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Rotationally
Grazing Hogs for Orchard Floor Management in Organic Apple Orchards
Nunn, L., Embree, C., Hebb, D. and Nichols, D. This research evaluates the effectiveness of hogs in controlling weed competition and removing drop apples from organic orchards. The experimental treatments included pasturing hogs in an orchard, over one year, at 2 densities (46.45 m2/pig and 24.4 m2/pig) for 2 days during both June (bloom) and October (post-harvest) compared to an un-mowed check. The impact on grass and weed control was assessed by comparing grass sample weights from a check site to each density immediately following grazing as well as an assessment mid-season. To determine the risks associated with grazing hogs in the orchard; leaves, fruit, soil and manure were analyzed for total coliforms and E. coli immediately following the spring grazing period and post-harvest. For all grass assessments, a significant difference occurred between the check and the treatments. However, there were inconsistencies between two hog densities and grazing periods, being significantly different during the fall period (F-probability <0.001), and not during the bloom period (F-probability 0.434). Differences were also seen between high and low traffic areas within each density, but not between the traffic areas of the two hog densities. E. coli was not detected in the control, leaves or apples. Pre-harvest, the control leaf samples had more total coliforms than either hog density. The control apple samples had less total coliforms than the low density, but more than the high density. Soil E. coli and total coliform numbers increased compared to the control. The hogs left less than 4% the drops in the check plot, with a 0.07 kg/ha difference between the low and high densities.
Presentation (PDF) given at the Symposium |
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