Avocado Growers Improve Orchard Uniformity with Aerobotics’ Tree Insights
A 2-year-old avocado orchard in South Africa faced significant variability in canopy size and chlorophyll levels, creating challenges for irrigation, nutrition, and yield forecasting. Using Aerobotics’ Tree Insights platform, growers identified underperforming trees at the individual level and applied targeted interventions such as soil amendments and foliar nutrient sprays. The result was improved tree health, reduced variability, and greater operational efficiency. By aligning orchard development and simplifying management practices, the farm set a stronger foundation for long-term profitability.
Crop type: Avocado
Location: South Africa
Addressing avocado tree canopy and health variance using tree-level insights to improve uniformity and orchard performance
The Challenge
Achieving uniform growth and productivity across young avocado orchards is critical for long-term profitability.
In this case, a 2-year-old avocado orchard showed significant variation in tree canopy size and chlorophyll levels, indicators directly tied to plant vigor and potential yield.
These inconsistencies created a number of operational challenges: uneven irrigation and nutrient demands, inefficient input application, and difficulty in forecasting yields accurately.
Left unaddressed, this level of variability risked compromising the productivity of the entire orchard as it matured.
The Solution
To tackle this issue, the farm turned to Aerobotics’ Tree Insights platform, a digital tool that provides detailed, tree-level analytics using drone and satellite imagery.
By mapping and analyzing the orchard at high resolution, growers were able to pinpoint specific underperforming trees that displayed smaller canopies or lower chlorophyll content relative to their neighbors.
Armed with this granular data, the team conducted in-field inspections to verify root zone health, soil conditions, and overall tree development. Based on the insights gathered, they applied targeted interventions – including precision dosing of soil amendments and foliar nutrient sprays – to correct deficiencies and stimulate tree growth.
Rather than blanket treating the entire orchard, resources were allocated where they would deliver the
most impact, optimizing both cost and effectiveness.
The Impact
The results of this targeted management approach were immediately noticeable and
strategically valuable:
Improved overall tree health and productivity: Treated trees showed visible gains in canopy volume and greenness, indicating better nutrient uptake and photosynthetic activity.
Increased orchard homogeneity: Variability in canopy size and vigor was significantly reduced, helping to align the orchard’s development timeline and simplify future planning.
Enhanced operational efficiency: With a more uniform tree population, the farm could apply inputs and plan irrigation schedules more consistently across blocks, reducing complexity and labor costs.
