Published in Scientific Papers. Series B, Horticulture, Volume LXII
Written by Andreea BUJDEI, Roxana CICEOI, Florin STĂNICĂ
In the present study, the behaviour of the ʻGalaʼ, ʻJonagoldʼ, ʻGolden deliciousʼ and ʻGranny Smithʼ apple varieties, grown in an organic orchard in Arad County, Romania is presented. The intensive orchard was planted in 2010, on 3.275 ha with apple trees, grafted on M9 rootstock, using 2.6 m x 0.8 m planting distances and 3.5 m high concrete poles with 5 lines of wires, as trellis system. The total yield and productivity of the apple varieties are presented and compared with the initial data estimated in the business plan of the structural funds' project. 2017 was the first year in which the total harvested production surpassed the estimation from the business plan, seven years after planting, but the overall real total production was still 68.1 tones, lower than previsioned. Fruit quality was reduced due to scab attack symptoms, sunburns, cracking and low calibre. Even so, by using intelligent marketing strategies as “buy locally” and “pick it yourself” besides the organic distribution chains, the economic losses were diminished. Considering our results, we do not recommend the cultivation of high disease sensitive apple varieties in organic orchards in areas with high infection pressure and without an efficient phytosanitary protection. The cultivation of scab resistant varieties and a proper orchard management could be the solution for the development of the organic apple production.
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