Mapping the fruit bearing capacity in a commercial apple (Malus x domestica BORKH.) orchard

Abstract

This paper describes a method to estimate the fruit bearing capacity of individual apple trees aimed at the production of targeted average fruit sizes. The approach utilizes the total leaf area per individual tree, mapped in the orchard with a terrestrial LiDAR, leaf gas exchange, daily fruit carbon requirements and the seasonal curse of climate data in a carbon balance model.