Abstract
The living mulch is one of the orchard floor weed control option suitable for the organic production, which especially adds orchard biodiversity. The covering plant
competes with the fruit tree, what can result in the reduced growth and yield. At the Fruit Experimental Station of the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, in a young apple orchard mulched with blue fescue (Festuca ovina L.), the growth, cropping, and fruit quality were evaluated. In spring 2009, trees of the ‘Ligol’ cv. budded on the M.9, M.26, and P 60 rootstocks were planted, and in the following four years (2010–2013) blue fescue was being sown in the tree rows. Prior to the introduction of the living mulch, a herbicide fallow was maintained. The sowing of blue fescue as early as in the second year following the tree planting caused a significant decrease of the total yield per tree obtained in the first four years of the cropping. On the other hand, it contributed to an improved
coloration of the fruits. Postponing of the cover plant sowing until the third and fourth year following the orchard establishment mitigated the negative influences of the living mulch on the tree growth and yielding, as well as on the fruit quality. As in addition blue fescue satisfactorily protects the soil from weed occurrence, its application in form of a late-sown living mulch could be considered as a promising alternative to the herbicide fallow.
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