The orchard is characterized by dense planting (spacing between rows is 3.2m, while the distance between seedlings is 0.8-0.66m) – the total number of seedlings is 4.500 seedlings per ha. Dense planting of fruit trees is the basis of modern fruit growing. Trees of lesser exuberance are a prerequisite for early proliferation and later stable fruiting.With trees of less wealth, the yield per unit of crop is higher and also the share of first class fruits. On the other hand, harvesting and pruning requires less labor, hence a cost per kilogram of produced fruit is lower. The condition for planting in the thick complex are seedlings with varieties suspended on low-density rootstock, known as dwarf rootstock.
The orchard is equipped with a “drop-by-drop” irrigation system. As a source of irrigation, water from the Danube is used, filtered and drained as such into the orchard. Tensiometers are used daily for monitoring the state of moisture in the soil below the apple plantation and based on this the norms and watering stages are determined. A fertigation system is installed which, based on calculated needs, feeds individual seedlings.
There is a modern antifreeze system, based on the isothermal water quality. The system turns on when the outdoor temperature falls to +1 ° C and works until the ice begins to melt. The operating pressure of the sprinkler is 4 bar and full system automation is possible. With longer spraying and consumption of larger amounts of water the protection can be achieved even at a significantly lower temperature, even at frost of -10 ° C, which cannot be achieved in other ways. The antifreeze system has a wide net of sprayers placed at the top of the pillars, which, in cold conditions, by spraying water drained from the central pool, glaciate the flower/fruit and keep it from freezing. The pool is located in the middle of the orchard and is used for the needs of an entire orchard on an area of 120ha.
The orchard is fully equipped with an anti-hail protection net. The net protects the orchard by breaking down the ice between the binding posts, in the middle of the space between the rows, and thus the orchard remains undamaged. Also, the net has the role of reducing burns at high temperatures, and increasing the protection of orchards from unwanted radiation. This prevents a loss that can reach 50% of the yield, and has effects that last more than one year.
