The South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) is establishing an experimental 2D planar canopy apricot orchard at the Loxton Research Centre (LRC) as part of Hort Innovation’s national AS22002 research program: ‘Narrow Orchard Systems (NOS) for Future Climate’
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The high-density orchard (2000 trees/ha) tests two of SARDI’s recently developed apricot cultivars grafted to four rootstocks of varying vigour and planted to narrow rows. Multiple production metrics will be assessed.
Potential benefits of NOS include:
• Rapid return on investment
• Fruit quality improvements
• Lower operating costs (improved efficiencies)
• Safer orchards that are more attractive to labour
• Accelerated adoption of AgTech
• Climate resilience
The 1 ha apricot experiment, established in 2024, is one of two SARDI contributions to the NOS program. The other being a demonstration of canopy training systems for cherries in the Adelaide Hills.