Transition from conventional to organic management in a mature ‘StarkSpur Supreme Delicious’ apple orchard

Charlie Embree and Julia Reekie

Abstract
In 2001, an international rootstock trial was converted to organic management. The first three years were considered transitional to organic and then in 2004 the trial received full organic certification.

With the exception in 2003, when inadequate pollination resulted in no crops to harvest, tree cross-sectional area, crop load, total fruit yield and fruit size were recorded.

This research provides a documentation of field performance for ‘StarkSpur Supreme Delicious’ apples (Malus domestica Borkh) grown in a conventional (1984-2000), then transitional (2001-03), and eventually certified organic regimes (2004-06). Spray programs and levels of disease and insect incidence were recorded.


Source
2007 Guelph Organic Conference, Natural Sciences Symposium


Author Locations & Affiliations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 32 Main Street, Kentville, Nova Scotia


en français


Posted February 2007