Mechanical pruning in organic apple production - especially with regard to pathogens and pests -

摘要

In organic growing the technique of mechanical pruning is not used despite the cost and time saving, because the expected undesirable side effects on the pest population have not been researched sufficiently. We want to test this technique of mechanical pruning on growth behaviour, the yield potential, the fruit quality and pest populations in organic apple growing within the BOLN project "Examination of possible treatments of mechanical pruning in organic apple production - especially with regard topathogens and pests". We also want to test the mechanical pruning in combination with mechanical thinning with the Darwin Mechanical Blossom Thinning Machine. The trials are carried out in Klein-Altendorf and on an organic fruit farm near Klein-Altendorf. After one year tendency effects of the used machines can be identified.