Material currently thought of as garbage may be the answer to preventing root disease in cherry orchards without the use of fumigation, according to new research from UBC Okanagan.

PhD student Tristan Watson, co-supervisors adjunct professor Tom Forge and Biology Professor Louise Nelson, and colleagues at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada91裸聊视频檚 Summerland Research and Development Centre (AAFC-SuRDC) recently published research examining how agricultural waste compost and chipped bark mulch can help improve growth of newly-planted sweet cherry trees and protect them from replant disease.

91裸聊视频淩eplant disease91裸聊视频攖he poor growth of fruit trees planted into soil previously used for tree-fruit production91裸聊视频攑resents a significant barrier to establishing productive orchards on old orchard soil,91裸聊视频� explains Forge, who conducts research at AAFC-SuRDC. 91裸聊视频淣ewly planted trees impacted by this disease often show reduced shoot growth, root necrosis, and a reduction in root biomass.91裸聊视频�

Over time, populations of several types of soil-borne pests including plant-parasitic nematodes91裸聊视频攎icroscopic roundworms91裸聊视频攂uild up under established orchard trees, explains Watson. Then, when an old orchard is pulled out to replant a newer variety or different type of fruit crop, those soil pests can severely affect the young trees. Left untreated, the disease can delay fruit production, decrease quality, and reduce yield, thus preventing an orchard from reaching an acceptable level of productivity.

91裸聊视频淚n the past, chemical fumigants were often used to kill the pathogenic organisms in the soil before new trees are planted,91裸聊视频� he says. 91裸聊视频淭hese fumigants are meant to kill everything in the soil, and unfortunately this includes beneficial micro-organisms.91裸聊视频�

During his research in a former apple orchard, Watson used agricultural waste compost, and chipped bark mulch, on newly-planted cherry trees. The compost was applied to the planting row of some cherry trees as they were planted, and for other plots of trees in the study high carbon organic mulch was applied to the surface after the trees were planted.

Watson says the organic applications91裸聊视频攂oth the compost and the bark mulch, but especially the combined treatment91裸聊视频攕ignificantly reduced infestation of the cherry roots by root lesion nematodes.

Most importantly, there were corresponding increases in early tree growth that have continued three years into the research.

91裸聊视频淭he recycling of waste is key to this research,91裸聊视频� says Watson. 91裸聊视频淭here is a definite reduction in the pest population that continued into three growing seasons. Replant disease is an issue around the world for all tree fruits and this is a great option for conventional and organic farmers.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淥verall, using compost and bark mulch show potential as alternatives to fumigation for improving early growth of sweet cherry trees in pathogen-infested soil91裸聊视频� he says. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 hoping the research can be expanded to wine grapes and other tree fruits including peaches, pears and plums. 91裸聊视频�

Watson91裸聊视频檚 research was recently published in Applied Soil Ecology and was supported with funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Agricultural Innovations Program, the BC Fruit Growers91裸聊视频� Association, and the BC Cherry Association.