Tree-level management resulted in more uniform production and an estimated 10 tons of extra yield.
The Challenge
The goal was to achieve more uniform production across different varieties and plots while reducing reliance on manual labor. Variability between trees made it difficult to maintain consistent yields and to make precise decisions around thinning and growth regulation.
Client
A 23-hectare mixed orchard in the Netherlands, growing 15 hectares of apples (Elstar, Boskoop, Delcorf, and Jonagold) and 8 hectares of pears.
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TreeScout combined with GPX: we are ready for the future.
“The Solution
By investing in TreeScout combined with GPX-enabled machinery, the orchard transitioned from block-based management to tree-level precision. Both the root pruner and the sprayer were upgraded to support variable rate applications, allowing each tree to be treated individually based on data rather than assumptions.
The Results
The biggest gains came from trees that typically underperform. By avoiding thinning agents on these trees and instead applying targeted growth regulators, they were still able to produce 80 to 100 apples per tree. This resulted in an estimated 10 tons of additional yield that would otherwise have been lost, while also improving overall uniformity across the orchard and reducing the need for manual corrections.