부산대학교 도서관

Aims: Organically-certified orchard floor management was assessed for its ability to improve soil fertility and biological activity and apple orchard performance. Methods: 'Ambrosia'/B9 apple was maintained for the first six growing seasons with four orchard floor treatments, including 1) annual compost application; 2) in-row application of mown alfalfa grown between the rows; 3) bark mulch plus in-row application of mown hay; and 4) black plastic mulch. Results: Soil collected from 0 to 10 cm indicated high soil organic matter and exchangeable K were measurable for all treatments by the second year. After 6 years, highest organic matter, total-, particulate- and mineral-C were associated with soil beneath the bark mulch treatment which also had most vigorous trees, decreased leaf N and elevated leaf P and K. Addition of alfalfa and bark mulch were equally effective at maintaining high exchangeable K and soil phosphatase enzymes, high total and particulate-N by the fourth year. Conclusions: Despite measurable improvements in soil properties among treatments, fruit yield and quality were minimally affected by management implying no limitations to adoption of any of the assessed strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]