Case study: Reducing 60% agent by precision blossom thinning

Gebroeders van Haarlem faced the challenge of conventional blossom thinning in their Elstar orchards, where flat-rate spraying or costly manual labor (80–200 hours/ha) caused over-thinning of weak trees and inconsistent fruit sizing. By deploying the BBLeap system on their KWH Magistralis sprayer, the grower applied chemical thinning products via high-precision taskmaps (25 x 25 cm resolution) directly targeting only trees in need. Across 6 hectares of Elstar apples, this tree-level approach reduced the sprayed area by 60%, dropping input costs from € 1.600–€ 4.000/ha down to just € 125–€ 275/ha and securing direct savings of up to € 23.250 while stabilizing long-term orchard yield.

The Challenge: Tree-Specific Blossom Thinning

Previously, fruit growers relied on two primary methods for thinning apple trees: manual thinning, which required between 80 and 200 hours of labor per hectare, or uniform chemical spraying across the entire orchard. The latter approach failed to account for the unique requirements of individual trees.

Under this traditional framework, trees with already low crop loads were often unnecessarily thinned, rendering them unproductive. Conversely, choosing not to thin an orchard resulted in undersized fruit due to overcropping, as well as an increased risk of alternate bearing, where trees fail to develop sufficient flower buds for the following season.

The Innovation: LeapMap

By integrating the BBLeap system into their KWH sprayer, the Van Haarlem family has significantly advanced their blossom thinning operations. The system achieves high-precision application through the following features:

• LeapMap: Enables targeted treatment at the individual tree level.

• LeapBox: Ensures each tree receives the exact dosage required through constant pressure and precise rate control.

• Tree Profile: Allows growers to customize target zones within the tree canopy.

Combined, these features ensure that thinning agents are applied exclusively to trees that require treatment, while optimal fruit development is preserved across the rest of the crop.

Input Reduction & Economic Yield

During the current season, chemical thinning was applied to 6 hectares of Elstar apples. By using taskmaps, treatment was required on an average of only 40% of the trees, with precise adjustments made according to localized canopy needs. Performance metrics and savings are evaluated against historical baseline data from previous years.

Key Results at a Glance:

• Reduced Sprayed Area: Only 2,4 ha treated out of 6 ha (a 60% reduction in applied liquid volume).

• Financial Impact: Direct cash savings of € 7.950–€ 23.250 on these fields alone (a total cost reduction of 82%–96%).

Agronomic Outlook & Future Potential

With this application, the yield of the orchard was leveled. For the next few years, this means the orchard will remain more balanced than before, reducing the need for intensive thinning in the future.

By making the yield more even, the variation in fruit size is also reduced, leading to lower sorting costs after harvest. The total farm area planted with the Elstar variety is 17 hectares, offering significant potential for scaling these cost savings across the entire operation.

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