Planting a new cherry orchard system: evaluation of economic efficiency

Cherry growing is going through an intense phase of renewal. Innovation’s economic and financial analysis is crucial for their success and diffusion. The study evaluates three types of planting at different densities considered, with no covers and three different kinds of shields: a traditional anti-rain net; a multitasking anti-rain and anti-insect net; a multitasking net with high automation of opening and closing operations. The best performing plant in economic terms seems the high-density plant (HDP), followed by the medium density plant (MDP) and then the very high-density plant (VHDP). Higher density plants reach a shorter payback period. Despite the high investment cost, the quicker breaking even makes high-density plants less risky. Plants with cover structures determine more secure and stable production yields, with benefits at the farm level and the whole production chain. Nonetheless, the shielding structures display a significant quantity of waste during the plant’s life and at the time of disassembling. It is crucial to progressively increase their environmentally friendly characteristics, which to date is still poor. The supports and canopies may have a significant salvage value in the shorter-cycle cherry orchards. Since it is inappropriate to replant the cherry tree in the same plot, it is essential to study structures that can move from plot to plot. Thus, considerably would improve the environmental performance and, accordingly, the economic performance of high-density, shorter-cycle plants.