A Review of Planting Systems in Apple Orchards: Principles, Practices, and Performance

Abstract (in English)

Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) is one of the world’s most important temperate fruit crops, originally domesticated in Central Asia, and in Afghanistan it plays a vital role in rural livelihoods, nutrition, and the horticultural economy. However, production remains dominated by traditional low-density orchards, which constrain yield, fruit quality, and export competitiveness. This review synthesizes literature published between 2000 and 2024 on apple orchard planting systems, examining layout design, planting density, rootstock–scion combinations, and training methods through a review of peer-reviewed articles, technical reports, and institutional publications. Findings highlight that high-density (HDP) and ultra-high-density planting (UHDP) systems using dwarfing rootstocks such as M.9 and T337, combined with modern training techniques like Tall Spindle, Bi-Axis, and Vertical Axis, significantly improve early yield, fruit quality, and resource-use efficiency, while precision agriculture tools including RTK-GNSS planning, UAV-SLAM mapping, and sensor-based fertigation further enhance orchard performance. Despite these benefits, adoption in Afghanistan remains limited due to high establishment costs, inadequate technical expertise, and restricted access to improved planting materials. Transitioning towards modern orchard systems, supported by localized research and technological innovation, offers a sustainable pathway to increase apple productivity and strengthen competitiveness in developing regions.