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Forschungsstelle
BLW
Projektnummer
07.12_1
Projekttitel
BIO-INCROP - Innovative cropping techniques to increase soil health in organic fruit tree crops
Projekttitel Englisch
BIO-INCROP - Innovative cropping techniques to increase soil health in organic fruit tree crops

Texte zu diesem Projekt

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Erfasste Texte


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Kurzbeschreibung
(Englisch)

Multiannual crops such as fruit tree crops are affected by soil sickness or yield decline. “Replant disease” is the main biological component of this problem due to the eco-functional intensification of growing areas specialising in fruit production. The severity of this etiology is mediated by plant vigour, physiological state of plants and a-biotic factors, therefore its occurrence is actually an indicator for fruit growers of the degraded status of soil’s biological processes on his crops.
The project aims to develop innovative management options able to increase soil biological functioning, focusing the attention on soil suppressiveness: the natural ability of soil to control soilborne pathogenic agents of replant disease. The activities are planned on two target crops: citrus and apple, representing two main agro-environments of Europe. Cover crops taken from local germoplasm collections or from the natural vegetative covers and recycled high quality organic materials are the natural resources upon which the project focuses, in order to develop innovative cropping practices which will enable soil biodiversity preservation and exploit its biological features.
The early evaluation of plant response and the use of advanced methodologies to evaluate microbial response toward the inputs are the strategies used to identify natural resources and techniques capable of increasing microbial biomass and diversity and selectively affecting beneficial and pathogenic microbial populations. The resulting innovative cropping practices are also easily transferred to other crops such as stone fruits and strawberries. Each country’s activities are planned in close cooperation with regional agricultural research centres working on organic farming and laboratories with specific expertise. The dissemination plan of the BIO-INCROP project should increase grower’s awareness of soil biodiversity as a resource for developing new technologies.

Kunden/Berichterstattung
(Deutsch)

Der Schlussbericht liegt dem BLW vor.

Webseite: www.bio-incrop.org

Diverse Publikationen wurden in landwirtschaftlichen und wissenschaftlichen Zeitschriften veröffentlicht, und das Projekt wurde an Konferenzen vorgestellt.
Publikationen / Ergebnisse
(Englisch)

The project comprised four Work Packages:

  • WP 1: Elucidation of soil microbial components involved in replant disease
    The biotic origin of replant disease in apple orchards was confirmed. Among fungal endophytes isolated from apple roots, Pythium sp. and Cylindrocarpon-like fungi were the main pathogens responsible for replant disease.
    In the citrus cropping systems, Phytophthora citrophtora was found to be the main pathogen. However, the lack of soil organic matter was found to be the main factor influencing citrus orchard decline.
  • WP 2: Searching for innovative agronomic options to induce soil suppressiveness in organic fruit tree orchards
    Champost, compost derived from mushroom substrate, proved to be the most beneficial organic amendment to promote plant growth under replant conditions. The increase in soil biodiversity brought about by cover crops can promote the root colonization by beneficial fungi and microbial communities.

  • WP 3: Survey on available low input tools for controlling replant disease
    The effectiveness of several biological plant protection products commercialized as control agents against replant disease was tested in greenhouses. For apples, Mycostop® and Micosat F® gave the best results, although the effectiveness of the biological products was inconsistent. For citrus, the most effective product was ISR200 ®, a mixture of microorganisms and biologically active ingredients. Phytophthora citrophtora was generally reduced by all of the tested biological products. However, type and condition of the replanted soil strongly affected the effectiveness of the products.

  • WP 4: Innovative management options for increasing functional soil biology in organic fruit tree crops in Mediterranean and temperate growing areas of Europe
    In field trials, combinations of biological products, composted substrates and agrotechnical applications were tested.
    In apple orchards, Champost combined with Ekoprop nemax®, Mycostop® or Micosat F® gave the best result in plant growth. When used as a pre-plant treatment, these combinations can help overcome replant disease. Steam application was found to be a promising non-chemical option to control replant disease. The effect was increased when steaming was combined with other treatments such as calcium oxide amendment.
    In citrus orchards, the field trials were focused on counterbalancing losses of soil microbial biomass and diversity, which are common problems in southern European agroecosystems. Solarisation, organic amendments and cover crops as pre-plant treatments did not reduce the occurance of Phytophthora citrophtora. A large buildup of organic substance seems necessary to induce soil suppressiveness.