@inproceedings{orgprints13741, journal = {Ecofruit - 13th International Conference on Cultivation Technique and Phytopathological Problems in Organic Fruit-Growing: Proceedings to the Conference from 18thFebruary to 20th February 2008 at Weinsberg/Germany}, pages = {324--329}, title = {Optimizing crop loading of apples and pears - results 2004-2006 (foliar fertilizers, thinning)}, editor = {Markus Boos}, year = {2008}, author = {B. Pfeiffer and B. Eis and J. Zimmer and N. Fieger-Metag}, url = {https://orgprints.org/id/eprint/13741/}, abstract = {Main topics of the research-project FuE 03OE088 of ?Bundesprogramm {\"O}kologischer Landbau? (30.04.2004-31.12.2006) were the testing of foliar fertilizers in organic apples and pears, optimizing lime sulphur for blossom thinning, looking for alternatives to lime sulphur for blossom thinning and looking at different combinations of thinning measures. Only the results of testing foliar fertilizers (carried out by KoGa Ahrweiler and OVB/{\"O}ON Jork) and combinations of thinning measures (carried out by LVWO Weinsberg) are described in this article. Over three years only a small increase in yield was evaluated for the fertilizers Aminosol PS and Wuxal Ascofol (site Ahrweiler, apple variety ?Elstar?). In Jork (apple variety ?Holsteiner Cox?) yield could only be judged in 2005 and 2006. Wuxal Ascofol showed some advantage in comparison to the control. At pear variety ?Conference? no clear tendencies could be seen, the control had the highest yield. In 2005 the fruitsetting of ?Conference? was very low because of bad conditions during blossom.}, keywords = {thinning, foliar fertilizers, apples, pears, organic orchards, B{\"O}L, BOEL, FKZ 03OE088} }