Sustainability of three apple production systems

Nature ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 410 (6831) ◽  
pp. 926-930 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P. Reganold ◽  
Jerry D. Glover ◽  
Preston K. Andrews ◽  
Herbert R. Hinman
2019 ◽  
Vol 112 (5) ◽  
pp. 2262-2267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raja Zalinda Raja Jamil ◽  
Christine Vandervoort ◽  
John C Wise

Abstract Neoseiulus fallacis (Garman) is a predatory mite that is common in apple orchards and distributed throughout North America. However, N. fallacis may be susceptible to pesticides used for the management of crop pests. This study aimed to evaluate the temporal effects of commonly used insecticides on N. fallacis survival. Neoseiulus fallacis adults were exposed to field-aged residues, and mortality and lethal time were measured over 96 h of exposure. Carbaryl caused high mortality to N. fallacis and the shortest lethal time values (LT50), followed by spinetoram, with moderate lethal time values. Esfenvalerate, acetamiprid, chlorantraniliprole, and novaluron showed little to no lethality to N. fallacis following exposure to dry field-aged residues. The results of this study provide important field-relevant knowledge that is often void from laboratory-based studies, which can aid integrated pest management (IPM) decision-makers in apple production systems.


2010 ◽  
pp. 219-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Bravin ◽  
D. Mencarelli Hofmann ◽  
K. Kockerols ◽  
F.P. Weibel

1998 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 162-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean L. Swezey ◽  
Matthew R. Werner ◽  
Marc Buchanan ◽  
Jan Allison

AbstractConventional and organic semidwarf Granny Smith apple production systems were compared during three years of conversion to certified organic management. Because of differences in fruit load with hand thinning compared with chemical thinning, apple tonnage was higher in the organic production system (OPS) in 1989 and 1991. The organic system was higher than the conventional system in number and weight of fruit per tree, but smaller in average fruit size. Using grower-receivedfarmgate premiums of 38% (1990) and 33% (1991) for unsorted, certified organic apples, comparative cost accounting showed greater net return per hectare for the OPS. The OPS required higher material and labor inputs in all years.Greater terminal growth in the conventional production system (CPS) in 1991 was the only significant difference in growth indicators between systems. N was generally higher in leaf and new wood bark tissues in the CPS. P was generally higher in the leaf and new wood bark tissues in the OPS. No decline in yield was associated with increased weed biomass in the OPS. There was no difference in fruit damage caused by codling moth between production system treatments (codling moth granulosis virus and pheromone-based mating disruption vs. synthetic insecticide). In 1991, secondary lepidopterous pests (apple leafroller and orange tortrix) caused greater fruit scarring in the CPS. In all years, tentiform leafminers caused greater leaf damage in the CPS. Apple leafhopper density and leaf damage were greater in the OPS in 1990 and 1991.Soil nutrient levels showed few significant changes during conversion to organic management. Soil bulk density and water holding capacity were useful indicators of changes in soil physical characteristics. Potentially mineralizable nitrogen andmicrobial biomass-C were more sensitive indicators of system change than total N or organic C. Two soil biological ratios, the respiratory ratio and biomass-C/total organic-C, were similar in the two production systems. Earthworm biomass and abundance increased in the OPS in the third year. The introduction ofLumbricus terrestrisinto the OPS greatly increased litter incorporation rates.


2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Dremák ◽  
Á. Csihon ◽  
I. Gonda

Success of apple production is highly influenced by the applied production system and the planted cultivar. In this paper growing characteristics of 39 apple cultivars were studied in integrated and organic production systems. These kind of parameters are less studied in the cultivar and training system examinations, although they have huge effect on the training and maintaining of canopy, on the pruning necessity, ultimately on the production costs. According to our results the thickness of the central axis of apple trees showed significant differences between the integrated and the organic systems. Axis of the trees with lower trunk thickness tapers more slightly in the integrated production system, than in the case of the trees with thicker trunk in the organic system. Thicker axis is not accompanied by thicker trunk, namely the thickness of the central leader starts to decrease stronger in the organic production system, compared to the integrated one.


Author(s):  
R.M. Beresford ◽  
P.A.G. Elmer ◽  
M. Spink ◽  
R.T. Alexander ◽  
M.J. Daly

HortScience ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 260G-260
Author(s):  
Lorraine Berkett ◽  
Terry Schettini ◽  
Dan Cooley ◽  
Dean Polk ◽  
David Rosenberg

Developing sustainable production systems based on the disease resistant apple cultivars (DRACs) and IPM techniques is a key objective of this multidisciplinary project involving 19 principle investigators across 5 cooperating institutions. Cultivar selection is a crucial decision for an apple grower which will impact the farm's competitiveness and profitability for many years. Factors that growers consider when deciding what cultivars to plant include consumer acceptance and marketability; winter hardiness; yield potential; fruit storage qualities, color, taste, and size; and potential pest management problems. These factors are being researched in this project. Disease resistant orchards will undoubtedly present new economic considerations to growers, wholesalers, and processors. A further objective is to provide economic analyses of alternative techniques and to forecast the impact of changes in production systems on the Northeast apple industry. Apple growers must have access to research-generated information that addresses the critical issues facing them Rapid information dissemination is a high priority of this project. The Northeast Sustainable Apple Production Newsletter has over 1200 active subscribers across the United States and in 7 foreign countries. The Management Guide for Low-Input Sustainable Apple production has been well received and continues to be requested world-wide.


HortScience ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 324-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Girija Page ◽  
Terry Kelly ◽  
Maria Minor ◽  
Ewen Cameron

Carbon footprint is widely accepted as an indicator of greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. Modeling carbon footprints based on life cycle assessment is applied as a way to evaluate the net contribution of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere from orchard production systems over one growing year. This net balance approach considers the sources and sinks of carbon and therefore provides a better reflection of an orchard system's net contribution to climate change. Carbon footprinting of organic kiwifruit and apple production systems in New Zealand indicated that the studied systems had a net sequestration from 2.4 to 5 t of CO2e/ha/year and therefore can be potentially considered as carbon sinks under the Kyoto Protocol. This finding implies that the organic kiwifruit and apple orchardist can gain a monetary benefit by earning carbon credits. However, further research to improve and validate this approach is essential before it can be practically used for decision-making at the orchard level and for policymaking at the national level.


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