Project 2020: Optimizing Sweet Cherry Orchard Design & Efficiency

Year 5 (2018) of a Seven-Year Duration Project (2014-2020):

This project tracks the NC140 Canopy Training Systems x Rootstocks research trial (planted in 2010, scheduled for completion in 2019) and the multi-trial Competitive Orchards Project 2020 research-extension demonstration orchards (planted in 2016 and 2017) that integrate the most productive and efficient sweet cherry canopy training systems with rootstocks that impart different vigor levels and variations in tree spacing to further modulate the vigor of tree canopy development. The 2010 trial was subdivided in 2012 to put 60% of the trees under an automated retractable roof covering structure (Cravo) and 40% of the trees under a passively-vented fixed row-by-row rain covering structure (Voen).