Co-Design Of Agroecological Temperate Fruit Tree Systems: Approach, Tradeoffs And Outputs

Crop diversification and ecological intensification are a way to foster ecosystem services and produce in very low input systems. We analyzed the design process of three experimental sites that shared the same objective of ecological intensification and diversification in fruit tree production. Agronomic, ecological and organizational aspects were involved in the approach. Pest suppressive plant diversification, resource sharing among cultivated and associated plants, and feasibility were key elements. Identifying the expected functions of each plant species or assemblage (e.g. barrier, trap, production) was also crucial. Co-design brought experiences and expertises and was a powerful way to obtain trade-offs between targeted services in the design of innovative fruit production systems being now experimented. Further research and evaluation of the experimented prototypes are still required but the present analysis opens avenues for agroecological design in perennial crops

Using life cycle analysis to analyse the environmental performances of organic and non-organic apple orchards

Although the conventional farming system (CV) for apple production remains the common practice worldwide, the organic farming system (OF) is becoming increasingly important. Few global assessments of the environmental impacts of organic orchard systems are currently available. In this work, we analyse the weak and strong points of the environmental performance of the growing phase of two organic and one conventional apple orchard, using a pluri-annual dataset from experimental orchard systems located in the Middle Rhone valley in France, with life cycle analysis (LCA). LCA, also referred to as cradle-to-grave analysis, allows a quantitative and global evaluation of an orchard’s environmental performance. The analysis was performed using the SALCA (Swiss Agricultural Life Cycle Assessment) method (SALCA-Crop V3.1, adapted for pome fruit) and included relevant impact categories based on characterisation models derived mainly from the EDIP97 and CML01 methods, as well as those developed by Agroscope (ART). Seven impact categories that included ecotoxicity and human toxicity, as well as energy consumption and other environmental impact categories, were calculated and are discussed here. The OF systems appeared to have less of an impact than the conventional system, considering the surface-based functional unit (ha/year). However, the basic substitution of conventional with organic inputs or mechanised activities was not sufficient to radically improve the overall environmental performance of the orchard systems. These results need several years of full production to be validated

Using life cycle analysis to analyse the environmental performances of organic and non-organic apple orchards

Although the conventional farming system (CV) for apple production remains the common practice worldwide, the organic farming system (OF) is becoming increasingly important. Few global assessments of the environmental impacts of organic orchard systems are currently available. In this work, we analyse the weak and strong points of the environmental performance of the growing phase of two organic and one conventional apple orchard, using a pluri-annual dataset from experimental orchard systems located in the Middle Rhone valley in France, with life cycle analysis (LCA). LCA, also referred to as cradle-to-grave analysis, allows a quantitative and global evaluation of an orchard’s environmental performance. The analysis was performed using the SALCA (Swiss Agricultural Life Cycle Assessment) method (SALCA-Crop V3.1, adapted for pome fruit) and included relevant impact categories based on characterisation models derived mainly from the EDIP97 and CML01 methods, as well as those developed by Agroscope (ART). Seven impact categories that included ecotoxicity and human toxicity, as well as energy consumption and other environmental impact categories, were calculated and are discussed here. The OF systems appeared to have less of an impact than the conventional system, considering the surface-based functional unit (ha/year). However, the basic substitution of conventional with organic inputs or mechanised activities was not sufficient to radically improve the overall environmental performance of the orchard systems. These results need several years of full production to be validated

Performances agronomiques et environnementales en verger de pommiers : 8 années d’expérimentation système

Il est important de pouvoir évaluer les performances agronomiques et environnementales des systèmes de production, afin de les rendre plus durables. En verger, une expérimentation système a été développée depuis 2005 dans cet objectif. Seuls les systèmes qui combinent faible sensibilité variétale aux maladies et différentes méthodes alternatives de protection (ex. Agriculture Biologique, Protection intégrée) permettent de gérer durablement la protection du verger et de réduire l'impact environnemental. Les systèmes en Protection intégrée implantés avec une variété peu sensible illustrent que l'impact environnemental peut être réduit sans diminution des performances agronomiques

Présentation de systèmes vergers pommiers

Un dispositif système vergers de pommier (« BioREco ») a été planté en 2005 à l’UERI de Gotheron (Drôme) afin d’en évaluer les performances agronomiques et environnementales pour différentes stratégies de protection : Agriculture Biologique, Conventionnelle et Econome en intrants. Trois variétés ont été plantées dans chacun des systèmes. Elles présentent des niveaux de sensibilité différents à la tavelure : Ariane (résistant Vf, résistance non contournée dans le Sud-Est), Melrose (peu sensible) et Smoothee 2832T® (sensible), induisant 9 situations « système x variété ». Pour chacune de ces situations des seuils d’intervention ont été définis, et un suivi pluriannuel des bioagresseurs, mais aussi de paramètres liés au sol, à l’arbre et aux communautés biologiques est réalisé. A l’issue de 4 années d’observations, quel que soit le système, l’importance de la sensibilité variétale semble prépondérante pour la gestion des bioagresseurs, et les performances des systèmes varient selon les paramètres considérés

Soil nematofauna as indicator of the effect of agricultural practices on soil biological functioning in apple orchards.

National audienc

Effects of a biocontrol agent of apple powdery mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha) on the host plant and on non-target organisms: an insect pest (Cydia pomonella) and a pathogen (Venturia inaequalis)

A number of studies have focused on the selection and use of new biocontrol agents, but the effects of the introduction of these microorganisms on non-target organisms, including the crop plants themselves, are not well known. Non-target effects of sprayed applications of a potential biocontrol agent of apple powdery mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha Ell. Et Ev.), on scab infections (Venturia inaequalis Cooke Winter), on codling moth [Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)] oviposition and damage and apple (Malus x domestica) fruit quality are examined. This biocontrol agent, an epiphytic yeast isolate called Y16, affected neither conidia germination of V. inaequalis nor their penetration of the leaf tissue but suppressed the disease caused by this pathogen. The quantity of eggs laid by the codling moth during its second flight period on yeast treated trees was significantly different to the quantity of eggs laid on the untreated trees. In the first season of the experiments, more eggs were laid on the treated trees, especially on those tree parts closest to the fruit. These results, however, were not confirmed the following season: fewer eggs were laid on the treated trees than on the untreated trees. These conflicting observations are attributed to year-to-year variation in environmental conditions, which may affect yeast survival and activity. A 2-month-long assay was conducted in the orchard during the codling moth's second flight period from mid-July until mid-September. The yeast treatment did not affect the damage caused by the codling moth to the fruits. Finally, the yeast treatment did not affect any of the examined fruit quality parameters