[PDF] The Response Of Fruit Trees To Orchard Floor Management eBook

Author : Marc A. Rowley
Publisher :
Page : 110 pages
File Size : 48,45 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 : Catherine Mae Culumber
Publisher :
Page : pages
File Size : 34,68 MB
Release : 2016
Category :
ISBN :

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Fruit growers in Utah and other areas across the Intermountain West are faced with growing production challenges stemming from declining soil quality and water resources. Population growth presents challenges in terms of the cost and availability of land, but also presents opportunities in the form of new marketing options such as organic fruit. Few certified organic fruit orchards are operating in Utah currently, which is attributed to a lack of locally tested and adapted organic management practices. An organic peach orchard trial evaluated the effectiveness of different organic management approaches to enhance soil quality and conserve water without compromise to fruit tree growth and fertility. Two tree-row treatments: 0́8straw mulch' (Triticum aestivum L.) and 0́8living mulch0́9 (Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv.) were tested in combination with two alleyway groundcovers: 0́8grass0́9 (Festuca rubra L. with Lolium perenne L.) and a legume, 0́8Birdsfoot trefoil0́9 (Lotus corniculatus L.). The novel systems were compared with industry standards, tillage and weed fabric tree-rows with grass alleyways. Trefoil alleyway biomass deposited into tree-rows contributed an estimated 6.24 kg biomass and 0.21 kg total N/tree annually. Trefoil treatments had higher levels of organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), inorganic N, microbial biomass and enzyme activities, suggesting trefoil alleyways enhanced soil nutrient cycling, as well as C and N reserves in comparison to grass and tillage treatments. A functional gene array analysis was conducted to describe the mechanisms, microbial functional composition and diversity underlying the observed soil processes, however few differences were detected in soil community structure between soils under different orchard floor management. Significantly lower leaf Îþ15N in trees grown with trefoil compared to grass, and an association between root biomass, diameter and trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA) suggests nitrogen sources derived from the trefoil groundcover contributed to improved fruit tree vigor. Few differences resulted among orchard treatments for water use (mm/week). Trends indicated slightly higher water use in trefoil over grass, but not enough to offset observed soil quality and tree growth benefits. These findings suggest, trefoil alleyways may provide ecological benefits such as improved soil quality and efficient nutrient cycling, without substantial increases in water use.

Author : Park Historic Structures and Cultural Landscapes Program (U.S.)
Publisher : Government Printing Office
Page : 168 pages
File Size : 25,17 MB
Release : 2012
Category : Fruit-culture
ISBN : 9780160914508

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"GPO: U.S. Government Printing Office: 2012--677-011/R8960 Region No. 10"--P. 152.

Author : R. Lewis Castle
Publisher : Read Books Ltd
Page : 38 pages
File Size : 14,84 MB
Release : 2013-04-26
Category : Gardening
ISBN : 1473382017

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This antiquarian volume contains a detailed guide to managing an orchard, with a particular focus on spraying fruit trees. Complete with a wealth of useful information and helpful diagrams, this text constitutes an ideal guide for anyone looking for information on orchard management, and would be of special utility to those with little previous experience. Although old, much of the information contained herein is timeless, making it both a useful resource and a great addition to collections of vintage literature. The chapters of this book include: 'The Formation of New Orchards', 'Soil and its Treatment', 'Orchard Soils', 'Arrangement of Orchards', 'Management', 'Improving Old Orchards', 'Spraying Fruit Trees', and more. This text is being republished now in an affordable, modern edition - complete with a specially commissioned new introduction on growing fruit.