The present study was carried out to analyse economic performances of Gala apple orchards at different planting densities. Two orchard densities (1,000 and 3,378 plants/ha) were evaluated in an orchard near Fraiburgo, SC, Brazil. The use of both planting densities resulted in the same internal rate of return (approximately 1.6% a month). It is suggested to use a lower planting system, once it requires less capital. Unit cost also remained the same for both planting densities used in this study.
Malus domestica; fruit crops; spacing; growth rate; mathematical models
