Alternate bearing in fruit crops: Causes and solutions

Abstract

Alternate bearing is a phenomenon in which a fruit plant, branch, or orchard does not produce a regular crop every year. Instead, heavy yields are followed by extremely light yields, and vice versa. This irregular or alternate bearing is a widespread problem for 
growers of both evergreen and deciduous fruit trees. It poses a major challenge to the sustained productivity of many fruit crops, particularly in the face of changing climate conditions. Alternate bearing refers to the tendency of an entire tree to produce more than 
the average crop in one year, followed by less than the average crop in the next year. This is a significant economic issue for growers, as the net return to the farmer during the off year crop is low, and it disrupts the orchard maintenance cycles.