Integrating organic apple production

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?