Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 9
Orchard Floor Management
CHAPTER CONTENTS
Orchard floor management lies at the heart of organic fruit production and
is the key difference between conventional and organic growers. It includes
all aspects of weed control, fertilization, pH management, management of
ground- and soil-dwelling beneficial organisms, and companion plantings.
Simply exchanging conventional pesticides for those approved for certified
organic growers does not make an orchard organic and seldom gives great
results.
History of Orchard Management
In the not-distant past, this chapter would have been titled “Weed Manage-
ment” and may have contained a few short sections on soil structure and
erosion. Today the situation is far more complex and integrated.
Prior to the development of tractors and herbicides, orchards were com-
plex ecosystems that included fruit trees, often a wide assortment of under-
story plants, and an even greater assortment of micro- and macroorganisms.
