Centuries of selective breeding with apples has led to an increase from 100 trees per ha to up to 10 000 trees per ha in the last 70 years. Macadamia’s natural vigour may restrict options for high-density plantings in certain contexts, and comparing the evergreen macadamia with an inclination to grow vigorously by nature with deciduous apples, is not that simple. Nevertheless, differences aside, basic plant physiology still applies to both of these horticultural crops, and much can be learned by “borrowing” information and principles on which cultivation and tree manipulation in other tree crops are based. Dense, vigorous macadamia trees may limit tree productivity due to source-sink competition and a deficient photosynthetic capacity. So if one wants to increase tree productivity, does that mean strong vigour needs to be curbed? The answer is somewhat contradictory.
Strong vegetative growth at the juvenile stage is crucial for orchard establishment and uniformity. Initial vigour with good upper ground growth (a large effective leaf surface) provides sufficient photosynthates to be transported to the roots, to promote the development of a well-buffered root system, able to withstand environmental stressors such as drought spells. New flushes are very important for future bearing branches and the production of leaves. The leaves can be seen as the “factory” of the plant, photosynthesising to produce carbohydrates. There is also a positive correlation between early vigour and precocity.
But on the contrary, strong vigour in mature trees is not necessarily desirable. The goal should be to obtain initial high vigour, with low (or rather controlled) vigour at maturity. The aim of all pre-planting and post-planting practices should always be on achieving a balance between vegetative and reproductive growth. If done correctly and timeously, these practices will create good tree architecture with an adequate supply of carbohydrate reserves stored in the permanent parts of the tree in autumn and summer. Such parts include the trunk, branching structure and root system. The better these organs are developed, the higher the storage capacity for carbohydrate reserves. These carbohydrates are utilised during the stages of nut growth and oil development since carbohydrate production through photosynthesis alone is not sufficient to provide in the very high demand of such sinks during these stages.
A prerequisite for opting for a high density planting scenario in macadamia, is moderate, controlled growth. In high-density plantings with dwarfing rootstocks, tree volume will be restricted and precocity promoted. Research in apples has proven that dwarfing rootstocks allocate a higher amount of dry weight to reproductive growth, accompanied by a decrease in vigorous vegetative growth. Unfortunately, there are currently no vigour controlling rootstocks, commercially available in the macadamia industry.
In early years training can be done so that vegetative growth and thus nut distribution is improved. With almonds, apples and pears, branches are trained horizontally which eliminates apical dominance, produces a shorter branch with shorter internodes, fewer nodes and more and longer racemes. Flowering and fruitfulness are increased with this practice. Such relationships in macadamia are unclear at this stage. It is interesting that the natural branching angle on dwarfing rootstocks also tends to be wider, which then naturally have the same result as achieved with the manipulation of limb bending.
Deciduous horticultural species have been researched much more comprehensively when compared to the relatively few research results available on evergreen, naturally vigorous forest trees such as macadamia. Macadamia has only been domesticated for about 150 years, and most commercially cultivated varieties are only two to five generations removed from their wild ancestors. Compare that to the apple industry (between 4 000 and 10 000 years old) and the viticultural industry (11 000 years old), and it becomes clear that best practices in macadamia still need to be refined to the same extent.
To take the young macadamia industry to the next level, much research is needed on advanced tree training, pruning systems and dwarfing rootstocks, all of which are widely applied and well-researched principles in the cultivation of apples and grapes. These practices allow for a reduction in tree spacing and increased flowering points per hectare, resulting in high yield efficiency, and reduced and controlled growth. The current focus of research in macadamia is on increased yield and quality of nuts of scion cultivars, with very little research on dwarfing varieties in macadamia and understanding of canopy architecture specific to macadamia. The fact that the gene pool of macadamia is largely untouched is a big positive, and opens up tremendous scope for future breeding. Principles already thoroughly researched in other industries may be explored which may lay a solid foundation for future research in macadamia.
By Anneli Bosman from TopNut
References:
Dhakal Poudel, P., Cowan, M., De Faveri, J., Topp, B., & Alam, M. (2023) Macadamia breeding for reduced plant vigor: Progress and prospects for profitable and sustainable orchard systems. Sustainability. 2023; 15(19): 14506
Huett, D. O. (2004) Macadamia physiology review: a canopy light response study and literature review. Crop & Pasture Science 55: 609-624.
Poudel, P.D., Cowan, M., Topp, B., & Alam, M. (2022) Evaluating Seven Macadamia Seedling and Cutting Rootstocks for Their Effect on Scion Growth. Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 11, 90
Robinson, T. (2003) Apple-orchard planting systems, p. 335-407. In: D.C. Ferree and I.J. Warrington (eds.) Apples: Botany, production and uses. CABI publishing, Oxfordshire, UK.
Smart, R. & Robinson, M. (1991) Sunlight into wine: A handbook for winegrape canopy management. Winetitles, Broadview, South Australia, Australia.
Toft, B.D., Alam, M.M., Wilkie, J.D., & Topp, B.L. (2019) Phenotypic association of multi-scale architectural traits with canopy volume and yield: moving toward high-density systems for Macadamia. HortScience horts, 54(4), 596-602.
Zeng, H., Yang, W., Lu, C., Lin, W., Zou, M., Zhang, H., Wan, J., & Huang, X. (2016) Effect of CPPU on Carbohydrate and Endogenous Hormone Levels in Young Macadamia Fruit. PLoS ONE, 11.
Smith Power Equipment, the exclusive distributor of Kubota tractors and implements in South Africa, is working tirelessly to predict annual as well as seasonal parts and service requirements for its tractors through the use of artificial intelligence.
To spearhead the drive the company has appointed Gerhard Taljaard as the new Parts Manager to ensure the extensive dealer network is properly stocked at all times. He has a long track record and is well-known in the industry for his efficiency in establishing efficient supply networks for the distribution of parts and spares for various agricultural equipment suppliers.
In his new role he plans to further optimise the already efficient logistics and inventory management by ensuring the availability of the correct parts at the right time and place. He aims to reduce excess stock while improving stock levels for essential parts. This includes having the correct parts readily available at dealer locations to further minimize downtime for customers.
Achieving this goal involves a delicate balance of maintaining sufficient stock levels without overstocking. This will incorporate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools for enhanced forecasting to predict demand more accurately and manage inventory efficiently. This approach involves analysing previous sales data, market trends and dealer inputs to forecast parts requirements.
He will also oversee a transition from air freight to sea freight for parts orders, which can reduce costs by 20-25%. This cost-saving can then be passed on to dealers and customers, making Kubota parts more affordable. To do this he plans to leverage the extensive experience and market knowledge of Kubota dealers, some of whom have been with the brand for over a decade and more, to ensure that the right parts are stocked based on regional demands and common issues.
“I am keen to implement advanced technological solutions to support inventory management to even predict seasonal variations in demand, especially for things like haymaking, picking, harvesting and sowing equipment, which requires precise forecasting to ensure parts availability during peak periods. The different regions in South Africa have distinct agricultural cycles and we are working on having tailored inventory strategies for each area.”
Ten years after adopting quiet battery-operated landscaping and lawncare equipment the pioneering Hill Top Trading in Johannesburg has grown into a large and thriving enterprise employing more than 250 people and maintaining the gardens of more than 60 residential and corporate office parks.
Amidst rising fuel prices and tougher competition in an over-traded market segment the company has grown beyond owner Richard Potter’s wildest expectations and demand for its services shows no sign of slowing down any time soon. Thanks to his magical foresight and adopting vastly different strategies to the norm the company has changed the game and left it to others to play catchup.
Among the many innovations, the company has introduced two milestone strategies that have rocketed the company to success and allowed it to take full advantage of two of the biggest trends shaping the world at present. The first and foremost strategy to switch to an all-battery fleet has played an outsized role in its success of the business and allowed it to capitalise on the trend of people moving to home offices.
Richard explains, “Before the Covid-19 pandemic we made good inroads in office parks where our quiet electric tools allow us to use battery-operated mowers, blowers and edge-trimmers without causing a disturbance to office workers. When the pandemic struck people moved their offices home and noise levels in residential complexes also became an issue and gave us a huge advantage when quoting for new business. With the inherently low-maintenance requirement of battery-powered equipment and no fuel bills our pricing also reflects these savings making our offering still more attractive.”
The second strategy that sets it apart is equally ingenious and involves storing the equipment on site rather than transporting machines to and from sites using trucks and trailers as is the norm among its peers. While the initial outlay for equipment is higher, Richard’s model is a logistical masterpiece. It eliminates the need for far more costly vehicles, trailers and fuel, while allowing him to redeploy driver positions to dedicated landscaping and garden work allowing for reduced wage bills. Storage of battery-operated equipment also eliminates the need to store fuel which is both hazardous and requires ample space for tanks and fuel transfer equipment. The model simply works best with battery-operated equipment.
Lionell Adams of Smith Power Equipment, supplier of Ego Power+ cordless equipment in South Africa, says the battery-operated equipment is becoming increasingly popular for use in estates, office parks and education facilities among users who prefer quieter operation of the equipment. Advanced battery technology means the equipment can be matched to the right battery for the required runtime which enables it to easily compete with fuelled models without the fuel bill which quickly adds up.
The Ego Power+ range consist of mowers from 46cm cutting width push mowers to large zero-turn ride-ons for larger areas and fields. Hedge trimmers, brush cutters, chainsaws and blowers among others are available and use the manufacturers own patented 56V ARC Lithium batteries. All equipment is commercial grade and is designed with tough commercial use in mind making use of the best available motors, batteries, chargers and materials available to give them the longest useful life possible.
General manager for Smith Power Equipment, Mark Chittenden, says the combination of the right equipment in the right applications to suit individual customers’ needs is critical in the success of a business. In the case of Hill Top Trading we have the right equipment to meet Richard’s ambitious needs and are extremely fortunate to be working with such an innovative company that is expanding its operations ever further.
Pictured above: Igus has developed maintenance-free polymer-hybrid spherical bearings that need no lubrication
The constant need for relubrication of metallic bearing points on rod ends industrial applications is a time consuming and expensive exercise and poses a real contamination risk.
As a result, global polymer manufacturer, igus, has developed maintenance-free polymer-hybrid spherical bearings which are a more cost-effective and safer alternative able to withstand higher loads and constant repetitive movements without the need for lubrication.
The new model features a robust combination of a stainless-steel or zinc die cast housing, a self-lubricating polymer inner ring and a stainless-steel spherical ball. This design allows for applications with higher loads to transition seamlessly to this advanced tribo-technology. Rod ends are critical in everything from manufacturing, to processing, food and many other industries where they are pivotal in the operation of industry machinery, from filling plants to meat-processing and packaging systems, where they transmit dynamic forces through various movements.
Bearing specialist, Juan-Eric Davidtz, of igus South Africa says the benefits of the new product is developed with the inner ring made of either iglidur J- series of polymers for industrial applications or the food grade iglidur A160, a high-performance plastic compliant with both FDA and EU 10/2011 standards, ensuring top-tier hygiene and safety. The iglidur A160 contains a solid lubricant released in microscopic amounts over time, ensuring low-friction dry operation between the inner ring and the stainless-steel spherical ball.
“Our lubrication-free approach significantly reduces cleaning time, as the absence of grease prevents dirt and dust accumulation. Furthermore, in the food and hygienic industries our high-performance plastic’s blue colour enhances food safety by making residues and mould spores easily detectable during cleaning inspections.
“The new igubal rod ends are designed for durability, even in challenging outdoor conditions. They exhibit higher breaking strength and rigidity compared to traditional plastic rod ends and are resistant to moisture, acids, alkalines and UV rays. With a temperature range of -40°C to +90°C, these bearings are versatile across various applications. Laboratory tests indicate that the abrasion resistance of iglidur A160 is ten times better than that of polyamide, even under fast rotational movements.
“Users can significantly increase the reliability of their systems with a modest investment.” The new rod ends are available in sizes M6, M8, M10, M12, M16, and M20, catering to diverse industrial needs. We think it is set to revolutionise the way we built machines by providing a blend of hygiene, robustness and efficiency in rod end bearings with virtually no need for further maintenance,” concludes Juan-Eric.
Evolving agricultural practices and new methods are reshaping the farming industry and leading equipment suppliers to constantly review and update their offerings to farmers.
At the forefront of these developments is one of the country’s most diverse equipment suppliers, Smith Power Equipment, which offers a wide range of machines from Kubota tractors and implements to feeders, balers, sprayers and even powerful Polaris offroad vehicles and Linhai quads to transport farmers anywhere on their property regardless of terrain.
These vehicles add an exciting edge to the once slow-paced farming scene showing that modern farmers and their managers are more active and adventurous in their farming practices. These possibilities as well as access to a substantial array of equipment sourced from across the globe is what keeps the company’s newly appointed Managing Director, David Kelder, awake at night strategizing new markets and machines for local farmers to produce better crops and still better financial results.
This is a job that perfectly fits David’s profile. He is known for his ability to shake things up and find opportunities even amongst the fiercest competition. His big-picture strategies are most exciting for the local market as his goal-oriented drive to make his visions realities are most likely to succeed. He has big plans and is busy putting the right processes and procedures into place to make his masterplan a reality.
While he and his experienced management team meticulously study each product in the range and identify current and future opportunities, it is abundantly clear that the range is due for a major boost and the team will lean on the ample resources of Dutch mother company Royal Reesink to source its product desires. This could mean access to far more comprehensive ranges of existing brands for every crop type and new types to cater for new farming practices and opportunities.
This will need an invigorated dealer network throughout the company’s nationwide network and possibly expanding into underserved markets where previous product offerings did not warrant representation. With a strong support backbone uplifting dealers in every corner of the country Smith Power Equipment’s staff are central to the success of the operation and form a central part of the company’s drive to become the preeminent supplier of agricultural equipment in South Africa.
With a host of new and exciting products that will soon hit our shores, the farmers will be the ultimate winners with improved access to resources and expertise.
Focussed leadership
David Kelder hails from the school of hard knocks. Growing up in challenging circumstances in Zimbabwe, he learned to fend for himself from an early age. By the time he entered the formal workplace, he was already accustomed to hard work. His boundless energy and determination quickly set him apart from his peers, gaining the attention of his supervisors and managers.
David began his career in South Africa with a prominent agricultural brand as a spares buyer. Soon after, he was given the opportunity to run the company’s small golf and turf division. This role served as his first proving ground, and his focused approach resulted in a remarkable 160-fold increase in the division’s turnover within just two years. This success propelled him into a territory manager role in the main agricultural business, where he further honed his expertise.
Over the next few years, David worked for various companies in the turf and agricultural sectors, achieving significant success. He even returned to Zimbabwe for a period, where he established a thriving branch and built a large customer base for the agricultural brand with which he had started. He remained there for seven years before moving back to South Africa.
David then worked for an International Company, where he was responsible for expansion into Africa. Within 6 years, where he was overseeing eight African countries from East Africa to West Africa. This experience has given him a keen understanding of overall business practices, not only in sales, but as well as aftersales and finance.
David plans to modernize the well-loved Smith Power Equipment business in line with current practices and to further enhance the overall customer experience.
“I am excited to join Smith Power Equipment, we have some work to do, to ensure that we are regarded as a Major player in the Market where we are represented. Focus will be on overall customer experience, and to ensure that we understand the requirements and come up with the correct solutions for our customers.”
A study by RWTH Aachen University and igus recently quantified the financial and environmental benefits of using lubrication-free polymer bearings over traditional metal bearings.
The study reveals that users can save up to R-million annually in lubricant costs, significantly reducing their environmental impact. High-performance plastic bearings from igus eliminate the need for constant lubrication. Additionally, many working hours can be saved annually on relubrication tasks.
In the case study it was found that switching to polymer bearings across its 160 global sites, Heineken Brasil could save 20 tonnes of lubricant and R100- millions in personnel costs annually. This change would also reduce CO2 emissions by 28,814 kg, equivalent to saving over 12,000 litres of petrol.
According to Ian Hewat of igus South Africa the study is pertinent to local industries as the same principles apply. He said the study emphasises the substantial reduction in CO2 emissions when using polymer bearings. Heineken Brasil alone could cut CO2 equivalents by 180 kg annually at 600 bearing points.
“This highlights the increasing pressure on manufacturers to disclose the carbon footprint of their products. The study offers a scientifically validated assessment of the environmental benefits of igus’s self-lubricating bearings, making a strong case for their adoption across various industries,” says Ian.
Conducted by WBA Werkzeugbau, the study involved expert interviews with companies from sectors including automation technology, construction machinery, agriculture, food, packaging, and bottling. The research was carried out in collaboration with the Laboratory for Machine Tools (WZL) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology (IPT) on the RWTH Aachen Campus.
