RESULTATS D'UNE ETUDE SUR DES VERGERS EN HAUTE DENSITE DE PECHE DANS LES PRINCIPALES ZONES DE PRODUCTION FRANCAISES - REFERENCES TECHNICO-ECONOMIQUES

The observations were made over the four years 1979–1982 on sixty high-density peach orchards in which the yields, the techniques used and the time taken to complete various types of work were recorded. There was a rapid increase in yield to 15 t/ha in the first three years and a steady yield of 26–28 t/ha was achieved at six years from planting. The labour requirement (time) pre-harvest was ten percent less than that of trees at lower densities and that for harvesting was twenty percent less. The labour requirement varied with density, the best results being obtained with 1800–2500 trees/ha. This lower cost was a result of the increased yield. Analytical measurements and taste assessments did not show any differences in eating quality between fruits from high- and normal-density plantings.