Spatial and Temporal Variation in an Apple Orchard

Abstract

One important goal of precision horticulture (PH), as well as precision agriculture (PA), is to measure and manage spatial and temporal variation in orchards. In this study, temporal and spatial analysis of yields were carried out over 2 years for a 0.5-ha apple orchard (at the Haymana Research Station of Ankara University, Turkey, from 2017 to 2018) to determine the variability of yields over time and included seven apple varieties: ‘Royal Gala’, ‘Red Chief’, ‘Braeburn’, ‘Mondial Gala’, ‘Jonagold’, ‘Fuji’, and ‘Mitch Gala’. To achieve this, yield data for two different years were analyzed for mean yield, temporal variance, and cv in terms of spatial and temporal stability, and their yield maps were produced. The results showed that ‘Jonagold’, ‘Braeburn’, and ‘Red Chief’ varieties yielded less than the average yield, whereas the other varieties produced average yields when the yield from 2 years was taken into account. Calculation of the values for determining temporal stability over time resulted in all existing varieties being identified as stable over time. For example, the ‘Jonagold’ and ‘Red Chief’ varieties showed 100% stability in terms of temporal variance. Results also showed that the ‘Gala’ varieties were stable for 2 years and produced high yields, whereas the other varieties were specified as stable and low yielding when spatial and temporal variability was considered in combination.