ISHS Acta Horticulturae 347: II International Symposium on Integrated Fruit Production
DEVELOPMENT OF IFP SYSTEMS FOR APPLE: SURVEY OF THREE YEARS RESEARCH |
| Author: | A.M.E. Schenk |
| Abstract:
Social and political pressures are forcing fruit growers to limit agrochemical inputs by adopting Integrated Fruit Production (IFP). This is defined as an economical method of fruit growing aimed at safeguarding, in the long term, public health and the environment. The available components and systems to sustain IFP in the Netherlands are discussed. The systems research concerns a recently initiated project to develop and compare three techniques of fruit growing. These are the current method of production and two systems of integrated production with decreasing inputs of pesticides, fertilizers and growth regulators; these last two methods are achieved by using biological, mechanical and chemical measures. The results of this systems research are discussed. Production, tree growth, use of pesticides, occurrence of diseases, pests and their natural enemies have now been recorded for three years and give us an idea of the possibilities for decreasing the use and dependence upon pesticides or inorganic chemical nutrients in apple growing. Problems encountered in implementing IFP and their possible solutions are discussed. | |
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