Pear (Pyrus communis L. cv. Conference) has shade-tolerant features allowing for consistent agrivoltaic crop yield

Abstract

Transitioning to a fossil fuel free society requires an increase in solar energy production. However, expanding solar power to farmland competes with food production. Additionally, climate change threatens food security and leads increasingly to yield losses. Agrivoltaics (AV) systems produce solar energy and food on the same field, while sheltering crops. In AV systems, crops grow in a modified environment with reduced solar irradiance, a tempered microclimate and a potential physical cover protecting against hail damage. This research describes pear production under an AV pilot with 24% light reduction for 3 consecutive seasons. AV pear trees yielded 14% less than the reference. Flowering and fruit set was unchanged while AV reduced leaf flavonoid levels. The leaf photosynthetic light response was identical, yet a delayed leaf senescence under AV suggests an adaptation to the modified environment. AV impacted fruit shape, as there was an increase in the number of bottle shaped pears and a reduction in caliber. Other fruit quality traits were broadly unaffected, yet postharvest ethylene production was higher for AV fruit in 2022 than for the control. This study demonstrates that AV systems hold potential for pear production under temperate climates and highlights plant adaptations that make this possible. HighlightPear cultivation in agrivoltaic systems integrates renewable energy and sustainable fruit production. This study provides insights into crop yield, fruit quality, and plant adaptation towards an agrivoltaic environment.