is difficult to measure this in the orchard, and there is no
scientific information about the effects of different flower pruning intensities on trees with different
balance condition. However, growers are usually surprised at the large amount of flowers on the
orchard ground after flower pruning (Mitchell, 2009).
4.1.4 Flower pruning timing
The time to prune trees with excess flowering potential goes from the autumn previous to flowering,
runs through the flowering period, and ends a short time after flowering, during fruitlet
development.
In a survey carried out in 2010 the timing that seemed to yield the best results was flower pruning by
the first week of September (Elmsly, 2010).
Some contractors recommend that the flower pruning is initiated by early September and that it is
finished by the end of October. Others extend this period from the beginning of August to the end of
November.
The main factors that need to be considered when deciding when to flower prune are:
Effect on the following seasons flowering: the earliest the flower pruning is done, the more
intense the effect on the following seasons return bloom. Most contractors and experienced
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NZ Avocado Best Practice Guidelines Managing avocado tree balance by pruning
growers consider that flower pruning from right before flowering until shortly before the end
of flowering has the largest effect on the following seasons flowering intensity.
Risk of frost damage: a late frost can reduce significantly the flowering potential of an
avocado tree. Consequently it is usually recommended to wait until the frost risk has passed,
or the effect of frost on the flowering potential has been determined before flower pruning.
Risk of low fruit set: In orchards where fruit set has been low in previous seasons, flower
pruning towards the end of the flowering period or even a bit later, once fruit set has been
defined, should be considered. However, the benefits of flower pruning when it has been
delayed to this point are not clear.
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NZ Avocado Best Practice Guidelines Managing avocado tree balance by pruning
Figure 9. Photo taken in July of a tree that had been just pruned going into an on year, in a Katikati high producing orchard
where the aim is to balance the trees with only structural pruning.
Some growers consider structural pruning in late summer-early autumn to be as effective as flower
pruning. On top of this they think that structural pruning does not have some of the inconveniencies
of flower pruning, like that flower pruning produces a denser canopy that reduces access and that it
needs to be done in a relatively short period of time, at a time when most of the contractors are busy
picking.
Some growers consider that structural pruning reduces the risk of having low fruit set in a marginal
spring compared to flower pruning where the strongest flowers of the tree, the apical flowers of the
largest panicles, are removed. However, some consider that after flower pruning there is always
enough strong flowers to set a crop even in marginal conditions. Unfortunately we have no data that
can corroborate one or the other hypothesis.
Some contractors claim that they have been able to balance trees doing structural pruning every 2 to
3 years and doing flower pruning in the in between years on the trees that seem to require it.
There are several structural pruning methods at different developmental stages in our industry. To
implement any of these methods it is important to first determine the objectives of the pruning
strategy, starting with what is the aimed size and shape of the trees. This is determined by the
expected final spacing of the trees, combined with the light harvesting strategy of the orchard and by
the management conditions of the orchard, i.e., the way spraying, picking and other activities are
carried out in the orchard.
4.2.1 Structural pruning intensity related to tree balance
In the pruning trial carried out in 10 orchards by NZ Avocado from 2011 to 2014, two pruning
intensities, 15 and 30% of annual canopy removal, were tested. In most orchards only 30% seemed
to have some effect on the balance of the tree. Contractors and growers involved in the trial were of
the opinion that it would have been better to have a comparison between 30 and 50% of canopy
removal. 15% was not sufficient to show any effect on tree structure and tree balance. 30% showed
some effect but in many cases seemed to be insufficient.
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NZ Avocado Best Practice Guidelines Managing avocado tree balance by pruning
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NZ Avocado Best Practice Guidelines Managing avocado tree balance by pruning
on more flush which will protect fruit from sunburn and frost. As a matter of fact, there are some
growers (and some of them that have been pruning for a long time) that have started to thin fruit by
pruning fruit off from the areas of the trees that have set excessively. However, the benefits of fruit
pruning, if any, will need to be assessed carefully to prove its value.
Removing fruit from avocado trees has its risks. Fruit drop in late summer and early autumn could
reduce substantially the amount of fruit of the trees even after thinning, which could compromise
the trees final load. On top of this, if the fruit is removed by pruning, a part of the foliage will be
removed with the fruit, reducing the photosynthetic capacity of the tree (Figure 10, bottom image).
In New Zealand, fruitlet pruning to thin the number of fruitlets at early stages of fruit
development to induce flush development in unbalanced trees has been practised by far less
orchardists than flower pruning. Therefore even anecdotal experience of this practice is very
limited and usually refers to few trees in an orchard.
A trial conducted by NZ Avocado and Plant and Food Research has been running from the
end of 2013.:
o Preliminary analysis of the data shows: more vegetative growth (flush), larger fruit,
and more or the same amount of fruit in the trees pruned in December than in the
trees not pruned. The trees pruned in February had less vegetative growth, larger
fruit and less or the same amount of fruit than the control, unpruned trees.
o The orchard was heavily frosted in May and August which will make it difficult to see
if there was any effect on the return flowering and return crop.
o Starch samples have been collected from the trees and return flowering is being
assessed.
o A new season of this project has started in a new orchard in spring 2014. The orchard
is carrying what seems to be an excessive flowering. The trees were divided in 4
groups: flower pruned in mid October; flower pruned in late November; fruit pruned
in late December, and unpruned.
Little is yet known about the intensity and timing of fruit removal to have better results and
about how to do it in a cost effective manner. However, the following can be said about this
practice in New Zealand orchards.
o Intensity of fruit removal: Depending on how unbalanced a tree is, pruning intensity
usually varies from 10 to 40% of the flowers and 20 to 60% of the fruitlets of the
tree.
The tree must be able to support the development of the fruit that remains
on the tree.
In a block of mature healthy trees planted at 10x10 m spacing, expected to
produce 20 tons/ha:
Each tree will have to hold an average of 200 kg of fruit.
At an average weight of 240 g per fruit (count 23) 200 kg of fruit on a
tree would represent 850 fruit per tree.
To account for possible drop of up to 30 to 50% of the fruit in late
summer and autumn, an average of 1200 to 1600 fruit should remain
on a tree to end with the target 850 fruit.
o Method of fruit removal: Until now, fruit pruning has been done by cutting the tips
of branches with high fruit loads (Figure 10).
This is preferably done on branches with yellowish leaves, with no flush, or
on lower branches holding fruit that will touch the ground as it develops
(Figure 11).
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NZ Avocado Best Practice Guidelines Managing avocado tree balance by pruning
Figure 10. Top, full view and detail of avocado tree with excessive fruit set. Bottom, a tree with excessive fruit set after
it has been fruit pruned.
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NZ Avocado Best Practice Guidelines Managing avocado tree balance by pruning
o Timing of fruit removal: In the case of heavy fruit set, the sooner the tree is pruned
the larger the chance of flush development and, eventually, flower induction.
Flower induction in NZ avocado trees is supposed to happen along a period
of time that may start as early as before February, and may continue until as
late as March (Dixon et al., 2006). However, the factors that influence flower
induction in an orchard are still unknown. Anecdotal experience shows that
the production of flush that carries flowers the following spring on branches
pruned in late summer is possible but very variable. On top of this, the
chances of fruit set on this lately developed flush are believed to be low.
Trials done overseas show influence of 100% fruit removal on next seasons
flower intensity as shown in Table 4.
Table 4. Effect on return flowering of removal of 100% of young fruit at different times during summer and autumn in an
orchard in California. The months in blue are the equivalent for the tree cycle in the southern hemisphere (Schaffer et al.,
2013).
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NZ Avocado Best Practice Guidelines Managing avocado tree balance by pruning
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
If pruning is done too late for flower induction to occur, it would however be
beneficial by inducing flush development that would eventually cover the
developing fruit, protecting it from sunburn (Figure 12).
Figure 12. Photos taken in early May in an orchard where some trees were fruit pruned in late December. Left: tree with
excessive fruit load that was not fruit pruned. Right: tree that was carrying excessive fruit set and was fruit pruned in late
December. There is still a significant amount of fruit on the tree that was fruit pruned, but the fruit is underneath the new
induced foliage.
5.1 Nutrition
Nitrogen is thought to induce flush development. Consequently, the application of the
correct amount of nitrogen soon after flowering in trees with high flower intensity is thought
to favour flush development.
How much to apply? Unfortunately, the knowledge based on scientific evidence available on
what is the correct amount of nitrogen to be applied in a NZ avocado orchard is not large.
In general terms it can be said that the nitrogen application in trees with heavy fruit set and
low flush development could be increased in as much as 30 to 60% during the 6 to 8 weeks
following flowering compared to the amount that would be applied to a tree that is actively
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NZ Avocado Best Practice Guidelines Managing avocado tree balance by pruning
6 REFERENCES
1) Dixon A.J., Mandemaker T.A., Elmsly T.A., Dixon E.M., 2008. Reduction of initial fruit set through
the use of a chemical fruit set thinner ethephon. NZAGA Annual Research Report, 8: 27-34.
2) Dixon A.J., Smith D.B., Greenwood A.C., Elmsly TA., 2006. Putative timing of irreversible
commitment to flowering of Hass Avocado trees in the Western Bay of Plenty. NZAGA Annual
Research Report, 6: 13-20.
3) Elmsly T., 2010. Flower pruning survey results. Avoscene, September issue: 40.
4) Farre J.M., Hermoso J.M., Pliegi F., 1987. Effects of pre-bloom pruning on leaf nutrient status,
growth and cropping of the avocado cv Hass. South African Avocado Growers Association
Yearbook, volume 10: 71-72.
5) Fisher E., Vidiella A., 2012. Flower pruning update: industry view. Avoscene, Spring issue: 54-56.
6) Hodgson R.W., 1934. To thin or not to thin, the avocado grower dilemma. California Avocado
Association Yearbook, volume 19: 104-105.
7) Lahav E., 1969. Localization of fruit on the tree, branch girdling and fruit thinning. The Volcani
Institute of Agricultural Research 1960-1969. Section B. Avocado. Pp 60-68.
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NZ Avocado Best Practice Guidelines Managing avocado tree balance by pruning
8) Kohne J.S., Schutte J.M., 1991. Increasing fruit size. Southa African Avocado Growers Association
Yearbook, volume 14: 38
9) Leonardi J., 2005. New Strategies and tools for avocado canopy management. NZ and Australia
Avocado Growers Conference.
10) Mitchell N., 2009. Flower pruning looks promising. Avoscene, March issue: 30-31.
11) Schaffer et al., 2013. The Avocado, Botany, Production and Uses: 149.
12) Thorp, T. and Stowell, B., 2001. Pruning height and selective limb removal affect yield of large
Hass avocado trees. HortScience 36(4): 699702.
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