Abstract

This paper presents the results of a statistical study of factors that affect the yield of red raspberry in the Tayside region of Scotland. The main objective was to determine the causes of the apparent recent decline in raspberry yields in the region. The data were largely obtained from grower members of the Scottish Soft Fruit Growers Cooperative, and were supplemented by some national harvest records and meteorological data from the UK Meteorological Office. The correlation analysis failed to show any association of yield with rainfall variation, but variation in temperature had a major effect on yields. An important factor related to differences in yields of different holdings was the average root-rot score on the holding.