Fruit Crop Ecology and Management - UVM Apple Orchard

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Plants rely on microbes to recharge the soil’s supply of available nitrogen. This process requires careful management. Inorganic nitrogen does not simply accumulate in the soil. It may be taken up by microorganisms and plants and turned into new recyclable materials, transformed into gas and lost to the atmosphere, or leached below the root zone, where it has potential to contaminate groundwater. Nitrogen management strategies should stimulate mineralization during periods of plant uptake and minimize it when nitrogen is not needed. Mineralization can be efficiently managed by controlling the organic matter supply (quantity, quality and timing) and its rate of decomposition. Cover crops, mulches, compost, manure and crop residues all increase soil organic matter, but the proportions of carbon and nitrogen vary tremendously Fruit Crop Ecology and Management: Chapter 1 Influence of tart cherry ground cover and nutrient management on the active carbon and nitrogen pool sizes. Management systems Active carbon Active nitrogen Pounds per acre Conventional 1,054 59 Cover crop 1,350 96 Mulch 1,409 85 Compost 1,348 108 Biosystem 1,680 110 Data are a two-year average of samples taken in May 1999 and 2000. For detailed management information, refer to appendix at the end of this chapter. Source: D.R. Mutch, C.E. Edson, T.C. Willson. among materials. The goal is to balance the active pools of carbon and nitrogen. A well maintained, legume predominant ground cover and applications of manure or semicomposted materials are more likely to increase the active nitrogen. Release of mineral Impact of tillage on soil nitrogen is faster when the ratio of the active carbon to nitrogen is below 20. When the ratio is greater, microbes immobilize nitrogen and its release may be very slow. Tillage is also important in regulating mineralization. Intensively disrupting the soil profile while incorporating organic matter will rapidly deplete the active nitrogen and carbon pools. Reducing tillage can help spoon-feed the nitrogen according to plant needs and avoid losses. There is no perfect recipe, but farmers need to explore the available tools and design a strategy best suited to their particular needs. S. Deming After planting, deep cultivation should be avoided because it may severely damage the plant’s root system and expose the soil to erosion losses. Shallow cultivation works for specific purposes such as strategic weed control or light incorporation of residues to enhance nutrient availability in the time of maximum crop uptake. Light incorporation may be needed if replanting is being done to alter the species mix in the ground cover. 27
28 Irrigation and supplemental fertility In the upper Midwest, water becomes limiting during summer. Irrigation during this period is essential for successful production of most fruit unless the soil’s waterholding capacity is drastically improved or new droughttolerant varieties are developed. It is important to determine the timing and the amount of irrigation on the basis of the real need of the plant to minimize stress and avoid yield reduction. Influencing this need are several factors such as the components of the climate (sunshine, precipitation, humidity, temperature and wind speed); the characteristics of the soil, especially those related to its water-holding capacity; and the plants’ specifics (density and soil coverage, age, etc). Precise irrigation requires understanding and measuring the influence of these factors. Plants are under severe stress when the foliage is wilting, and at that stage damage may have already occurred. The lack of clear early stress symptoms emphasizes the need for other tools such as evaporation pans and tensiometers to determine when to start irrigating. Fruit Crop Ecology and Management: Chapter 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Monthly average precipitation and potential evapotranspiration 1956-86, Kellogg Biological Station. J precipitation Common precipitation and evaporation pattern for southwest Michigan. Fruits are composed primarily of carbohydrates and water and do not remove considerable amounts of minerals from the soil. The amount of nutrients needed varies by species and is related to the plant’s age. Nutrients are used for F M A M J J Month potential evapotranspiration A S O current year’s growth, for replacing those used in production and for increasing reserves for a good start the following season. Excessive applications can generate an unbalanced condition with several negative conse- A weather station and an evaporation pan generate data for pest management and irrigation decisions. N D R. Zoppolo/D. Stefanelli
Page 1 and 2: Michigan State University Extension
Page 4 and 5: Fruit Crop Ecology and Management I
Page 6 and 7: Enterprise goals ◆ High quality f
Page 8 and 9: In Chapter 4, we set aside the imag
Page 10 and 11: ecology of the landscape, including
Page 12 and 13: the most important constraint influ
Page 14 and 15: temperature extremes and in seasona
Page 16 and 17: R. Zoppolo/D. Stefanelli R. Zoppolo
Page 18 and 19: cultural factors — such as crop l
Page 20 and 21: grafting compatibility that will in
Page 22 and 23: set and production. Timing of chemi
Page 24 and 25: 6 CO2 So So r en gy 6 H2O Organic a
Page 26 and 27: Two organisms are better than one.
Page 30 and 31: quences. Too much nitrogen results
Page 32 and 33: conditions. Residues of legumes suc
Page 34 and 35: protected with mulch. In a mature p
Page 36 and 37: or yield to a level affecting profi
Page 38 and 39: material because of their distinct
Page 40 and 41: Single and multicycle pathogens Dis
Page 42 and 43: pesticides can affect the nature an
Page 44 and 45: growing shoots. In contrast, the fu
Page 46 and 47: Ecological concept Wounds predispos
Page 48 and 49: Adults and larvae generally are ada
Page 50 and 51: After a certain period, in which sy
Page 52 and 53: How pathogens cause disease Spore l
Page 54 and 55: alance of the community is disrupte
Page 56 and 57: Parasites A parasite lives in, on o
Page 58 and 59: W. Yang Mycorrhizael hyphae (the th
Page 60 and 61: sources of sugar. For example, Tric
Page 62 and 63: Pesticide impacts on the community
Page 64 and 65: Such differences lead to significan
Page 66 and 67: soilborne pathogens. Moisture, temp
Page 68 and 69: A. Schilder The causal agent of lea
Page 70 and 71: y ascospores are typically more num
Page 72 and 73: track of GDD accumulation based on
Page 74 and 75: indicates that leaf wetness can var
Page 76 and 77: accumulations were predicted to inc
Page 78 and 79:
alance these positive and negative
Page 80 and 81:
In the foreground, a ground cover o
Page 82 and 83:
Ecological concept Insects can migr
Page 84 and 85:
their growers keep costs as low as
Page 86 and 87:
A 1997 Food Marketing Institute stu
Page 88 and 89:
Working with local governments and
Page 90 and 91:
Direct farm marketing is not easy.
Page 92 and 93:
Human resources: You can’t raise
Page 94 and 95:
Like many fruit farmers, the Gregor
Page 96 and 97:
Richard H. Lehnert, Joy N. Landis,
Page 98 and 99:
But the future of the commercial ma
Page 100 and 101:
sustainable, but they are the best
Page 102 and 103:
J Japanese beetle 46, 47, 67, 76 L
show all

Fruit Crop Ecology and Management - UVM Apple Orchard

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?