Reflective Fabrics Part 2

Reflective Fabrics Part 2. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.
Orchardists are learning that they can manipulate the sun with the use of reflective fabrics laid down between the rows of apple, cherry, pear and other fruit trees. The fabric reflects light back up into the trees which greatly improves the crop according to Tory Schmidt with the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission.
SCHMIDT: In addition with that increased light environment and improved carbohydrates we also see over time an increased capacity for these Extenday treated trees to carry greater crops. In cherry we have more flower buds per spur at all levels of the tree once they’ve been exposed to Extenday. And it’s not just flower buds per spur but flowers per bud.
Extenday is a patented product currently being marketed that is permeable to water and air and does help to increase the quality of the flowers as well. The Tree Fruit Research Commission has been doing trials with not only the Extenday but mylar fabric as well.
SCHMIDT: One thing we see very consistently in our Extenday trials is that we have increased yields. Sometimes those yields are due to more fruit set per tree, sometimes they’re due to larger fruit and sometimes it’s a combination of the two. But regardless of what’s going on we have significantly higher yields year in and year out.
And Schmidt says it’s not just with higher yields.
SCHMIDT: Additionally we have effects on color. We have shifts towards higher pack outs of more premium fruit with use of Extenday.
That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.