Spatial variation in 'Hayward' kiwifruit fruit size and orchard yield within a growing region across seasons

Abstract

Between-orchard variation in average fruit size and yield at commercial harvest of 341 conventionally managed commercial 'Hayward' kiwifruit orchards within the Te Puke growing region of New Zealand was spatially modelled over consecutive growing seasons (2003-08). The magnitude of between-orchard variation in average yield was three-fold higher than that of between-orchard variation in average fruit size, both within and across seasons. Within seasons there were spatial patterns to the distribution of average fruit size and yields between orchards. The temporal consistency of the spatial variation enabled segregation of the Te Puke growing region into geographic zones containing orchards that produced statistically distinct fruit size and yield outcomes at harvest in five out of the six seasons studied. Although the location of an orchard within the Te Puke growing region had an effect on the yield and average size of the fruit produced, orchard location was only weakly predictive of average fruit size and yield outcomes. Therefore we conclude that, in this situation, zonation between orchards should not be where the effort in managing variation in 'Hayward' kiwifruit orchard productivity is concentrated