During the Open Day organized by Salvi Vivai on the 7th of June 2018, a few statistics were presented regarding the production of cherries, as follows: the cost for production is of approximately 100 thousand euros per hectare over which a profit is made on the fifth year, the lifespan of a dedicated plant is of 12 years and 14 tons of cherries are produced per hectare. On top of this, a few recommendations are to be taken into consideration: the process of pruning and fertigation must be very accurate.
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As reported by the technician Jacopo Diamanti, the cost of such a plant is around 100 thousand euro per hectare. Taken into consideration that production commences on the second year and maximum productivity is achieved on the third year, a profit is made only by the 5th year.
The plant has an average duration of 12 years. If we consider that a traditional cherry orchard has a lifespan of 25 years ca., this means that two intensive plants are needed. A series of (theoretical) calculations indicates that marginality in production is higher when intensive plants are utilized.
Furthermore, Jacopo Diamanti reports that "the average production ranges between 12 and 14 tons per hectare. In order to obtain these yields, a precise and well-calibrated fertigation and a pruning that favors the entry of light is required. The height of the plants cannot exceed 2.5 meters. The production focuses on the basal buds of one-year-old branches. This form of breeding favors the pollinators: this year we have set up both bee hives and bumblebee boxes ".
As far as pruning is concerned, at the end of August the branches are cut with the purpose of stimulating future flowering. Then, in February we leave only 4 to 5 buds per branch.
An alternative method, which is currently under experimentation, is to use a vertical bar for pruning which is pulled by a tractor. This procedure would start in August and end in fall.