Northern Australia project evaluates resilience and profitability of high-density orchards
Diversification of crop production across northern Australia is crucial in developing an economically sustainable and resilient agricultural sector. Whilst there are numerous tropical tree crops which can be cultivated in the region, plantings are limited due to the susceptibility of orchards to cyclones.
Through the Demonstrating Next-Gen Resilient Orchards project being led by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries with investment from the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA), project partners are investigating the use of both high-density and trellis planting systems to examine their production capacity, profitability, and resilience to cyclones.
With trial sites established across Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia, the Demonstrating Next-Gen Resilient Orchards project brings together expertise from multiple government agencies, industry organisations, and private companies.
With a farm gate value in excess of $341 million, the Northern Territory is a key producer of the nation’s mango, melon and vegetable crops. The Top End’s unique climate and conditions also enables Territory farmers to successfully grow a range of exotic fruits such as jackfruit, rambutan and durian.
Under the project, jackfruit is being used as a catalyst tree crop. Whilst specific to jackfruit, it is expected that the production systems being investigated could be applied to any orchard crop.
At the Coastal Plains Research Farm in the Northern Territory, Team Leader Plant Industries at the Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (NT DITT), Chelsea Moore said their field trials were looking at the differences between trellised vs high-density along with the difference between cuttings vs grafted plants.
“The team is also propagating jackfruit cuttings, marcotts and grafted plants along with studying aeroponics,” she said.
“We also have a PhD student studying at the Edith Cowan University who is looking at how to measure the maturity of jackfruit without having to tap on every piece of fruit.”
Located just outside of Katherine, NT, Ballongilly Farms is one of seven properties owned by Australia’s largest grower of Kensington Pride mangoes, Manbulloo Limited.
Owner and manager Marie Piccone explains that the company currently has three trial sites established under the project located in Katherine in the Northern Territory, on the Atherton Tablelands and outside Townsville in the dry tropics in Queensland.
“Each trial site contains 400 jackfruit trees,” Marie said.
“We’re investigating a number of different treatments – so we’ve got wide-spaced jackfruit, we’ve also got trees planted at closer spacings and trees on trellis.
“Our aim is to have an understanding of the optimal way of growing jackfruit in each location.”
“We could potentially have higher yields with some of the treatments and also have more robust trees when we experience the strong storms that occur here in the build-up.”
A range of videos have been developed showcasing the work being conducted across project partners. You can view them via the Next Gen Resilient Orchards YouTube site.
You can also keep up to date with the latest project developments via the Facebook page.
The Demonstrating Next-Generation Resilient Orchard Production Systems for Tropical Crops project is funded through the CRCNA as part of the Australian Government’s CRC Program, and 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, Aus-Ex Fruit, Northern Territory Farmers Association (NT Farmers) and Growcom.
