The “Rodenator”: an efficient device for controlling field mice and root voles?

Field mice (Microtus arvalis), wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) and root voles (Arvicola terrestis) constitute a big threat to the organic apple orchards in South Tyrol. The use of rodenticides on the fields is not allowed in organic farming. The fruit growers rely on the help of different natural predators. If populations increase, the possibility of trapping and gasifying with equipment which produces carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide remain. Both methods are problematic. Trapping requires skill and time. Gasifying is not unproblematic to the health of the user. Recently a device has been imported which is used successfully in the United States to control different soil-dwelling rodents. In the orchards of South Tyrol, various field trials were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of the ‘Rodenator’ in controlling field mice

The mineralization of commercial organic fertilizers at 8°C temperature

In organic production only organic fertilizers and soil conditioners can be used to supply the soil with nitrogen. The mineralization of these products is slow and so there can be problems with the supply of nitrogen, when the demand of the plants is high. The supply of nitrogen from organic products depends on the speed of their mineralization which is primarily influenced by the composition and formulation of their raw material. In apple production in the Alps-region especially during spring problems with nitrogen supply are common. In that period, the weather conditions are sometimes bad, the temperature in the soil is low and mineralization starts slowly - apple trees demand more nitrogen than the soil can deliver. To compensate the demand of the apple tree organic growers can not use mineral fertilizers but only organic fertilizers and soil conditioners whose mineralization rate is often unknown. There is a strong need in organic fruit production to receive more information about the behaviour of fertilizers in the soil especially concerning their N-release under different conditions. To acquire that information, incubation experiments under controlled conditions (temperature, type of soil, humidity of the soil) were carried out in the laboratory to determine the mineralization-rate of different organic fertilizers and soil conditioners which are available in our region

Mid-term report for the CORE Organic II funded project. “Innovative cropping Practices to increase soil health of organic fruit tree orchards” BIO-INCROP

Activities performed in the first part of BIO-INCROP project concern five of the eight main objectives fixed in the project proposal. They are: Evaluation of soil borne pest and pathogens involved in replant disease Role of rhizospheric bacterial and fungal communities in plant health Selection of naturally available resources to increase microbial diversity and biomass Compost and organic amendments Evaluation of biologically active formulates The document reports main research results and shows main items of dissemination activity performed in the first part of the project

Effect of biostimulants on apple quality at harvest and after storage

Nutritional unbalances, such as calcium deficiency at the fruit level, are generally the causative agent of post-harvest disorders in apples. Foliar application of Ca as calcium chloride is the current solution to increase Ca concentration in apples, even though the effectiveness of this approach is often not satisfactory. In this research, we tested the efficacy of a combined application of Ca with selected biostimulants to improve apple quality and to reduce the incidence of storage disorders. The experiment was conducted in two \u201cJonathan\u201d apple orchards that differed in management systems and characteristics. Tree canopies were sprayed with calcium chloride alone and in combination with a commercial product containing zinc and silicon or a seaweed extract. The seaweed extract increased apple quality by boosting the reddish coloration (+32% of color index) and by enhancing final anthocyanin concentration of fruit skin. Both biostimulants significantly reduced (by 20%) the incidence of the physiological disorder, known as \u201cJonathan spot\u201d, after 160 days of storage. Increased concentration of nutrients (Ca, Zn, and Mn) in the skin of apples after biostimulant applications, together with changes of the phenolic profile during the storage, are discussed as the possible causes of the reduced fruit susceptibility to post-harvest disorders

Replant problems in South Tyrol: role of fungal pathogens and microbial populations in conventional and organic apple orchards

South Tyrol, the main Italian apple growing area, is characterised by an highly intensive soil cultivation. Previous investigations shows the existence of replant disorders although it has not been evaluated which are the main causes. A survey has been carried out in this area with two main aims I) to evaluate the role of soil borne pathogens in apple replant disease and II) to evaluate the effect of soil management toward soil borne pathogens causing replant diseases. The experimental sites were chosen in order to obtain three couples of contiguous conventional and organic apple orchards. Soil sickness test with young apple plants gave a significant growth reduction in all soil samples if compared to a peat control. Among all root colonising fungi (Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, Aphanomyces sp., Cy/incrocarpon sp., Rhizoctonia sp. and Pythium sp.) some Rhizoctonia solani strains and all Pythium spp. were the most pathogenic. In all cases organic management seems to reduce the soil sickness severity caused by root rot fungal pathogens

Neues aus dem Versuchswesen im ökologischen Obst- und Weinbau

Der Sachbereich Ökologischer Anbau des Versuchszentrums Laimburg und die Unità Sperimentazione Agraria e Agricoltura Sostenibile des Agrarinstituts in San Michele all’Adige, Fondazione Edmund Mach, organisierten im August 2012 eine öffentliche Versuchsvorstellung. Dadurch boten wir einmal mehr die Möglichkeit, einem breiten Publikum Einblicke in die aktuellsten Versuchsaktivitäten und -ergebnisse zu geben

Testing the effect of a rainproof protection net on the apple production regarding disease and pest damages

In a field trial within the CORE Organic project DOMINO, the effect of a rain protection combined with lateral insect nets (“Keep in touch – Antiacqua”) was tested for organic apple production. The rain-proof roof should protect the trees from rainwater, reducing the emergence of fungal infections such as scab and rotting diseases including post harvest diseases, while the lateral nets should markedly decrease the damages caused by pests. The Keep in touch system without any spray from the blooming on was compared to an uncovered and unsprayed treatment (control) as well as an uncovered and organically sprayed treatment. The trial was carried out from 2019 to 2021 on ‘Gala’ in South Tyrol and ‘Topaz’ and ‘Ariwa’ in Switzerland. Diseases and pests on the trees resp. on the fruits were assessed during the season resp. at harvest. Furthermore, fruit quality and post-storage diseases on fruits were rated

The mineralization of commercial organic fertilizers at 8°C temperature

Abstract In organic production only organic fertilizers and soil conditioners can be used to supply the soil with nitrogen

Control of Adoxophyes orana F.v.R. with entomopathogens and NeemAzal-T/S: first approach for optimal combination strategies

The application 01 NeemAzal-T/S, a product based on Neem extracts and plant oil, lor aphid contro I in apple orchards shows promising side effects on Adoxophyes orana. However, the efficacy 01 the recommended dosage 01 3 Vha at red bud stage is not enough lor a satisfying control 01 A. orana orchards with medium and high pest pressure. Field trials were carried out to introduce these side ellects in combination strategies with Bacillus thuringiensis or CA. PEX 2 (Granulovirus) lor ellicient control 01 this pesI

Evaluating inputs for organic farming – a new system. Proposals of the ORGANIC INPUTS EVALUATION project

This volume contains proposals for criteria for evaluation of plant protection products, fertilisers and soil conditioners1 to be used in organic agriculture. These ideas were developed in the course of the European Union (EU) Concerted Action project ‘ORGANIC INPUTS EVALUATION’ (QLK5-CT-2002-02565). For more information on this project see the end of this volume or visit the project website www.organicinputs.org. The documents in this volume are proposals elaborated by the project consortium and external experts. They were discussed with a broader audience at a public conference held in Brussels on October 13, 2005, and have been amended accordingly. Our proposals also include a “criteria matrix”, which is in Microsoft Excel format, and therefore stands as a separate file. The criteria matrix is discussed in section 5, but we strongly recommend that you consult the original document. To illustrate the use of the matrix, we have further prepared two case studies, which are also separate Excel files. All of these files are contained on the CD, and can also be downloaded from the project website. Currently, Regulation 2092/91 is under revision. We hope that our ideas can be incorporated into the regulation during this revision! In addition, we strongly encourage national institutions to make use of our proposals at the national level