Tasmanian research project to support apple and pear growers

An $800,000 research project on soil health and its correlation to fruitful orchards has been launched by the TIA and is expected to achieve great results in both sustainability and the understanding of plant nutrition.

Hort Innovation research and development manager, Adrian Hunt, said the project hoped to provide a change to operating more sustainable production systems that integrates the management of pests, disease and soil.

The project, improved Australian apple and pear orchards soil health and plant nutrition, will be trialed at a commercial orchard in the Huon Valley as one Australia's key growing regions for apples and pears.

Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture research fellow and project leader, Dr Nigel Swarts, said Australian apple and pear growers were committed to a sustainable fruit production that meets consumer demands, while maximising quality.

"Healthy soils play a critical role in the productivity of orchards through enhanced nutrient availability and resilience to climate variability," Dr Swarts said.

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"Through this project, we are aiming to develop the knowledge to help optimise soil health even further."

"The desired outcome is an apple and pear orchard production system that maximises quality and yield with high nutrient-use efficiency under increasingly variable climates.

"Findings from this research will be included in a user-friendly web application that will help growers make informed management decisions."

Tasmania's apple and pear sector makes an important contribution to the State's economy and in 2017-18 had a gross farmgate value of $46 million.

As one of Australia's key growing regions for apples and pears, a commercial orchard in the Huon Valley will host a trial site for this project.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to establish a trial site on a commercial orchard in the Huon Valley," Dr Swarts said.

"This will enable us to undertake a comprehensive analysis of the influence of treatments on changes to soil carbon, the role and function of mycorrhizal fungi and the physiology of tree water relations and crop production."

Hort Innovation's Adrian Hunt said the program would build on the success of previous PIPS programs and benefit apple and pear growers across Australia.

"The TIA-led project seeks to provide a step-change to operating more sustainable production systems that proactively integrates management of pests and disease and soil," he said.

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