Influence of Ten Ground Cover Systems on Growth and Market Value of Eastern Hemlock and Eastern White Pine

Growth, mineral nutrient content, and market value of young eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis L.) and eastern white pine (Pine strobus L.) were evaluated using 10 ground cover treatments over a 4 to 5 year growing cycle. Hemlocks were taller and had greater market value when managed with straw mulch, bare ground, and cultivation than with tall broadleaf complex, orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), or ‘Kentucky 31’ tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Hemlocks grown with blackberry (Rubus spp.), short broadleaf complex, nimblewill (Mulenbergia schreberi J.F. Gmel.), or Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) ground covers were intermediate. Mulched white pine had greater height, stem diameter, branches per node, and market value compared to trees in tall fescue. Higher P and K concentrations in needles were associated with poor growth. Straw mulch, short broadleaves and nimblewill have the potential for replacing Kentucky bluegrass, orchardgrass and tall fescue in conifer planting systems.</jats:p

Coberturas do solo e crescimento da macieira na implantação de um pomar em sistema orgânico de produção Soil coverage and apple tree growth on the establishment of an orchard under organic production system

O uso de coberturas é uma estratégia de manejo do solo que pode influenciar no desenvolvimento de plantas de espécies frutíferas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o crescimento da macieira, na fase de implantação de um pomar, em resposta ao uso de diferentes materiais e plantas de cobertura de solo. O pomar foi implantado em 2003, em Vacaria-RS, com a cv. Galaxy, sendo conduzido no sistema de produção orgânico. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, com três repetições, envolvendo os seguintes tratamentos nas linhas de plantio: testemunha (sem manejo da cobertura do solo), capina, plástico preto, sombrite, serragem de pínus, acícula de pínus, palha de capim-rabo-de-burro, azevém, aveia-preta, aveia-preta + ervilhaca, aveia-preta + nabo-forrageiro, azevém + trevo-branco + espécies espontâneas e roçada. A cobertura do solo por plantas espontâneas foi avaliada mensalmente no período de primavera-verão, durante dois anos, sendo relacionada com o desenvolvimento da macieira. Os tratamentos capina, plástico preto, acícula de pínus e palha de capim-rabo-de-burro mantiveram a cobertura do solo por plantas espontâneas inferior a 20 %. A altura e o diâmetro das plantas de macieira diminuíram à medida que aumentou a cobertura do solo por plantas espontâneas, evidenciando competição entre ambas.<br>Soil cover is one of the options for weed management in the orchard but this might affect fruit trees development. The objective of this work was to evaluate apple trees growth during the orchard establishment stage by using different materials and soil cover plants. The experimental apple orchard was planted in 2003, in Vacaria, RS, Southern of Brazil, with the cv. Galaxy managed under organic system. The experiment followed the randomized block design, with three replications. The treatments were applied in the tree rows, as follows: control (without weed management), manual weeding, black plastic film, black net, pinus sawdust, pinus needle mulch, Andropogon sp mulch, annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), black oat (Avena strigosa), black oat + common vetch (Vicia sativa), black oat + fodder radish (Raphanus sativus), annual ryegrass + white clover (Trifolium repens) + spontaneous plant cover, weed mowing. The soil covered by weeds was monthly measured, during the spring/summer season, over the second and third years of the orchard establishment, and this was related to the apple trees growth. The treatments with manual weeding, black plastic film, pinus needle and Andropogon mulch maintained the soil cover by weeds below 20 %. The apple tree height and diameter decreased with the increase of soil cover by weeds, reflecting weeds competition with apple trees

Research Knowledge and Needs for Orchard Floor Management in Organic Tree Fruit Systems

While pest management and tree horticulture dominate the research agenda for temperate tree fruits, organic production requires more attention to weed control and nutrient management because of the limited options growers have. Weed control and tree nutrition are interlinked and can have impacts on other parts of the system such as rodent pests, beneficial insect habitat, water use, and soil quality. Trade-offs commonly occur when trying to solve weed control and nutrient management in organic orchards. This article reviews numerous orchard-floor management studies relevant to finding solutions for organic systems and suggests areas for further research. Alternatives to soil tillage are needed, as it can degrade soil and tree performance. Conversely, mulching frequently leads to improved tree performance and increased soil quality but can be a costly practice relative to other options. Currently effective organic analogues to the herbicide strip-grass alley system are lacking. A plant-based solution would be ideal from a sustainability standpoint, but no satisfactory solution has been developed for widespread use.EEA Alto ValleFil: Granatstein, David. Washington State University. Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources; Wenatchee; Estados UnidosFil: Sánchez, Enrique Eduardo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Alto Valle; Argentin