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Revenue assurance and Behangsoptimierung in organic fruit growing core
Project
Project code: 2806OE197
Contract period: 15.04.2009
- 31.12.2013
Budget: 341,402 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
In research project 09OE197 from 2009 to 2013 different strategies for adjusting an optimal fruit loading at apples and pears in organic fruit growing (at Kompetenzzentrum Gartenbau Rheinbach, ÖON Jork and LVWO Weinsberg) were proofed. Within the thinning measurements during blossom different treatments with Darwin rope thinner were compared to lime sulfur, Armicarb (only 2012 and 2013) and thinning by hand, the treatments were tested at five apple cultivars (‘Pinova’, ‘Gala’, Braeburn’, ‘Elstar’, ‘Opal’). At Rheinbach and at Weinsberg the same trees were evaluated over several years, while at Jork every year new trees were selected. At ‘Pinova’ positive effects on fruit quality were seen by use of rope thinner before full blossom, time for thinning by hand afterwards was reduced clearly, too. Lime sulfur had smaller thinning effects. The highest thinning effect had the combination of rope thinner and lime sulfur, but depending on cultivar the risk of overthinning existed. Often an increased growing of one-year-old branches was assessed, especially at ‘Elstar’ at site Jork. By use of Armicarb the thinning results were changing (weather conditions!), in some cases the thinning was too heavy, but time for thinning by hand was reduced, at cultivar ‘Opal’ lower incidence of sooty blotch was found in this treatment.
Another theme was, if foliar fertilizers at apple trees have either a thinning effect when used in high dosages or a fruit-load-stabilizing effect when used in normal concentrations, mainly tested at cultivar ‘Topaz’. At cultivar ‘Elstar’ flower setting and yield was assessed at trees, were the roots were cut in early spring, the growing of these trees was retarded. In trials round organic pear growing it was tested, if branches with flowers of pollinating cultivars, put into an organic ‘Conference’ orchard during blossom, could enhance the fruit setting. Another trial was, if fertilizing with Boron (over leaves) or Potassium (over soil) increases the fruit setting, fertilizing with Potassium led to higher yield (cumulated in five years). In an organic cultivar testing plot it was proofed at five cultivars, if plant protecting treatments sprayings during blossom have negative effects on fruit setting or on fruit quality. ‘Conference’ reacted heavily to treatments of wetting sulfur or lime sulfur by increased russetting (not by reduced fruit setting), ‘Novembra showed nearly no effects. Altogether the cumulated yield in three years in this organic pear plot was highest at cultivars ‘Uta’, ‘Gerburg’ and ‘Novembra’ (here some alternate bearing was seen).
Section overview
Subjects
- Organic Farming
Framework programme
Federal Organic Farming Scheme and other forms of sustainable agriculture (BÖLN)
Funding programme
Excutive institution
State Research Institute for Viticulture & Pomiculture (LVWO)
