A Partial Economic Analysis of Three Pruning Treatments on Mature Peach Trees

Abstract

Abstract Mature ‘Sunqueen’ peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] trees were dormant pruned in March, summer pruned in late July, or summer topped in late July for 3 consecutive years. Pruning and fruit thinning costs were lower for summer topped trees than for dormant or summer pruned trees. Yield, fruit size, and crop value were reduced by summer topping, compared to dormant pruning and summer pruning. When results were combined for 1982 and 1983, the crop value, minus pruning and thinning costs, was $16,749, $16,389, and $14,854/ha for dormant pruned, summer pruned, and summer topped trees, respectively.