Influence of fertilisation systems on the mechanical damage of apples

none6Fuji and Gala apples obtained with different fertilisation systems (soil surface application and fertigation) were submitted to drop tests to analyse the possible difference in susceptibility to damage. The tests were carried out by simulating two impacts of different severity that occur in a packing line. For the Fuji apples, a test was also carried out to assess the effect of a long storage period. For the test with the highest impact severity, the apple acceleration was recorded to describe the mechanical behaviour of the fruit and to correlate it with the damage. Logistic and multiple linear regressions were performed to assess the correlations between probability, extent and nature of damage, fertilisation systems and main characteristics of the fruits. The results show that the resistance to damage of Fuji and Gala apples is influenced by the fertilisation system both in probability and in characteristics of damage. Duration of storage can invert the susceptibility to damage, with the apples having a higher resistance to damage after longer period of storage. The conventional fertilisation induced a high susceptibility to darkening and fracturing of the apples tissue. The parameters to describe the mechanical behaviour of apples were often correlated with the fertilisation system. However, their influence on extent and nature of damage was not significant or substantial while they can have a high effect on probability of damage. Fuji apples were found to be more susceptible to damage than Gala apples.noneL. Pasini; L. Ragni; A. D. Rombolà; A. Berardinelli; A. Guarnieri; B. MarangoniL. Pasini; L. Ragni; A. D. Rombolà; A. Berardinelli; A. Guarnieri; B. Marangon