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    Fruit measurement horticultural device : developing trust through usability across complex systems : a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, College of Creative Arts / Toi Rauwhārangi, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2024-12-11) Krige, Zené
    The agricultural technology (ag-tech) sector aims to use emerging technologies to meet changing consumer demands. To do this, the design of an intuitive smart object needed to be developed, and appraised for the horticultural industry of New Zealand. Its subsequent data needed to be expressed in tangible ways that empower decision-making about orchard operations. An elevated user experience of the device, along with quality data driving the system, would provide a successful engagement with an intelligent product system that sustains trust in the interaction and purpose of the product and integrates trust as a value within the system to advance resilience in horticultural innovation. Focusing on the task of fruit measurement, this project explores the conceptual design of a technology-driven device that can efficiently measure fruit size and count, throughout the season. The translation of this data in a format that enables stakeholders to analyse, query and act on it, seeks to inform and empower decision-making by the end users and stakeholders about the best time to harvest. This allows for better management of resources and deployment of labour and equipment. The consequence is a more sustainable orchard operation with greater productivity and benefits to all stakeholders. The project investigates the interrelationships between stakeholders, their equipment and orchard systems to drive product innovation by strengthening foundations of trust and utility, developing confidence in product use, and demonstrating its role in providing critical data into a horticultural management system with an inanimate object (product) placed within the orchard environment. This creative practice research project aims to address the opportunities that design can offer in bridging technological capability to usable products that can communicate trustworthy data clearly to end-users.
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    Commercial orcharding in New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts and Honours in Geography at Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 1957) Fielding, G. J
    In recent years commercial orcharding in New Zealand has assumed a new form. Fruit exports are growing year by year and orchard production has become concentrated within certain districts. Alongside this change, and in part responsible for it, has been the formation of grower organizations. Indeed, New Zealanders are fast becoming aware that there is a fruit industry developing in this coutry which, even though limited in prospects, will be a worth-while contributor to our primary production. It is with the view of providing an accurate picture of the present character of the industry that this thesis is presented. The purpose of this investigation will be achieved if it helps to give a broad view of the industry as it differs from place to place, and if it succeeds in inducing those interested in the industry to undertake a systematic stocktaking and review of the elements which underlie these differences before embarking on any scheme of future development. [From Introduction]
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    A multiple case study of decision making on pipfruit orchards : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Horticultural Science in Horticultural Management at Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2005) Dryden, Gregory Hugh
    Traditional farm management texts view the farming firm as family oriented, owned and operated. In owner-operated settings owner's and manager's goals are assumed to be the same. However, corporate ownership structures, with ownership separated from management, make an important contribution to New Zealand agriculture. To further farm management research, teaching, and extension it is necessary to understand decision making within the specialised management structure of land-based corporates. Decision making, as described in the business literature, takes place in activities (primary or support). Decisions are of three types; structured, semi-structured and unstructured and are linked to decision levels; operational, tactical and strategic. Decision types and levels can be compartmentalised by management level. The relationship between decision making activity and decision type and level is unclear. Further, the relationship between activity and management level is yet to be explained. A multiple case study procedure, with an embedded design, was used to investigate decision making on corporate and owner-operated pipfruit orchards. Patterns were identified to describe actual decision making. These patterns were linked to the extant theory to identify the concepts and underlying propositions of managements' decision making. Decisions were classified into primary and support activities, decision type (structured, semi-structured or unstructured), and decision level (operational, tactical or strategic). The case study owner-operator predominantly made semi-structured operational decisions in primary activities. The corporate orchardist attempted to compartmentalise decision making by management level. However, this compartmentalisation was incomplete. The corporate made a significant number of unstructured and semi-structured decisions at lower management levels. Orchardists could improve decision making by making more decisions structured. In addition, the corporate has the ability to compartmentalise decision making which may lead to further improvements in decision making. A set of hypotheses are suggested that identify critical propositions between the three concepts of decision making and alternative management structures.
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    Weed control practices in New Zealand pipfruit orchards: a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Horticultural Science at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1992) Berry, Simon Blair
    A survey of 77 growers, mainly in Hawkes Bay and Nelson, was undertaken during the summer of 1989/90. Personal interviews were conducted on each property. All growers were found to use herbicides for weed control, and all but one established herbicide strips with mown grass between. The major herbicide application period was spring. Three-quarters of growers relied on four herbicide formulations, amitrole, glyphosate, simazine and terbuthylazine/terbumeton. Of the residual herbicides used, 70% were triazines. Grower knowledge about herbicides was found to be lacking. Grass species from the sub-family Paniceae were found to be the most problematic weeds, along with mallows, black nightshade, Californian thistle, tall willow herb and docks. These weeds were not adequately controlled by current weed control practices. Off-label use and herbicide damage to crop trees was noted. Growers were found to be applying herbicides through a wide array of equipment, through fan and off-centre nozzles with one to four nozzles on each boom. Only 37% of sprayers were calibrated at least annually. During the survey 41 sprayers were calibrated, with only 17% being correct within ± 5% of intended application rate. Of those sprayers with errors over ±5% two-thirds were underapplying at mean error of 37%, and one-third were overapplying at a mean error of 18.1%. Spray distribution patterns were found to be unacceptably uneven across the herbicide strip in most cases. Over 40% of growers were not able to relate the actual amount of herbicide used to a target application rate per hectare. A lack of training in both chemical use for weed control and sprayer calibration was apparent, and 80% of growers saw a need for a field manual. ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS New Zealand; pipfruit; weed control practices; herbicide use; sprayer calibration; accuracy of application; portable spray patternator.
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    Mathematical models for dispersal of aerosol droplets in an agricultural setting : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2008) Harper, Sharleen Anne
    Agrichemical spray drift is an issue of concern for the orcharding industry. Shelterbelts surrounding orchard blocks can significantly reduce spray drift by intercepting droplets from the airflow. At present, there is little information available with which to predict drift deposits downwind, particularly in the case of a fully-sheltered orchard block. In this thesis, we develop a simple mathematical model for the transport of airborne drifting spray droplets, including the effects of droplet evaporation and interception by a shelterbelt. The object is for the model to capture the major features of the droplet transport, yet be simple enough to determine an analytic solution, so that the deposit on the ground may be easily calculated and the effect of parameter variations observed. We model the droplet transport using an advection-dispersion equation, with a trapping term added to represent the shelterbelt. In order to proceed analytically, we discretise the shelterbelt by dividing it into a three-dimensional array of blocks, with the trapping in each block concentrated to the point at its centre. First, we consider the more straightforward case where the droplets do not evaporate; solutions are presented in one, two and three dimensions, along with explicit expressions for the total amount trapped and the deposit on the ground. With evaporation, the model is more difficult to solve analytically, and the solutions obtained are nestled in integral equations which are evaluated numerically. In both cases, examples are presented to show the deposition profile on the ground downwind of the shelterbelt, and the corresponding reduction in deposit from the same scenario without the shelterbelt.