A comparison of low-density and high-density plum plantings for differences in establishment and management costs, and in returns over the first three growing seasons - a mini-review

• Published in: The journal of horticultural science & biotechnology Vol. 83; no. 5; pp. 539 - 542
• Main Authors: Milosevic, T., Zornic, B., Glisic, I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 2008
• ISSN: 1462-0316; 2380-4084
• DOI: 10.1080/14620316.2008.11512419

This study presents the costs of establishment, management, and maintenance of a low-density (333 trees ha -1 ) and a high-density (1,250 trees ha -1 ) planting of plum trees during the first three growing seasons after planting. The results showed that the total cost of the low-density planting was € 4,069.3 ha -1 , while the high-density planting was 1.9-times higher, at € 7,729 ha -1 . Greater precocity was recorded in the high-density planting, resulting in a faster return on investment. A 21.3% return on total investment was achieved in the second and third years combined, through income earned from the fruit yield in the high-density planting, compared to the initial plum bloom, while a 2.0% return on total investment arose from the low-density planting.