Dynamic sod mulching and use of recycled amendments to increase biodiversity, resilience and sustainability of intensive organic apple orchards and vineyards (DOMINO)

• Research unit: FOAG
• Project number: 07.12_12

Key words (German)

Obstgärten, Bio-Obstgärten, Pflanzenschutz, Düngung, Unkrautbekämpfung, Biodiversität, Weinberge

Key words (English)

orchards, organic fruit orchards, Crop protection, fertilization, weed control, biodiversity, vineyards

Key words (French)

vergers, vergers fruitiers biologiques, protection des cultures, fertilisation, lutte contre les mauvaises herbes, biodiversité, vignobles

Key words (Italian)

Frutteti, frutteti biologici, protezione delle piante, concimazione, controllo delle infestanti, biodiversità, vigneti

Short description (English)

Crop protection and management, including fertilization and weed control, requires high inputs in intensive organic fruit orchards, thus leading to increasing costs and undesired ecological impacts. To fulfil crop nutrient demands, while maintaining soil ecosystem services, is difficult with the fertilizers currently available because of possible nutrient imbalances and low nutrient efficiency. On the other hand, to reduce inputs might threaten crop production and quality.
The project “DOMINO” aims at improving the long-term sustainability and the ecological foot print of intensive organic fruit orchards by a) introducing a second cash crop as stoloniferous living mulch in the row, b) introducing new fertilizers (locally available recycled organic materials, e.g. composted waste and biogas digestates) and legume mulches in the row and c) by using transitory overhead covering for crop protection against pests. In addition, the strategy will include the introduction of microbial-based products and the overall adaption of orchard management to promote ecosystem services. Nutrient budgets, soil parameters, root development, plant physiological activity, occurrence of pests and diseases, yield and fruit quality will be evaluated. Based on the research outcomes new strategies for fertilization management and crop protection will be developed in a regionally adapted multi-stakeholder approach with organic fruit growers.
This innovative management will maintain and enhance soil fertility, enhance inputs efficiency, improve plant nutrition, fruit quality and biodiversity and help to ensure the ecological and economical sustainability of organic orchards. We expect that the increase of overall biodiversity will make these intensive cropping systems more resilient, will reduce the dependency on external inputs and will improve the carbon balance.

Short description (French)

Le projet de recherche DOMINO est l’un des consortiums de recherche de l’ERA-Net Cofund Calls, avec treize partenaires internationaux. Il vise à améliorer la durabilité à long terme et l’empreinte écologique des vergers écologiques intensifs moyennant i) l’introduction d’une deuxième culture utilisée comme paillis vivant stolonifère sur le rang, ii) l’introduction de nouveaux engrais (matériaux organiques recyclés disponibles localement, p. ex. déchets compostés et résidus de fermentation provenant d’installations de biogaz) et de paillis à base de légumineuses utilisé sur le rang et iii) par l’utilisation d’un couvert provisoire pour protéger les végétaux contre les bioagresseurs.

Publications / Results (English)

CORE Organic Cofund projects (au.dk)