integrating organic apple production
TRANSCRIPT
INTEGRATING ORGANIC APPLE PRODUCTION
Patrick Johnson BSc.Agr.GBFW January 11, 2016
The PuzzleFERTILITY- production & qualityPATHOLOGY- diseasesENTOMOLOGY- direct & indirect pestsGround cover & root competitionOrganic concerns- Nitrogen, bioherbicidesBiodynamic & alternative inputso Rootstocks, scion, site selection, drainage,
support system, irrigation, thinning, etc.
FERTILITYCOMPOST- to establish new plantings & mulch
for weed controlSOIL TEST- 2 years ahead re cover crops( N
fixing, clay fracturing) & mineral placement and mineral balances
FERTILISER- Calphos, Kmag, SOP, B,Zn,Mn, CuSOIL PRACTICES- Legume seeding, beneficial
fungi & bacteria additions, mulching mowersFOLIAR- Organomex 6-2-4, Ca, Mg, B, Zn, Kelp
General Soil ApplicationCalphos- 300 lb/ac(10 lb/ac actual available P
and 60 lb/ac organic P)KMag- 140 lb/ac(30 lb/ac actual K2O & S plus
15 lb/ac actual MgOSOP- 100 lb/ac(50 lb/ac actual K2O, 17 lb/ac
S)Zn- 2 lb/ac actual, Mn-1 lb/ac actualB- 1.5 lb/ac actual B from Solubor applied
with weed sprayer to root zone strip
General Foliar ProgramORGANOMEX 6-2-4 plus. 6 to 8 applications:
3 prebloom, 3 during 37 days of cell division, 3 cell elongation to size fruit
Mg- pink, king popcorn, petal fallCa- 1-2 cell division, 3 to 5(HC) cell
elongationB- pink, king popcorn, post harvestZn- tight cluster, post harvestACADIAN- TC, Pink, PF, 30 days, 30 days, PH.
PATHOLOGYDormant- prune for air movement re scab.
Fixed copper to GT re scab and fireblight(FB)GT to end primary scab program of fixed
Copper, Bordeaux, Sulfur(>12C), Buran(PI), Serenade Max(scab, FB, powdery mildew(PM)
TC to end July(humidity) PM control Sulfur, Serenade Max, Buran, Pure Spray Green.
August sooty blotch(SB) & flyspeck(FS) Sulfur, Buran.
PATHOLOGYBlack rot(BR) no specific control but fixed
copper can give suppression.Bitter rot hot, humid weather maintain
fungicides & reduce stress with irrigation, kelp and Organomex 6-2-4
Post harvest Organomex 6-2-4 re kali vinasse for scab inoculum reduction. Flail mow leaf litter. Litter applied beneficial fungi, algae, bacteria
PATHOLOGYDisease resistant cultivars & less susceptible
scab cultivarsDisease resistant- PRI(Liberty), Crimson
Crisp, Enterprise.Low susceptible- Jonagold, Ida Red, Empire,
Honey Crisp. But HC poor Nitrogen uptake, needs heavy thinning(biennial bearing) and has problems with calcium nutrition.
ENTOMOLOGYDirect vs indirect pestsDormant Superior Oil 70Spring feeding caterpillars(SFC) control Bt
springOblique banded leafroller(OBLR) summer
generation low pressure Bt hi pressure Entrust
Codling moth(CM) control Virosoft CP4RAA control Opal or Pure Spray Green
ENTOMOLOGYPlum curculio low border pressure vs hi
pressure. Remove wild hosts;control Surround
Apple Maggot low pressure mass trap. Hi pressure GF-120 or Entrust. Wet summer.
Hemiptera- Campyloma(MB), Lygus(TPB), Lygidae(ARB), Lygocoris(GAB), Torymus(ASC), Acrosternum(SB)
Coleoptera- Anthonomus(AC)
GROUND COVER2 year preplant cover crop. Clay fracturing or
fragipan oil seed radish. N fixing legumes – clover, peas with oats.
Swiss sandwich in row with white clover, hawk weed
Between row blend of fescue, rye grass & legumes
Frost seed legumes white clover
BIOHERBICIDE STRIPTwo part system of mechanical weeding &
yet to be determined bioherbicide programAEF GLOBAL 1201Essential oilsManuka oil soil activity and systemicManuka oil tank mixesCost is limiting factor
BIODYNAMICSPreparation 500Preparation 501Preparation 507 Preparation 508
Compost preparations 502, 503, 504, 505, 506
ALTERNATIVES to BIOPESTICIDESTested many in 3 year trialsQUESTIONS?