[PDF] Evaluation Of Orchard Floor Management Systems For Apple Under Organic Protocol eBook

Author : Terence L. Bradshaw
Publisher :
Page : 430 pages
File Size : 10,40 MB
Release : 2015
Category :
ISBN :

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Despite substantial consumer demand and willingness to pay premium prices for organically grown fruit, apple growers in Vermont and other New England states have been slow to adopt certified organic practices. Barriers cited in the past to increased adoption of organic apple production in the region include susceptibility of traditionally grown cultivars to apple scab, lack of effective insect pest management materials, and few available effective options for fruit thinning. Recent changes in apple cultivar plantings in the region, introduction of new insect pest management materials, and advances in crop thinning justified an evaluation of organic apple production systems containing cultivars identified as important to the future of the apple industry. In 2006, two apple orchards were established at the University of Vermont Horticulture Research and Education Center in South Burlington, VT to comprehensively evaluate the five commercially-important apple cultivars of `Ginger Gold', `Honeycrisp', `Liberty', `Macoun', and `Zestar!' over eight growing seasons in two organically-managed orchard production systems, including a newly-planted high-density orchard (Orchard 1) and in an existing, medium-density orchard which was top-grafted to the new cultivars (Orchard 2). Parameters for tree growth and survival, crop yield, disease and arthropod pest incidence on foliage and fruit, and long-term economic return, including a twenty-year projection of net present value (NPV) of each cultivar in the two systems were evaluated in this study. `Ginger Gold', despite high incidence of some diseases on foliage and fruit, performed the best in both orchard systems overall. The cultivar was among the cultivars with the highest measurements of tree growth. `Ginger Gold', along with `Honeycrisp', had the highest cumulative net crop yield per tree in Orchard 1 and the highest in Orchard 2. Notably, apple scab on `Honeycrisp' foliage and fruit and `Zestar!' fruit in both orchards was at a level that was not significantly different from `Liberty', a scab-resistant cultivar on which no scab was observed. However, `Honeycrisp' had the highest incidence of fruit rots in both orchards, but it was not significantly different than `Zestar!' in Orchard 1. Management of lepidopteran pests of fruit was a major challenge on all cultivars over the years of the study. For most of the tree growth parameters and cumulative net crop yield, `Liberty' was among the lowest group of cultivars in both orchards. Cumulative net crop yield of both `Macoun' and `Zestar!' were also among the lowest in both orchards with the top-grafted `Macoun' and `Zestar!' trees having significant tree death compared to the other cultivars in Orchard 2. Harvested fruit were graded to commercial standards and cumulative gross and net income calculated from grade distribution, crop yield, and fruit price data. In Orchard 1, `Ginger Gold' and `Liberty' had greater cumulative gross income per hectare from 2006-2013, in excess of US$40,000, compared to `Liberty'. However, after management costs were deducted, all cultivars in Orchard 1 had negative cumulative net income of $-77,892 or less. In Orchard 2, all cultivars had positive cumulative net income for 2006-2013, and `Ginger Gold' had the highest at $109,717/ha. The twenty-year projected NPV was negative for all cultivars in Orchard 1, but in Orchard 2, all cultivars had positive NPV with `Ginger Gold' having the highest among the cultivars.

Author : Sean L. Swezey
Publisher : UCANR Publications
Page : 84 pages
File Size : 13,24 MB
Release : 2000
Category : Technology & Engineering
ISBN : 9781879906488

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Over 20 years of research by UC scientists, farm advisors, growers, and the USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program have culminated in the first production manual from the University of California for current or potential producers of certified organic apples. Organic Apple Production Manual includes a review of trends in production and markets, supply and price, and state/federal regulation and certification. Chapters include orchard management, disease and pest management, harvest and postharvest operations, marketing considerations, and economic performance. Includes a bibliography of publications useful to the organic grower.

Author : Marc A. Rowley
Publisher :
Page : 110 pages
File Size : 32,59 MB
Release : 2011
Category :
ISBN :

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PUBLIC ABSTRACT: Managing fruit orchards involves both the management of the orchard trees, and the orchard floor. Orchard floor management is vital to tree health, yield and fruit quality. Current standard management practices include maintaining a vegetation free tree row and a grass-covered alleyway. This system effectively controls weeds and creates a favorable environment for the fruit trees. However, limitations to standard orchard floor practices are that the grass alleyway provides no nutrient benefit, and current practices do not readily lend themselves to organic management. Alternative in-row and alleyway systems are requisite to creating improved orchard floor management systems. Three different approaches were used to investigate alternative orchard floor management strategies, including: alternative in-row weed control with combinations of mulch and organic herbicides, alternative alleyway management with legume cover crops, and combinations of in-row and alleyway alternative strategies. The best organic in-row weed control was accomplished with combinations of straw and acetic acid (vinegar). However, this management approach was not economically viable at current costs of labor and supplies, and current fruit prices. The alternative alleyway treatments of alfalfa and alfalfa clover contributed the most above-ground biomass and nitrogen, but consumed 45% more water than the conventional grass alleyway. Among in-row and alleyway alternative combinations, treatments that experienced the most competition from weeds resulted in lower yields. Commercial orchard managers in the Intermountain West need information on optimum orchard floor management for their unique environment. Results from these studies were integrated into a series of grower recommendations that are contained in Chapter 5. Alternative orchard floor management strategies that improve orchard sustainability provide immediate benefits to fruit industry employees and businesses. Long-term benefits will also impact fruit consumers as well as urban and sub-urban neighbors that share the environment.

Author : Ulrich Gisi
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
Page : 370 pages
File Size : 45,15 MB
Release : 2009-09-18
Category : Technology & Engineering
ISBN : 1402088043

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Plant disease management remains an important component of plant pathology and is more complex today than ever before including new innovation in diagnostic kits, the discovery of new modes of action of chemicals with low environmental impact, biological control agents with reliable and persistent activity, as well as the development of new plant varieties with durable disease resistance. This book is a collection of invited lectures given at the 9th International Congress of Plant Pathology (ICPP 2008), held in Torino, August 24-29, 2008 and is part of a series of volumes on Plant Pathology in the 21st Century. It focuses on new developments of disease management and provides an updated overview of the state of the art given by world experts in the different fields of disease management. The different chapters deal with basic aspects of disease management, mechanisms of action of biological control agents, innovation in fungicide application, exploitation of natural compounds and resistance strategies. Moreover, the management of soil-borne diseases and disease management in organic farming are covered.