Date of Award:

12-2011

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Plants, Soils, and Climate

Committee Chair(s)

Brent L. Black

Committee

Brent L. Black

Committee

Corey V. Ransom

Committee

Jennifer R. Reeve

Committee

Grant E. Cardon

Abstract

Managing fruit orchards involves both the management of the orchard trees, and the orchard floor. Orchard floor management is vital to tree health, yield and fruit quality. Current standard management practices include maintaining a vegetation free tree row and a grass-covered alleyway. This system effectively controls weeds and creates a favorable environment for the fruit trees. However, limitations to standard orchard floor practices are that the grass alleyway provides no nutrient benefit, and current practices do not readily lend themselves to organic management. Alternative in-row and alleyway systems are requisite to creating improved orchard floor management systems.

Three different approaches were used to investigate alternative orchard floor management strategies, including: alternative in-row weed control with combinations of mulch and organic herbicides, alternative alleyway management with legume cover crops, and combinations of in-row and alleyway alternative strategies.

The best organic in-row weed control was accomplished with combinations of straw and acetic acid (vinegar). However, this management approach was not economically viable at current costs of labor and supplies, and current fruit prices. The alternative alleyway treatments of alfalfa and alfalfa clover contributed the most above-ground biomass and nitrogen, but consumed 45% more water than the conventional grass alleyway. Among in-row and alleyway alternative combinations, treatments that experienced the most competition from weeds resulted in lower yields.

Commercial orchard managers in the Intermountain West need information on optimum orchard floor management for their unique environment. Results from these studies were integrated into a series of grower recommendations that are contained in Chapter 5. Alternative orchard floor management strategies that improve orchard sustainability provide immediate benefits to fruit industry employees and businesses. Long-term benefits will also impact fruit consumers as well as urban and sub-urban neighbors that share the environment.

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Comments

Publication made available electronically December 21, 2011.

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