Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
slowly and is best used as part of a soil-building program, not as a quick fix
for a nitrogen deficiency.
Fruit pomaces.
Grape, apple, and other fruit pomaces (spelled incorrectly as
“pomades” in the U.S. National Organic Program) are the pulpy materials left
after the juice has been extracted from the fruits. Pomaces may be nearly
dry or wet, depending on the press. They can be applied directly to the soil,
although the relatively large amounts of water make handling and apply-
ing the materials somewhat difficult and transportation over great distances
expensive. The fruit odor and sugar will also attract flies and other insects,
possibly including fruit pests. Where facilities and equipment are available,
composting pomaces along with other organic materials can be an effective
practice to recycle orchard wastes and create nutrient-rich compost. In an
orchard operation where cider or juice is extracted, an excellent practice is
to apply the pomace waste to the orchard floor, preferably after composting.
Granite dust.
This is sometimes used as a source of potassium (see page
Green manure crops.
These crops are not grown to be harvested for human
consumption but are incorporated into the soil as part of a soil-building pro-
gram. As we discussed in earlier chapters, growing and incorporating green
manure crops before planting an orchard is an excellent strategy for adding
organic matter and nitrogen to the soil. Used properly, green manure crops
are also important in reducing weed problems. Green manure crops are at the
heart of organic annual vegetable and grain production. In vegetable or grain
systems, once a cash crop is harvested, you can plant and turn in a green
manure crop before replanting the cash crop. The use of green manure crops
in established, long-lived perennial crops is more challenging because you
are not removing and replanting your cash crop frequently. In some orchard
systems, green manure crops can be used as annual alley crops or as in-row
companion plantings. We will discuss these strategies in
chapter 9.
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