High-density orchard on show at NQ Field Day

The rain didn’t stop over 30 farmers, industry supply chain members and researchers from attending a recent field day held in north Queensland to learn more about the Demonstrating Next-Generation Resilient Orchard Production Systems for Tropical Crops project.

Led by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and supported by the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA), the project is investigating a range of high-density production systems and trellis planting systems for not only their cyclone resilience but also their production capacity and profitability.

Presentations on the day concentrated on the project background, reasons for choosing jackfruit as the model crop and jackfruit propagation work. Field day attendees were able to tour the trial orchard and were taken through the different trellising and propagation treatments with time for questions and group discussion.

A lot of interest was generated around the potential to trellis jackfruit and how different methods of propagation may affect tree growth and vigor.

Now entering its second year, strategies investigated through the project are expected to provide growers with a production methodology which mitigates the risks associated with tropical cyclones, enabling expansion of the horticultural sector through new plantings across northern Australia.

Jackfruit is being used as a model tree crop for the project with high-density orchards developed at multiple trial sites across northern Australia. Data on growth rates, fertiliser and irrigation inputs, pest and disease issues, canopy development, flowering and harvest dates, yield and fruit aril (flesh) recovery will be collected.

If you would like to learn more about the project, visit: www.crcna.com.au/research/projects/demonstrating-next-generation-resilient-orchard-production-systems-tropical-crops

Alternatively, you can also keep up to date via the Facebook page @NextGenResilientOrchards

This three-year project is funded through the CRCNA as part of the Australian Government’s CRC Program, and is being undertaken in collaboration with the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (NT DITT), Western Australia Department of Primary Industries and regional development (DPIRD), Manbulloo Limited, Zappala Tropicals, Northern Territory Farmers Association (NT Farmers) and Growcom.