Growth (annual increase in total dry mass) and productivity of agricultural cropping systems depend on the fractional interception of total seasonal light energy. With single-row hedgerow intensive apple orchard systems the reported maximum light utilisation is ∼60% fractional interception. This limitation is determined by row layout and hedgerow tree architecture, constraining apple orchard productivity to maxima of 100–120 t ha⁻¹. We hypothesised that reducing the orchard system between-row spacing to 1.5 m to 2.0 m would increase light interception and productivity, using two-dimensional, narrow planar hedgerow trees to maintain within-canopy irradiance. Trees comprised 10 vertical fruiting stems, equally spaced along 3 m of horizontal cordon (the planar cordon tree), requiring 2222 and 1667 trees per ha. By the seventh year the maximum fractional light interception (LI) was 77% in 1.5 m row plots and 66% in 2.0 m row plots, averaged across four cultivars (‘Gala’, ‘Scifresh’, ‘Scilate’, ‘Fuji’). The LAI-light interception response relationship of 6- and 7-year-old plots indicated a potential maximum light interception above 80% at a LAI of 3.5–5.0. Annual yields increased in proportion to increasing annual maximum fractional light interception from year two onwards and described an exponential response: Yield = 5.085e^0.0483LI, (R² = 0.88). The yield response to maximum fractional light interception exceeded the hypothesised 169 t ha⁻¹ at 90% light interception in spindle systems proposed by Palmer et al. (2002). The yield–light utilisation behaviour of planar cordon systems indicate the productivity potential of apple as a crop has been under-estimated; a theoretical maximum annual yield of market-quality apples at ∼90% light utilisation (≥ 2000 MJ m⁻² light energy per season) is estimated to be in a range of 250–315 t ha⁻¹. Productivity amongst cultivars and regions will be influenced by the cultivar genetics for fruit size, relative maturation dates and production microclimates, because these orchard systems will function at the upper limit of light utilisation.

农业种植系统的增长（总干重的年增长）和生产力取决于总季节性光能的截获率。使用单行树篱密集型苹果园系统，报告的最大光利用率为约 60% 的部分拦截。这种限制是由行布局和绿篱树结构决定的，将苹果园的生产力限制在 100–120 t ha ^{-1 的}最大值. 我们假设将果园系统的行间距减少到 1.5 m 到 2.0 m 会增加光拦截和生产力，使用二维、狭窄的平面树篱树来保持树冠内的辐照度。树木包括 10 个垂直果茎，沿 3 m 的水平警戒线（平面警戒线树）等距分布，每公顷需要 2222 和 1667 棵树。到第七年，四个品种（'Gala'、'Scifresh'、'Scilate'、'Fuji'）的最大分光截留率（LI）在 1.5 m 行地块中为 77%，在 2.0 m 行地块中为 66% . 6 年和 7 年地块的 LAI-光拦截响应关系表明，在 LAI 为 3.5-5.0 时，潜在的最大光拦截超过 80%。^0.0483LI，(R ²  = 0.88)。在 Palmer 等人提出的纺锤体系统中，在 90% 光拦截时，对最大部分光拦截的产量响应超过了假设的 169 t ha ^-1。(2002)。平面警戒线系统的产量-光利用行为表明苹果作为一种作物的生产力潜力被低估了；在约 90% 的光利用率（每季2000 MJ m ^-2光能）下，市场品质苹果的理论最大年产量 估计在 250-315 t ha ^-1的范围内. 品种和地区之间的生产力将受到品种遗传的影响，包括果实大小、相对成熟日期和生产小气候，因为这些果园系统将在光利用的上限下发挥作用。