Modern approaches in new kiwifruit plantations in Turkey

Abstract

Kiwifruit has been one of the most profitable fruit species in the orchard business in Turkey for more than 25 years. In Turkey, the volume of kiwifruit production is relatively lower than that in China, Italy, New Zealand, and Chile. However, Turkey is one of the top countries in the world in terms of production area. Most kiwifruit orchards are quite new. Furthermore, production is increasing every year. Clearly, quality will be much more important in the near future; therefore, kiwifruit growers will have to use modern techniques that will improve the quality of the fruits to ensure better taste. In the first few years, because of lack of technical knowledge, many kiwifruit orchards were run with incorrect systems. Nowadays, with improved knowledge, modern kiwifruit orchards have been started in different regions throughout Turkey. At the start, the yield was only 20-30 t ha‑1; however, in recent years, it has risen to 40-50 t ha‑1. Intensive use of fertigation and plant-growth regulators has contributed to increased yield. Ridge planting in groundwater and employing water sprinklers are methods used in modern orchards. An extensive mini-sprinkler system has been introduced to protect new orchards from frost. Also, the method of using a net system to cover the plants is gaining widespread adoption in Turkey. Growers are building artificial windbreaks using polythene fabric. A proper sanitary management plan would involve controlling the presence of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) in kiwifruit orchards. In this ever-changing world, kiwifruit farming needs to use new cultivars, training systems, disease-, pest- and weed-control techniques, fertilization strategies and irrigation systems, which should be adapted to changes. Otherwise, it will fall to competition and lose its profitability. While cultivars are the obvious and visible innovations, improved production and postharvest systems are also important for the success of the orchard business. Therefore, when considering the increasingly competitive conditions in the orchard industry, all techniques must be applied as a holistic approach to ensure quality production.