Fruit and berries

Organic fruit production differs in many ways from other forms of plant production, since it involves long-term cultures that can not be included in rotations. This means that fruit producers have no means of exploiting the disease and pest-controlling effects of rotations that are available to other organic producers. The large number of production years also means that there is little opportunity to adapt the choice of varieties to changing production conditions. Thus it is extremely difficult to exploit current knowledge on varietal characteristics. Fruit production is also characterised by a large number of diseases and pests (scabs, cankers, codling moth, aphids, etc.) that are currently difficult to prevent by organic means.

This project relates to black currents and strawberries, and examines five main themes:

Provision of nitrogen to black currents
The objective of this study is to test methods of applying nitrogen to black currents by plant production means alone: i.e. mechanic weed control combined with the sowing of an annual cover-crop, and a permanent cover crop in alley-tracks combined with mulching. The use of slurry is demonstrated and used as control.

Single-stemmed black currents for mechanical weeding
This project investigates the possibilities of production using single-stemmed bushes that allow mechanical weed control.

Field resistance of black currents to diseases and pests
This study tests cultivars that are of interest to organic farmers. Furthermore, the tolerance of the most commonly planted varieties to sulphur sprays is being examined.

Grey mould in strawberries
This project examines cultural methods for removing the leaves after harvest and in early spring to reduce the risk of grey mould infection. These methods may also be relevant in weed control.

Field resistance of strawberries to disease and pests
This study tests varieties of strawberries that are of interest in organic growing.

Summary
Publications


Project title
II.1 Black currents and strawberries

Project leader
Hanne Lindhard Pedersen,
Danish Institute of Agricultural Science, Department of Vegetable Foods, Kirstinebjergvej 6, DK 5792 Aarslev
Tel: +45 65 99 17 66, Fax: +45 65 99 29 53
E-mail: Hanne.Lindhard@agrsci.dk

Project participants
Holger Daugaard and Carsten Iversen, Researchers, Danish Institute of Agricultural Science, Department of Vegetable Foods