"Semi-extensive" orchards as a model for sustainable fruit growing
Résumé
A national programme has been set up in 2001 with the financial support of the French Ministry of Agriculture in order to assess the possibilities of managing low-input organic apple and pear orchards. It aims at knowing to what extent we can decrease production costs, without affecting yield and fruit quality. Four organic orchards were planted in 2002 in different pedo-climatic conditions. Different factors were controlled: cultivars/rootstocks, low planting densities, protection strategies based on a restricted use of inputs and reduced pruning interventions. This network permits to get a better knowledge of the studied cultivars and their suitability for a low-input agriculture under local conditions.