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INNOVATIVE CROPPING TECHNIQUES TO INCREASE SOIL HEALTH IN ORGANIC FRUIT TREE CROPS

{Project} BIO-INCROP: INNOVATIVE CROPPING TECHNIQUES TO INCREASE SOIL HEALTH IN ORGANIC FRUIT TREE CROPS. Runs 2012 - 2015. Project Leader(s): Manici, dr Luisa M...

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Summary

Multiannual crops such as fruit tree crops are affected by soil sickness or yield decline. “Replant disease” is the main biological component of this problem due to the eco-functional intensification of growing areas specialising in fruit production. The severity of this etiology is mediated by plant vigour, physiological state of plants and a-biotic factors, therefore its occurrence is actually an indicator for fruit growers of the degraded status of soil’s biological processes on his crops.
The project aims to develop innovative management options able to increase soil biological functioning, focusing the attention on soil suppressiveness: the natural ability of soil to control soil-borne pathogenic agents of replant disease. The activities are planned on two target crops: citrus and apple, representing two main agro-environments of Europe. Cover crops taken from local germoplasm collections or from the natural vegetative covers and recycled high quality organic materials are the natural resources upon which the project focuses, in order to develop innovative cropping practices which will enable soil biodiversity preservation and exploit its biological features.
The early evaluation of plant response and the use of advanced methodologies to evaluate microbial response toward the inputs are the strategies used to identify natural resources and techniques capable of increasing microbial biomass and diversity and selectively affecting beneficial and pathogenic microbial populations. The resulting innovative cropping practices are also easily transferred to other crops such as stone fruits and strawberries. Each country’s activities are planned in close cooperation with regional agricultural research centres working on organic farming and laboratories with specific expertise. The dissemination plan of the BIO-INCROP project should increase grower’s awareness of soil biodiversity as a resource for developing new technologies


EPrint Type:Project description
Keywords:biodiversity, functional soil biology; natural resources, replant disease, supressiveness
Subjects: Soil > Soil quality
Knowledge management > Research methodology and philosophy > Specific methods > Indicators and other value-laden measures
Values, standards and certification > Assessment of impacts and risks
Crop husbandry > Composting and manuring
Crop husbandry > Soil tillage
Environmental aspects > Biodiversity and ecosystem services
Crop husbandry > Crop health, quality, protection
Farming Systems > Farm nutrient management
Values, standards and certification > Evaluation of inputs
Research affiliation: Turkey > Egirdir Horticultural Research Institute
Austria > Univ. Innsbruck
Switzerland > Agroscope > ACW - Research Centre Wädenswil
Germany > Federal States > Rheinland-Pfalz > DLR
Spain > IVIA (Instituto Valenciano de Investigación Agraria)
Italy > CRA - National Council of Agricultural Research
Italy > Laimburg Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry of BZ Province
Germany > Other organizations
Research funders: Spain > INIA (National Institute for Food and Farming Research)
Turkey > Other Organizations
Austria > Lebensministerium (BMLFUW)
Switzerland > Bundesamt für Umwelt, Wald und Landschaft BUWAL
Germany > Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food - BLE
Italy > MIPAAF- Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies
Acronym:BIO-INCROP
Start Date:1 January 2012
End Date:1 February 2015
Deposited By: Manici, dr Luisa M.
ID Code:20354
Deposited On:12 Jan 2012 13:46
Last Modified:15 Jan 2012 17:24

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