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Alternate mowing in organic orchards as a biodiversity enhancement measure (BIOFRUITNET Practice Abstract)

{Tool} Alternate mowing in organic orchards as a biodiversity enhancement measure (BIOFRUITNET Practice Abstract). Creator(s): Oeser, Niklas. Issuing Organisation(s): FÖKO - Fördergemeinschaft Ökologischer Obstbau. Biofruitnet Practice Abstract, no. 034. (2022)

[thumbnail of Alternate mowing in organic orchards as a biodiversity enhancement measure] PDF - Published Version - English (Alternate mowing in organic orchards as a biodiversity enhancement measure)
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[thumbnail of Pratique de la fauche alternée en vergers biologiques pour favoriser la biodiversité] PDF - Published Version - French/Francais (Pratique de la fauche alternée en vergers biologiques pour favoriser la biodiversité)
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[thumbnail of Alternierendes Mähen fördert die Artenvielfalt] PDF - Published Version - German/Deutsch (Alternierendes Mähen fördert die Artenvielfalt)
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Document available online at: https://orgprints.org/44994


Summary

The workload decreases, and therefore it saves time and costs. Alternating mulching preserves the driving lanes and increases the diversity of other indifferent plant and animal species in the orchard.
Practical recommendation
• Alternate mowing is an easy-to-implement measure to enhance natural antagonists against relevant pests in fruit growing, such as aphids, summer fruit tortrix etc.
• Apply alternate mowing between April and August, depending on weather conditions. The most important period is spring.
• Mow or roll the driving lanes every 4-6 weeks. Exclude at least every second lane and apply a time-shifted mowing in these, so there are various grass length stages in the orchards.
• Grass cuttings can be mulched into the tree rows to suppress competing weeds.
• Keep caution to vole management. The higher-grown driving lanes can offer better coverage for voles against natural antagonists and can lead to a higher reproduction rate. To lower this risk, consider consistently mulching only the outer lanes of the orchards short.
• Suitable techniques are all commonly used mowing and mulching devices for orchards. Well proven are low-profile sickle mulchers and flail mulchers. Rollers can also be used.


EPrint Type:Practice tool
What problem does the tool address?:Beneficial insects often lack enough food supply and nesting spots in orchards. Most of the measures to enhance biodiversity also require investment for implementation.
What solution does the tool offer?:Alternate mowing is a cheap, easy and fast implementable measure to raise food and nesting supply of natural antagonists.
Country:Germany
Type of Practice Tool:Practice abstracts
Keywords:Plant protection, Pest control, Biological pest control, Biodiversity
Agrovoc keywords:
Language
Value
URI
English
plant protection
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_5978
English
pest control
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_5726
English
biological pest control
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_330635
English
biodiversity
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_33949
Subjects: Environmental aspects > Biodiversity and ecosystem services
Crop husbandry > Production systems > Fruit and berries
Research affiliation: European Union > Horizon 2020 > Biofruitnet
Germany > Fördergemeinschaft Ökologischer Obstbau - FÖKO
Horizon Europe or H2020 Grant Agreement Number:862850
Related Links:https://organic-farmknowledge.org/tool/44994, https://biofruitnet.eu
Project ID:ofk
Deposited By: Basler, Andreas
ID Code:44994
Deposited On:24 Dec 2022 12:34
Last Modified:18 Apr 2023 11:48
Document Language:English, German/Deutsch, French/Francais
Status:Published

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