Long-term effects of rootstock and tree density on the economic profitability of ‘Delicious’ apple orchards in the Northeastern U.S

Establishing an apple orchard involves a strategic combination of biological and structural decisions. Factors such as variety, rootstock, tree spacing, training system, and local environmental and economic conditions all interact to influence orchard performance over time. Understanding how these v...

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Autores: Gonzalez Nieto, Luis, Hoying, Stephen A., Reig Córdoba, Gemma, Lordan Sanahuja, Jaume, Francescatto, Poliana, Fargione, Michael J., Fazio, Gennaro, Robinson, Terence L.
Formato: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2026
País:España
Recursos:Universitat de Lleida (UdL)
Repositorio:Repositori Obert UdL
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:.___________::e9136ea81a7ef9f0904f9a5ecb2827f9
Acesso em linha:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2026.1762635
https://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/469861
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:Apple orchard
Rootstock
Planting density
Profitability
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spelling Long-term effects of rootstock and tree density on the economic profitability of ‘Delicious’ apple orchards in the Northeastern U.SGonzalez Nieto, LuisHoying, Stephen A.Reig Córdoba, GemmaLordan Sanahuja, JaumeFrancescatto, PolianaFargione, Michael J.Fazio, GennaroRobinson, Terence L.Apple orchardRootstockPlanting densityProfitabilityEstablishing an apple orchard involves a strategic combination of biological and structural decisions. Factors such as variety, rootstock, tree spacing, training system, and local environmental and economic conditions all interact to influence orchard performance over time. Understanding how these variables affect long-term profitability is essential for growers aiming to maximize returns on investment. This study presents an economic evaluation of a long-term field trial conducted in New York State (Yonder Farm, southeastern region) from 2007 to 2017. The trial focused on ‘Delicious’ apples and assessed the interaction between ten rootstocks (B.118, G.11, G.16, G.210, G.30, G.41, G.935, M.26, M.7, and M.9) and four training systems with varying planting densities: Super Spindle (5,382 trees·ha-1), Tall Spindle (3,662 trees·ha-1), Triple Axis Spindle (2,243 trees·ha-1), and Vertical Axis (1,656 trees·ha-1). Our results show that high-density systems, Super Spindle and Tall Spindle, consistently delivered the highest profitability, despite their higher initial establishment costs. These systems also achieved faster break-even points and greater cumulative net present value, especially with rootstocks such as G.11, G.210, and G.935. In contrast, lower-density systems like Vertical Axis and Triple Axis Spindle showed slower economic recovery and lower overall returns. The multi-leader Triple Axis Spindle system had lower profitability than higher density single stem systems (Tall Spindle and Super Spindle). This indicates that multi-leader trees planted at lower planting densities than Tall Spindle or Super Spindle with the goal to reduce initial establishment costs does not result in as high profitability as the higher density single stem systems. Profitability was not only influenced by training system but also by the compatibility between rootstock and planting density. Rootstocks such as G.41, G.11, and G.210 performed best under high-density conditions, while B.118 was more suited to low-density systems. Conversely, M.9 and M.7 showed limited economic potential, particularly when used in intensive planting systems. These findings underscore the importance of aligning rootstock vigor and precocity with the structural design of the orchard to optimize long-term economic outcomes.The author(s) declared that financial support was received for this work and/or its publication. This research was funded in part by a grant from the New York Apple Research and Development Program. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government.Frontiers2026info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttps://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2026.1762635https://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/469861reponame:Repositori Obert UdL instname:Universitat de Lleida (UdL)InglésReproducció del document publicat a https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2026.1762635Frontiers in Plant Science, 2026, vol. 17, p. 1-12cc-by (c) Gonzalez et al., 2026Attribution 4.0 Internationalinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/oai:dnet:.___________::e9136ea81a7ef9f0904f9a5ecb2827f92026-06-24T12:42:17Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Long-term effects of rootstock and tree density on the economic profitability of ‘Delicious’ apple orchards in the Northeastern U.S
title Long-term effects of rootstock and tree density on the economic profitability of ‘Delicious’ apple orchards in the Northeastern U.S
spellingShingle Long-term effects of rootstock and tree density on the economic profitability of ‘Delicious’ apple orchards in the Northeastern U.S
Gonzalez Nieto, Luis
Apple orchard
Rootstock
Planting density
Profitability
title_short Long-term effects of rootstock and tree density on the economic profitability of ‘Delicious’ apple orchards in the Northeastern U.S
title_full Long-term effects of rootstock and tree density on the economic profitability of ‘Delicious’ apple orchards in the Northeastern U.S
title_fullStr Long-term effects of rootstock and tree density on the economic profitability of ‘Delicious’ apple orchards in the Northeastern U.S
title_full_unstemmed Long-term effects of rootstock and tree density on the economic profitability of ‘Delicious’ apple orchards in the Northeastern U.S
title_sort Long-term effects of rootstock and tree density on the economic profitability of ‘Delicious’ apple orchards in the Northeastern U.S
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Gonzalez Nieto, Luis
Hoying, Stephen A.
Reig Córdoba, Gemma
Lordan Sanahuja, Jaume
Francescatto, Poliana
Fargione, Michael J.
Fazio, Gennaro
Robinson, Terence L.
author Gonzalez Nieto, Luis
author_facet Gonzalez Nieto, Luis
Hoying, Stephen A.
Reig Córdoba, Gemma
Lordan Sanahuja, Jaume
Francescatto, Poliana
Fargione, Michael J.
Fazio, Gennaro
Robinson, Terence L.
author_role author
author2 Hoying, Stephen A.
Reig Córdoba, Gemma
Lordan Sanahuja, Jaume
Francescatto, Poliana
Fargione, Michael J.
Fazio, Gennaro
Robinson, Terence L.
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Apple orchard
Rootstock
Planting density
Profitability
topic Apple orchard
Rootstock
Planting density
Profitability
description Establishing an apple orchard involves a strategic combination of biological and structural decisions. Factors such as variety, rootstock, tree spacing, training system, and local environmental and economic conditions all interact to influence orchard performance over time. Understanding how these variables affect long-term profitability is essential for growers aiming to maximize returns on investment. This study presents an economic evaluation of a long-term field trial conducted in New York State (Yonder Farm, southeastern region) from 2007 to 2017. The trial focused on ‘Delicious’ apples and assessed the interaction between ten rootstocks (B.118, G.11, G.16, G.210, G.30, G.41, G.935, M.26, M.7, and M.9) and four training systems with varying planting densities: Super Spindle (5,382 trees·ha-1), Tall Spindle (3,662 trees·ha-1), Triple Axis Spindle (2,243 trees·ha-1), and Vertical Axis (1,656 trees·ha-1). Our results show that high-density systems, Super Spindle and Tall Spindle, consistently delivered the highest profitability, despite their higher initial establishment costs. These systems also achieved faster break-even points and greater cumulative net present value, especially with rootstocks such as G.11, G.210, and G.935. In contrast, lower-density systems like Vertical Axis and Triple Axis Spindle showed slower economic recovery and lower overall returns. The multi-leader Triple Axis Spindle system had lower profitability than higher density single stem systems (Tall Spindle and Super Spindle). This indicates that multi-leader trees planted at lower planting densities than Tall Spindle or Super Spindle with the goal to reduce initial establishment costs does not result in as high profitability as the higher density single stem systems. Profitability was not only influenced by training system but also by the compatibility between rootstock and planting density. Rootstocks such as G.41, G.11, and G.210 performed best under high-density conditions, while B.118 was more suited to low-density systems. Conversely, M.9 and M.7 showed limited economic potential, particularly when used in intensive planting systems. These findings underscore the importance of aligning rootstock vigor and precocity with the structural design of the orchard to optimize long-term economic outcomes.
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2026.1762635
https://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/469861
url https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2026.1762635
https://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/469861
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Reproducció del document publicat a https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2026.1762635
Frontiers in Plant Science, 2026, vol. 17, p. 1-12
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv cc-by (c) Gonzalez et al., 2026
Attribution 4.0 International
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
rights_invalid_str_mv cc-by (c) Gonzalez et al., 2026
Attribution 4.0 International
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Frontiers
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Frontiers
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:Repositori Obert UdL
instname:Universitat de Lleida (UdL)
instname_str Universitat de Lleida (UdL)
reponame_str Repositori Obert UdL
collection Repositori Obert UdL
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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