Tree shading: an efficient method to control alternate bearing?

Conventional and integrated fruit growers, but not organic producers, have the possibility to use thinning agents (e.g. benzyl adenine), which allow crop regulation at a relatively late stage (10-16 mm fruit size). A few surveys have shown that by reducing net photosynthesis after blossom, June fruit drop increases. This could be an interesting new approach for organic apple orchards. Since 2003, different trials have been carried out at the Laimburg Research Station on the variety Golden Delicious rootstock M9 to devise a method for practical use by fruit growers. Unfortunately, there are still several constraints to the practical application of the shading method, not least because it does not sufficiently reduce alternate fruit bearing in the following year

Formulated and unformulated carbonates to control apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) on organic apple

In the EC at the moment only copper- and sulphur-based products are allowed to control a variety of diseases on different crops. However, it is well-known that these products also have negative side effects on beneficial organisms and the soil. For many years researchers have been looking for alternatives to reduce their use and /or replace them. Bicarbonates have been brought forward for many years. They are present in nature and were used in the past in organic farming. Up to now, in the EC, carbonates have not been included in the list of active substances, which may be used as plant protection products. A good chance exists that this will change in the future, which would open the possibility to apply for the inclusion of potassium hydrogen carbonate in Annex II B of regulation EEC 2091/92. Field trials carried out in 2006 and 2007 in South Tyrol evidenced an interesting efficacy of potassium hydrogen carbonate-based products against apple scab and other diseases, but also phytotoxic side effects emerged

Degradation behaviour of potassium K-phosphite in apple trees

Although potassium phosphite is not registered for organic fruit production in Europe, it has long been regarded as a potential alternative to sulphur- and copper-containing fungicides. In 2005/2006 a field trial was carried out to verify the presence of residues of phosphoric acid over time in apples after applications of potassium phosphite at different time-points. No residues were present on fruits if treatments were applied before flowering, whereas treatments after flowering, in the summer or in autumn resulted in comparable residue levels irrespective of the period of application. Residues were eveneven found in leaves and fruits of the following years, 2006 and 2007

Winter treatments against the woolly apple aphid (Eriosoma lanigerum): products and timing of applications

In organic apple growing the woolly apple aphid (Eriosoma lanigerum) is still an unsolved problem. Various approaches to use beneficial insects were not really effective. Only winter treatments with mineral oils showed partial and fluctuating success. In 2006 and 2007 field trials were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of winter treatments to control woolly apple aphids. The efficacy of several products (different mineral oils, lime sulphur, and lime sulphur + mineral oil) was tested in comparison to an untreated control, and possible side effects on the population of predatory mites were investigated. The study furthermore aimed at establishing the best timing of the application against the target pest

A comparison between organic and integrated apple production: First results after 5 years of observation

Organic apple production is of increasing commercial importance throughout Europe, but especially in South Tyrol where about 25% of the whole European organic apple crop is produced. In organic apple production, producers face the challenge of choosing varieties that are both in demand and also resistant to the main pests and diseases. Every now and then, the question arises, if yields, losses and profitability are different in integrated and organic orchards and in how great are the differences between single apple varieties. In 1999 the Laimburg Research Centre started a field trial to observe the effects of different cultivation methods on 18 apple varieties in a randomised block design. In the first four years of production, significant differences in the yield potential between the varieties as well as between integrated and organic production were observed. In organic farming, yields were lower and organic fruits were of smaller size. In organic production the leaves contained less nitrogen in spring. In summer there were no more significant differences concerning nitrogen

Versuche zur Regulierung der Wühlmäuse im biologischen Obstbau

In the organic apple orchards in South Tyrol different voles (Fam. Arvicolidae) are the cause of big damages on the trees. At present there isn't any product listed t the annex 2b of the EC- decree 2092/91 for organic agriculture, which could control the voles efficiently. Therefore it is quite difficult to control the voles in organic orchards. It is necessary to convince European and national authorities, associations and organs of control to allow the use of suitable products. Our trials showed that Silmurin, an extract of the red sea-onion (Uriginea marsitima) controls quite efficiently the field mouse (Microtus arvalis), but hasn't any effect against the earth vole (Arvicola terrestris). Against these voles we obtained good results with Matox-cartridges based on sulphur gases. The results of the use of a machine which produces a mixture of CO and CO2 by burning organic materials were unsatisfactory with respect to both types of voles

Influence of fungicides used in organic orchards on the net-photosynthesis of apple trees

Im biologischen Obstbau sind einige wenige Kontaktfungizide (Schwefel-, Kupfer-, Tonerdenpräparate) zur Schorfregulierung zugelassen. Aus der Literatur ist bekannt, dass sich diese Fungizide unterschiedlich auf die Netto-Photosynthese (PN) der Pflanzen auswirken (HOFFMAN 1935, CLORE 1936, MURPHY 1939, SOUTHWICK & CHILDERS 1939). PN spiegelt den Kohlenstoffgewinn abzüglich des Energieverbrauchs durch Atmung wieder. Deshalb hängen Ertrag, Fruchtqualität und Wachstum von Apfelbäumen, neben der Verwertung und Verteilung des Kohlenstoffs innerhalb der Pflanze, auch davon ab, wie viel insgesamt davon aufgenommen wird (LANGE & LENZ 1997, HANSEN 1978). In dieser Arbeit wurde untersucht, wie sich Behandlungen mit Kupfer, Schwefel, Schwefelkalk und Ulmasud auf PN der Apfelbäume und den damit zusammenhängenden Faktoren, wie z.B. Chlorophyll- und Stickstoffgehalt der Blätter, auswirken

Mehr Nachhaltigkeit dank DOMINO

Das Projekt DOMINO verfolgt das Ziel, neue Technologien, Techniken und Maßnahmen zu entwickeln und zu bewerten, die den Bioanbau nachhaltiger gestalten sollen. Finanziert wird das dreijährige Projekt, das am 1. April 2018 angelaufen ist, von „CORE Organic“ (Coordination of European Transnational Research in Organic Food and Farming Systems). An dem Projekt beteiligt sind neben dem Versuchszentrum Laimburg noch weitere sechs europäische Forschungseinrichtungen (INHORT – Polen, Ctifl – Frankreich, Universität Hohenheim – Deutschland, FiBL – Schweiz, FGI – Bulgarien), wobei die Koordination bei der Università Politecnica delle Marche liegt

Das Projekt Ecoorchard

A brief description of the activities which were carried out in 2015 within the project Ecoorchard at Research Centre Laimburg

Bio-Vielfalt für gesunde Anlage

A brief description of the Projekt Ecoorchar