Survey
of Organic Apple Orchard Soils
Kessel, C.1, Voroney, P.2,
J. Gardner, J.1, and H. Martin, H.1
Over the past several growing seasons, a number of organic apple producers
have observed a decline in fruit yield and tree growth in their orchards.
Observations included early defoliation of trees, smaller fruit and
reduced yields. Soil samples were collected during the 2005 growing
season from affected organic orchards and conventional orchards.
The purpose of the survey was to see if there were any significant
crop nutritional challenges based on the soil analysis. Soil samples
were collected from 16 organic and 2 conventional orchards of varying
ages.
Samples were analyzed for ammonium-, nitrate- and total nitrogen, pH,
phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, copper, zinc, manganese,
total-, inorganic- and organic carbon, and cation exchange capacity.
1 Dept. of Land Resource Science, University
of Guelph
2 Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and
Rural Affairs, Canada
