home    about    browse    search    latest    help 
Login | Create Account

Successfull Blossom Thinning and Crop Load Regulation for Organic Apple Growing with Potassium-bi-carbonate (Armicarb(R)): Results of Field Experiments over 3 Years and with 11 Cultivars

Weibel, Franco P.; Lemcke, B.; Monzelio, U.; Giordano, I. and Kloss, B. (2012) Successfull Blossom Thinning and Crop Load Regulation for Organic Apple Growing with Potassium-bi-carbonate (Armicarb(R)): Results of Field Experiments over 3 Years and with 11 Cultivars. [Erfolgreiche Blütenausdünnung und Behangsregulierung für den biologischen Apfelanbau mit Kalium-bicarbonat (Armicarb (R)): Resultate von 3-jährigen Feldexperimenten mit 11 Sorten.] European Journal of Horticultural Science, 77 (4), pp. 145-153.

[thumbnail of ejhs_thinning_Armicarb_13-12.pdf]
Preview
PDF - Published Version - German/Deutsch
438kB


Summary

With field trials over 3 years in a commercial organic orchard in Switzerland we have tested the efficacy of Armicarb® (potassium-bi-carbonate) for flower thinning in organic apple production. Over time, Armicarb was tested on 11 cultivars, at different application periods, in different concentrations, and always in comparison to other agents that are already allowed for thinning in organic fruit production in the European Union as e.g. lime sulphur, molasses, mechanical rope-thinner or combinations of methods. Armicarb proved to be an efficient and reliable thinning agent with an efficacy similar to the now recommended methods with rope device, molasses or lime sulphur but has the advantage to be an environmentally very friendly product. On the other hand, the risk for fruit russeting is comparably elevated especially with cultivars ‘Elstar’, ‘Golden Del.’ ’and ‘Gala’. Finally, we have elaborated cultivar-specific recommendations for the use of Armicarb for thinning purposes, which were the basis for the Swiss Federal approval to use Armicarb for thinning in conventional and organic apple production in 2011/2012.


EPrint Type:Journal paper
Keywords:Apfel Ausdünnung Behangsregulierung Kalium bi-carbonat Armicarb Fadengerät Schwefelkalk Vinasse Apple Thinning Crop load regulation potassium bi-carbonate rope device lime sulphur molasses
Subjects: Crop husbandry > Production systems > Fruit and berries
Research affiliation: Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Crops > Special crops > Fruit
ISSN:1611-4426
Deposited By: Weibel, Franco
ID Code:21154
Deposited On:03 Nov 2012 06:06
Last Modified:22 May 2020 13:55
Document Language:English
Status:Published
Refereed:Peer-reviewed and accepted

Repository Staff Only: item control page

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics