Acta agriculturae Slovenica, 121/1, 1–6, Ljubljana 2025 doi:10.14720/aas.2025.121.1.16450 Original research article / izvirni znanstveni članek Efficiency of labor in winter pruning of apple trees using technological innovations Élio Fillipi dos SANTOS 1, Wendel Paulo SILVESTRE 2, 3, Lessandra Silva RODRIGUES 4, Carine COCCO 5 Received October 25, 2023, accepted January 28, 2025. Delo je prispelo 15. oktober 2023, sprejeto 28. januar 2025 1 University of Caxias do Sul, Course of Agronomy, Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0189-9540 2 University of Caxias do Sul, Course of Agronomy, Laboratory of Studies of the Soil, Plant, and Atmosphere System and Plant Metabolism (LESPA), and Postgraduate Program in Process Engineering and Technologies (PGEPROTEC), Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9376-6405 3 Corresponding author. E-mail: wpsilvestre@ucs.br 4 University of Caxias do Sul, Course of Agronomy, Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9467-7896 5 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX, United States. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1850-2266 Efficiency of labor in winter pruning of apple trees using tech- nological innovations Abstract: The increase of new technologies in fruit-grow- ing crops has increased productivity in cultural practices and helped farmers expand their production areas. This work aimed to quantify labor performance in winter pruning of apple trees, using manual and electronic pruning shears associated with a pruning platform and ladders. The treatments consisted of two types of pruning shears and two support systems. A pruner car- ried out pruning for 16 days, with a journey of 10 h per day. The average yield in manual pruning with a ladder was 21.35 plants pruned per hour per man. Using a platform increased the yield to 46.25 plants pruned per hour per man. Pruning with elec- tronic pruning shears with a ladder showed an average yield of 33.47 plants pruned per hour per man. With platform support, yield increased to 128.5 plants pruned per hour per man. Using electronic pruning shears reduced the time for carrying out the activity. Pruning performed with platform support was more efficient, regardless of the type of tool used. This way, the tech- nologies available for apple tree pruning reduce costs, increas- ing operational profitability. Key words: electronic pruning shear, fruit growing, prun- ing platform. Učinkovitost dela pri zimskem obrezovanju jablan z uporabo tehnoloških inovacij Izvleček: Povečanje novih tehnologij gojenja sadnih ra- stlin je povečalo učinkovitost načinov gojenja in pomagalo pridelovalcem pri razširitvi njihovih pridelovalnih območij. Namen raziskave je bil ovrednotiti učinkovitost dela pri zimski rezi jablan pri uporabi ročnih in električnih škarij s samoho- dnimi platformami in lestvami. Obravnavanja so obsegala dve vrsti škarij za rez (ročne in električne) in dva podporna siste- ma (samohodna platforma in lestev). Rezač je opravil delo v 16 dneh, če je rezal 10 ur na dan. Pri uporabi ročnih škarij in lestve je en rezač porezal 21,35 dreves na uro. Pri uporabi platforme in ročnih škarij se je učinkovitost rezi enega rezača povečala na 46,25 dreves na uro. Pri rezi z električnimi škarjami in lestvijo je en rezač v poprečju porezal 33,47 dreves na uro. Z uporabo električnih škarij in platforme se je učinkovitost rezi povečala na 128,5 dreves na uro. Uporaba električnih škarij je zmanjšala čas rezi. Rez z uporabo platforme je bila učinkovitejša ne glede na uporabo vrste škarij. Na takšen način dostopne tehnologije za rez jablan zmanjšujejo stroške rezi in povečajo donosnost. Ključne besede: električne škarje za rez, sadjarstvo, samo- hodne platforme Acta agriculturae Slovenica, 121/1 – 20252 É. F. SANTOS et al. 1 INTRODUCTION Family farming is, in general, known as a backward sector from an economic, technological, and social point of view, fundamentally focused on producing primary food products with a logic of subsistence production (Souza et al., 2019). This image is far from reality since the universe of family farming in Brazil is highly hetero- geneous and includes impoverished and wealthy families (Vieira et al., 2019). Family farmers differ not only in terms of property size and production capacity but also in access to technology, infrastructure, and level of or- ganization (Souza Filho et al., 2011). Technology is one of the most influential factors in the development and growth of various sectors of the economy at a national level. Specifically in agriculture, one of the most critical activities in the Brazilian econ- omy, technology allows the use of innovations in rural properties. It contributes to raising the productivity of crops and labor income, creating differentiated oppor- tunities for farmers. Furthermore, specifically in family farming, according to Souza Filho et al. (2011), adopting technology can contribute to supplying the lack of labor. It may be an alternative to family succession since one of the problems in the rural environment is the aging of farmers and, consequently, the aging process. of the workforce available on the properties due to the emigra- tion of young people due to lack of opportunities in rural areas (Ribeiro Filho & Tahim, 2022). The limitation on the size of the property, many times, ends up compromising the financial viability of the family establishments since the scale of production becomes a structural problem. The modernization of the property, which includes training family members, the use of quality inputs, machinery, and equipment appro- priate to the segment and the conditions of family farm- ers, is a way of allowing sustainability and significant gains in productivity in the face of systems which are less technified (Bittencourt, 2018). Fruit-growing crops play a vital role in Brazilian in- come distribution, expanding job opportunities and sub- stantially improving the quality of life in communities. This activity often demonstrates remarkable profitability, enabling economic sustainability even for small prop- erties. Given that it demands a considerable amount of highly specialized labor, fruit growing promotes a signifi- cant increase in the availability of jobs, conferring valu- able benefits to the regions where it finds its development space (Klesener, 2020). Among the various fruit species cultivated in Brazil, the apple tree (Malus domestica Borkh.) is one of the most important in production numbers. According to Beling (2022), the revenue of the productive sector was around US$ 360 million (R$ 1.73 billion) in the 2020/2021 har- vest, while the total financial transaction in the area was US$ 1.24 billion (R$ 6.0 billion) in addition to offering job opportunities for 175,000 people in southern Brazil and 52,000 direct jobs in the region. The apple tree has great economic importance worldwide, being the fifth most produced fruit in the world (FAO, 2023) and the third most consumed in Brazil, behind only bananas and oranges (Beling, 2022). In Brazil, the total apple area in general is estimat- ed at around 32.90 thousand hectares, according to the IBGE (2022), with a production of about 1.30 million tons, with Santa Catarina contributing with 635,000 t per year, followed by Rio Grande do Sul with 628,000 t, Paraná with 30 t (Revista da Fruta, 2022), and the South- ern region of the country was responsible for 98 % of the national production of this crop (IBGE, 2022). Adverse weather events, mainly frost and hail in the central pro- ducing regions of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, may be responsible for significant production losses (CE- PEA, 2018). According to information from the Brazilian Insti- tute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE, 2022), the State of Rio Grande do Sul is currently the most prominent national apple producer, followed by the State of Santa Catarina. Average production in the 2013/2021 period accounted for about 50 % of the Brazilian output, with the leading producers located in the northeast of the state, with emphasis on the municipalities of Vacaria, Caxias do Sul, and Bom Jesus, followed by the munici- palities of Meus Capões, Monte Alegre dos Campos, Ipê, São Francisco de Paula, and São José dos Ausentes. There is a great demand for labor in apple orchards, which requires optimization to carry out cultural prac- tices and evaluate the possibility of mechanization. Ma- chines that reduce manual labor, such as harvesting plat- forms, bin transport carts, seedling planters, shredders, and electric pruning shears, can increase the efficiency of management activities in orchards, such as pruning, thinning, and harvesting, reducing activities manuals (Petri et al., 2018). The popularity of the apple means that its cultiva- tion remains promising for small farmers since the num- ber of properties dedicated to this activity in southern Brazil exceeds 4,500. Most of these properties are small, although larger crops account for at least 40 % of pro- duction (Anuário Brasileiro da Maçã, 2018). Apple cul- tivation is an excellent opportunity for less extensive, family-owned properties, which have this fruit as their main product and source of income in a diversified fruit culture. Incorporating new production technologies in apple tree cultivation has significantly increased the Acta agriculturae Slovenica, 121/1 – 2025 3 Efficiency of labor in winter pruning of apple trees using technological innovations quality and harvested volume of the fruit (Mathias & Rufato, 2017). During the apple tree pruning period, an activity es- sentially carried out by family members, the demand for labor is greater than that available. This causes the action to be prolonged if temporary workers are not hired. In addition, the available workforce is often poorly qualified to carry out the activity, which is considered exhausting, making the family farmer’s challenge even greater. The delay in completing this agricultural practice can be det- rimental to the profitability of the crop if it is considered the high investment required to produce with quality, not to mention economic fluctuations and climatic factors (Souza Filho et al., 2011). Fruiting or production pruning is carried out dur- ing the winter. It aims to eliminate old branches, promote the formation of new shoots, and establish a balance be- tween the production and vegetative growth of the or- chard. Its intensity will determine the plant’s growth and fruiting as needed (Duarte et al., 1992). According to Bittencourt (2017), access to inno- vation allows the maintenance of family farmers in the countryside, creating conditions for the economic vi- ability of family properties and their ability to develop as a family social unit, contributing to the sector’s mod- ernization. Due to the limited size of these properties, production capacity and sustainability may be impaired. One of the main benefits that the incorporation of inno- vations and technologies can offer is to improve the per- formance of the workforce, with economic return, as well as better ergonomics for the family farmer. Souza Filho et al. (2011) point out that technology plays a vital role in determining the economic performance of the property, as it allows for increased productivity and has an impor- tant effect on the sustainability of the activity. Thus, the workforce available on the property can be better used throughout the year. Given the above, the present work aimed to quantify labor performance in winter pruning of apple trees, using manual and electronic pruning shears associated with a pruning platform and ladders. 2 MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was carried out in an apple orchard on a family farm located in the Capela São Gotardo commu- nity, Vila Seca District, in Caxias do Sul, RS (geographi- cal coordinates: 29°03’ S and 51°03’ W), at an altitude of 680 m above sea level. The production of apples was in- tended for fresh consumption. The orchard was implanted in 2008 in a total area of 9.0 ha, conducted in a high-density system, with 4.0 m spacing between rows and 1.0 m between plants, totaling approximately 2,500 plants per hectare. The composition of the orchard was 75 % ‘Maxxigala’ plants and 25 % ‘Fuji Suprema’ cultivar plants, both on ‘Marubakaido’ root- stock. The treatments consisted of two types of pruning shears (manual and electronic) and two support systems (ladder and platform). The pruning of the apple trees was carried out by a pruner, an employee of the prop- erty, between August 03 and 23, 2018, totaling 16 days, for 10 h daily, divided into two shifts, corresponding to 5:00 am and 5:00 pm. The correct use of the tools was demonstrated one day before data collection to verify the pruner’s understanding of how the experiment would be carried out. Initially, pruning was conducted with manual prun- ing shears supported by a ladder on August 03 and 04 and August 06 and 07, 2018. Then, manual pruning shears were used with platform support from 08 to August 11, 2018. Then, electronic pruning shears with ladder sup- port were used from August 13 to 16, 2018. Afterward, pruning was performed with electronic pruning shears with platform support from August 20 to 23, 2018. Dur- ing this period, 160 h of pruning was conducted, 40 h with each tool and support system. For each repetition, 5 h of pruning time were considered, totaling eight repeti- tions for each treatment. The tools used were the Felco 621 pruning saw, the Felco 31 manual pruning shears, and the Felco 820 elec- tronic pruning shears 420 mm, with a non-slip handle and steel blade. Felco 31 manual pruning shears were used to cut branches up to 25 mm, with a mass of 225 g and a length of 210 mm; the blade was made of tem- pered steel and the anvil of brass, and the handle was also made of non-slip material. Felco 820 electronic pruning shears were used to cut branches up to 45 mm, with a mass of 980 g and a length of 290 mm. It was controlled and powered by a battery, and its ergonomics sought to relieve the pressure on the arms’ and shoulders’ muscles during the entire pruning process, the blade being made of tempered steel. A ladder and a pruning platform were used in the experiment in support of the tools. The ladder had a height of 3 m and a mass of 12 kg, consisting of six steps, and was made of aluminum. The pruning platform had a capacity for up to five people, requiring an operator. It was hitched to the third point of the tractor, and its structure was coupled to the bin transport carts. The plat- form had a height of 2.8 m and a length of 4.0 m, and its advancement system was pneumatic. The number of plants pruned per hour per man was measured for the four treatments. A completely ran- domized, bifactorial design followed, considering the Acta agriculturae Slovenica, 121/1 – 20254 É. F. SANTOS et al. pruning shear (manual and electronic) and the support system (ladder and platform) as factors. The results were submitted to analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the means were compared using the Tukey test at a 5 % error probability using the AgroEstat software. Subsequently, based on the average number of plants pruned per hour per man for each pruning tool and each support system, the number of days needed to prune one hectare of apple orchards was calculated. 3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Table 1 compiles the results of the average number of apple trees pruned per hour per man. The data indicate that when the activity was carried out using technologi- cal innovations (electronic pruning shears and platform), there was an increase in the number of plants pruned for the same period and the same operator. The yield of using manual pruning shears with a ladder was 21.35 plants per hour per man. With platform support for pruning, an increase in the average number of plants pruned was observed, corresponding to 46.25 plants per hour per man, a rise of 116.63 % when com- pared to pruning with ladder support. As for the number of plants pruned using electronic pruning shears and ladder support, an average of 33.47 plants were pruned per hour per man. With the pruning carried out with the platform’s help, there was an increase of 283.93 % compared to the pruning with a ladder, with an average of 128.50 plants pruned per hour per man. According to Batalha et al. (2005), family farmers’ use of new technologies provides conditions for explor- ing new opportunities and practices that require a more sophisticated production management level. This sig- nificant difference between the support systems, ladders, and pruning platforms, even using the same tool type, is due to the ease of pruning using platforms. When using the platform, the pruner does not need to descend from the ladder and reposition it several times throughout the day, causing a loss of efficiency and worker fatigue. The average yields obtained with the manual and electronic tools and using the ladder support system were 21.35 and 33.47 plants per hour per man, respec- tively (Table 1). This corresponds to a variation of 56.77 % between the two types of tools. For the results of plants pruned per hour per man using manual and electronic pruning shears, the highest average yields were obtained with platform support compared to the ladder support system. The average number of plants pruned per hour with manual pruning shears was 46.25, while with elec- tronic pruning shears, the average was 128.50 plants, cor- responding to a variation of 177.84 % between support systems. Using the orchard in which the present study was carried out as a parameter, with an average of 2,500 plants per hectare and considering that the worker in charge of pruning works 10 h a day, it would take about 12 days to prune one hectare with the use of manual pruning shears and ladder support. On the other hand, using electronic pruning shears, pruning time would be reduced to ap- proximately 5.5 days, an efficiency gain of roughly 6.5 days per hectare using an electronic tool (Figure 1). ors (2023). Figure 1 shows that in the support system that uses a pruning platform, it would take approximately 7.5 days to prune 1.0 ha using manual pruning shears and 1.9 days to prune the same area using electronic pruning shears. With this, there is an efficiency gain of approximately 5.6 days per hectare using an electronic tool. In percentage terms, this corresponds to a reduction in pruning time per hectare of 74.66 %. Considering the four treatments used in this ex- Pruning shears Support system Ladder Platform Manual 21.35 Bb 46.25 Ab Electronic 33.47 Ba 128.50 Aa Coefficient of varia- tion (%) 2.5495 Table 1: Number of apple trees pruned per hour per man us- ing manual pruning shears and electronic pruning shears, with ladder support and platform for pruning. Means followed by the same letter, lowercase in the column (pruning shear type) and uppercase in the line (support system type), do not dif- fer by the Tukey’s Test at a 5 % error probability. Figure 1: Number of days required to prune one hectare of ap- ple trees considering the performance of an operator perform- ing the pruning with manual pruning shears and electronic pruning shears, with a support ladder and platform for prun- ing. Source: Auth Acta agriculturae Slovenica, 121/1 – 2025 5 Efficiency of labor in winter pruning of apple trees using technological innovations periment, it can be noted that the highest yield gain oc- curred with electronic pruning shears associated with the platform, followed by the use of a manual tool and platform. The lowest yield was observed when using a combination of manual pruning shears and a ladder, a system traditionally used in orchards in the Serra Gaú- cha for winter apple and other fruit tree pruning. These results demonstrate that, currently, the producer must be concerned with the planting density and conducting the narrow crown, which facilitates pruning and harvesting, improving the fruit quality and allowing mechanization in the orchard (Petri et al., 2018). Managing a family farm is no longer based solely on mastering knowledge and traditional farming practices. Investing in education and training increases the abil- ity to allocate resources better and make more effective decisions regarding adopting new technologies (Souza Filho et al., 2011). For the authors, the organization of the property is essential to sustainably incorporate in- novations because innovation can create conditions for maintaining the economic viability of family properties and their ability to reproduce as a family social unit, con- tributing to their modernization. The apple tree culture has recently undergone major transformations in Brazil, leading to important produc- tivity increases. In addition to the rise in the number of technologies used in the crop, the planting density was of great importance for the rise in production, which went from 550 to 600 plants per hectare in the 1970s to 2,500 to 3,500 plants per hectare today. Despite this, the apple tree crop has seen its profit margin reduced (Petri et al., 2018). Brazilian production also grew, leading to a greater supply of apples on the market. According to Petri et al. (2018), three points are essential to maintain the eco- nomic activity of the producer: production cost, pro- ductivity, and selling price. These three aspects could be improved depending on the technologies used, as the selling price is directly linked to the quality of the fruit. Furthermore, according to Souza Filho et al. (2011), the probability of investment in technology is greater when the orchard is managed by the owner, which is the reality in family farming. Electronic pruning shears are currently one of the innovations available to facilitate the work of family farmers, who are the biggest consumers of this type of technology. Large apple-producing companies often end up not making this tool available to workers due to the low qualification of the hired labor. However, in fam- ily farming, family members are responsible for cultural practices in the orchards, including pruning. Therefore, they are more careful using and maintaining this tool. For the production systems practiced by family farming, which are increasingly faced with the shortage and aging of the present workforce, the generation of information on the use of technologies available on the market is essential. Considering that this is the case of apple production orchards in Serra Gaúcha so that the acceptance and use of available technological innova- tions increase according to the farmers’ resources, cul- tural barriers must be overcome with the generation and dissemination of information, improving the quality of life of farming families. In addition, using technologies can be an attraction for the continuity of young people in agricultural production, making them remain in rural areas. 4 CONCLUSIONS Electronic pruning shears increased the number of plants pruned per hour per man, reducing the number of days for carrying out the activity in apple orchards. Apple tree pruning, performed with electronic pruning shears, was more efficient when compared to manual tools, re- gardless of the type of support used. Pruning performed with platform support was more efficient, even with manual pruning shears. Thus, the technologies available for apple tree pruning increase the efficiency of the pro- cess, reducing costs and enhancing farmer gains. 5 REFERENCES Anuário Brasileiro da Maçã. (2018). Retrieved from: http://www.editoragazeta.com.br/sitewp/wp-con- tent/uploads/2018/06/Ma%C3%A7%C3%A3_2018_ Site-Editora.pdf Batalha, M. O., Buainain, A. M., & Souza Filho, H. M. (2005). Tecnologia de gestão e agricultura familiar. In: Batalha, M. O. (Ed.). Gestão do agronegócio: textos selecionados. São Carlos, SP: EDUFSCAR. Beling, R. R. (2022). Anuário Brasileiro de Horti & Fru- ti 2022. Santa Cruz do Sul, RS: Editora Gazeta Santa Cruz. Bittencourt, D. (2017). Agricultor familiar: entenda como inovações tecnológicas podem te ajudar. Retrieved from: http://digital.agrishow.com.br/agricultor-fa- miliar-entenda-como-inovacoes-tecnologicas-po- dem-te-ajudar/ Bittencourt, D. (2018). Agricultura familiar, desafios e oportunidades rumo à inovação. Brasília, DF: Em- brapa. Retrieved from: https://www.embrapa.br/ busca-de-noticias/-/noticia/31505030/artigo---agri- cultura-familiar-desafios-e-oportunidades-rumo-a- -inovacao Acta agriculturae Slovenica, 121/1 – 20256 É. F. SANTOS et al. Centro de Estudos Avançados em Economia Avançada (CEPEA). (2018). Produção da safra 2017/18 deve ser menor. Retrieved from: https://www.cepea.esalq.usp. br/br/diarias-de-mercado/maca-cepea-producao- da-safra-2017-18-deve-ser-menor.aspx Duarte, J. H. S. et al. (1992). Poda e condução em maciei- ras. Porto Alegre, RS: Fundação Gaúcha do Trabalho e Ação Social. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Na- tions (FAO). (2023). Faostat – FAO statistical data- base. Retrieved from: https://www.fao.org/faostat/ en/#home Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). (2022). Produção de Maçã. Retrieved from: https:// www.ibge.gov.br/explica/producao-agropecuaria/ maca/br Klesener, H. M. (2020). Para além da geração de renda: os significados da fruticultura para os agricultores fa- miliares de Santa Helena–PR. Thesis (Master’s). Uni- versidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Desenvolvimento Rural Sustentá- vel, Marechal Cândido Rondon. Mathias, J., & Rufato, A. R. (2017). Como Plantar Maçã. Retrieved from: https://revistagloborural.globo.com/ vida-na-fazenda/como-plantar/noticia/2017/05/co- mo-plantar-maca.html Petri, J. L., Sezerino A. A., & Martin, M. S. (2018). Artigo exclusivo Todafruta: estado atual da cultura da ma- cieira. Caçador, SC: EPAGRI. Retreived from: http:// www.todafruta.com.br/artigo-exclusivo-estado-atu- al-da-cultura-da-macieira/ Revista da Fruta. (2022). Satélite confirma: SC é o maior produtor nacional de maçã. Retrieved from: http:// banca.maven.com.br/pub/revistadafruta/?numero=3 2#page/1 Ribeiro Filho, J. R., & Tahim, E. F. (2022). Inovação e contingencialidade na agricultura familiar. Revista Gestão & Conexões, 11, 87-107. Souza Filho, H. M. S. et al. (2011). Condicionantes da Adoção de Inovações Tecnológicas na Agricultura. Caderno de Ciências & Tecnologia, 28, 223-255. Souza, P. M. et al. (2019). Diferenças regionais de tecno- logia na agricultura familiar no Brasil. Revista de Eco- nomia e Sociologia Rural, 57, 594-617. Vieira, L. P. L., Bahiense, D. V., & Silva, S. M. (2019). Pro- dução acadêmica sobre sucessão rural e agricultura familiar: uma análise do contexto brasileiro do perío- do (2003-2018). Extensão Rural, 26, 89-103.