초식, 포식, 분해 등 생태학적 서비스를 제공하는 지표 배회성 절지동물은 사과원의 중요한 구성 요소이며, 이들의 군집에 영향을 미치는 잡초는 유기재배와 관행재배 사과원에서 다르게 관리된다. 잡초 관리와 관련된 과수원 관리가 지표 배회성 절지동물의 풍부도와 다양도에 미치는 영향을 평가하기 위해 3년간 연구를 수행하였다. 대부분의 절지동물은 상위분류군과 섭식 기능군으로 분류하였으며, 딱정벌레류는 종 수준으로 분류하였다. 지표 배회성 절지동물의 주요 우점군은 딱정벌레목으로 나타났다. 초식자와 포식자의 풍부도는 유기재배 사과원에서 높은 결과를 보였으며, 딱정벌레류의 풍부도와 다양도 또한 관행재배 과원보다 유기재배 사과원에서 높은 결과를 보였다. 거미목, 딱정벌레목 또는 딱정벌레류의 풍부도는 잡초 관리 빈도와 음의 상관관계를 보였다. 지표 배회성 절지동물은 농업 시스템보다 잡초 관리에 영향을 더 많이 받는 것으로 나타났다.

This studies was conducted to compare functional diversity of terrestrial arthropods in commercial apple orchards under conventional and organic practices. We collected terrestiral arthropods using pitfall traps in four conventional and seven organic apple orchards from April to October, 2012-2014. Sampled arthropods were identified at the species level and then classified three functional groups (detritivores, herbivores and beneficial arthropods included pollinators, parasitoids and predators). Biodiversity was analyzed with species richness, abundance and shannon index for each group and compared between conventional and organic orchards. In results, species richness of detritivores and benefical arthropods were higher in organic orchards than in conventional orchards (detritivores: t=-2.68, df=9, P=0.03; beneficial arthropods: t=-3.98, df=9, P=0.003). Organic orchards showed significant difference at abundance of beneficial arthropods (t=-3.33, df=9, P=0.008) and higher shannon index at detritivores (t=-2.36, df=9, P=0.04) than conventional orchards. However, all biodiversity indices of herbivores were not significantly different between conventional and organic orchards at 95% confidence level.

This studies was conducted to define community structure and diversity of epigeal spiders in apple orchards under different farming practices (organic and conventional). In 11 commercial apple orchards, epigeal spider community structure was investigated during 2012-2014 (3 orchards, 2012; 3 orchards, 2013, 5 orchards, 2014). Epigeal spiders were collected by pitfall traps from April to October, 2012 in Danyang-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do; 2013 in Muju-gun, Jeollabuk-do; 2014 in Cheongsong-gun and Uiseong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. Sampled spiders were identified to the species level. Biodiversity was analyzed with species richness (total numbers of spider species), abundance (total numbers of individuals) and Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H΄) for each site and compared between organic and conventional orchards. In all regions, abundance of the spider communities were relatively higher in organic orchards than in conventional orchards. But, no significant difference in species richness and specie diversity (H΄) between organic and conventional orchards. Lycosidae was the most dominant family in all orchards regardless farming practices. However, Linyphiidae dominated in organic orchards only. The most dominant species were Pardosa laura (Lycosidae), Erigone koshiensis (Linyphiidae) in organic, Piratula procurvus (Lycosidae) in conventional orchards.

복숭아순나방과 복숭아심식나방의 방제를 위해 교미교란제 MD-IKR (Isomate-KR)과 MD-CR (Confuser-R)의 효과를 무농약 유기재배 사과원에서 평가하였고 관행방제 사과원과 비교하였다. 2011년 칠곡지역의 복숭아순나방에 대한 두 종의 교미교란제에 대한 교미저해율은 99.8%였고, 상대적으로 청송지역의 교미저해율이 각각 99.8과 92.8%로 칠곡지역과 차이가 있었다. 2012년 칠곡지역의 교미저해율은 각각 92.4와 96.7%였다. 청송지역에서 교미저해율은 99.6%로 가장 높은 교미저해율을 보였다. 2011년 2012년의 복숭아심식나방에 대한 교미저해율은 두 교미교란제 모두 100%로 높게 나타났다. 두 교미교란제는 복숭아순나방과 복숭아심식나방이 방제효과에 대하여 무방제구 대비 방제효과가 월등하였고, 관행방제와 비교했을 때 통계적으로 유의성 없이 방제효과가 대등하였다. 두 종의 교미교란제와 관행재배구의 새순과 과실피해율은 무방제구 대비 유의성있는 방제효과를 보였다. 두 종의 교미교란제 간에는 효력의 차이가 없어 MD-IKR이 MD-CR을 충분히 대체할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

Predatory gamasid mite (Acari: Mesostigmata) is living in soil and litter. They feed on nematode, collembolan and insect larvae. This research compared diversity of gamasid mite in organic and conventional apple orchards. Soil samples were collected in spring season of 2011 to 2012 (5 for each orchard system). Fifteen families, 54 species and 15 families, 50 species were collected from organic and conventional orchards, respectively. In total 18 families and 77 species of gamasid mite were collected. Shannon Diversity was average 2.5 in organic orchard and 2.3 in conventional orchard. Major dominant species was Eugamasus fujisanus (Parasitidae) in organic orchard and Uropoda hokkaidoensis (Uropodidae) in conventional orchard. Parasitidae and Uropodidae were preferred in soil surface, large soil pores and decaying organic material litter. Future, more research on composition of gamasid mite, biotic and abiotic factors in orchard system are demanded.

Soil biodiversity is important for proper functioning of soil ecosystem. Soil microarthropods play roles in cycling of nutrients and decomposition of organic matter. We compared the diversity of oribatid mites in organically and conventionally managed apple orchards. Sampling were done from 10 orchards; 5 from organic and 5 from conventional, in spring season of 2011 and 2012. Species richness and abundance were higher in conventional (25, 4,222/m2) than organic orchard (21, 1,906/m2). Diversity index was higher in conventional than organic orchard. Common dominant species present in orchards were Perglumna duplicata nipponica and Scheloribates latipes. Only observed in apple orchards were Pilogalumna tenuiclava, Protoribates agricola, Hypochthonius luteus, Punctoribates manzanoensis, Punctoribates sphaericus, and Scheloribates corpusculum. In organic orchard, Suctobelbella naginata and Tectocepheus cuspidentatus were only present. Pergalumna altera, Galumna longiporosa, and Protoribates lophotrichus, Galumna sp. were found only in conventionally managed apple orchard. Further study on the functional aspects and association with other soil biotic and abiotic factors are demanding.

본 시험은 유기농 사과과원에서 생육초기인 5월과 6월에 ‘후지’ 사과나무 주위를 청결상태로 유지했을 때 잎과 토양의 무기성분 및 수체생장과 수확량에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 조기예초구 (5월과 6월에 예초)는 관행예초구(6월말 한번 예초)보다 높은 예초량 발생으로 수체에 높은 무기성분을 공급하였지만 토양과 잎의 칼륨함량을 증가시킨 것 이외에는 다른 무기성분에는 별다른 영향이 없었다. 하지만 엽내 칼륨은 관행재배에서 보고한 기준치보다 낮은 농도를 나타내었다. 두 처리 모두 재배 중기까지 토양에 약 200 g 전후의 전질소를 공급하여서 8년생 사과나무가 요구로 하는 질소량을 충족시켰다. 조기예초구는 수체의 수관증가와 원면적을 증가시킴으로써 과실의 수량을 관행예초구 보다 증가시켰다.

Correlations of soil and leaf nutrients and growth of young ‘Enterprise’ apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) trees were analyzed with tree damage, such as Japanese beetle (JB; Popillia japonica Newman)-damaged leaves, vole damage to trunk, tree mortality, and weed density in a certified organic orchard in warm and humid environment of Southern USA. Interaction treatments of four mulch and three fertilizers were applied around trees as follows: mow-and-blow (MB), shredded paper (SP), wood chips (WC), and green compost (GC) as a mulch, with no fertilizer (NF), poultry litter (PL), and commercial organic fertilizer (CF) as a fertilizer applied in April. Vole damage to trunk and weed density were little correlated with mineral nutrients and tree growth. JB-damaged leaves were highly stimulated to 26.5% in GC-treated plots while tree mortality were increased by MB treatments. Biomass production per tree was approximately 3,700 g on the WC- and GC-treated plots, which was two times higher than those values observed on the other two mulch plots. JB-damaged leaves tended to get worse when nutrients in soil and leaf increased through the correlation analysis, with a strong positive relationship (r2 = 0.585) observed between JB-damaged leaves and trunk cross sectional area, a vegetative indicator. Tree mortality was more negatively associated with nutrient contents and growth of trees than those of soil nutrients. Wood chips was considered for a local organic mulch materials to increase organic matter contents and to produce healthy young trees in Southern USA, with control insect, such as beetle, and vole density in an orchard habitat.

This study was conducted to select native ground cover plants for sod culture in an organic apple orchard by estimating the effect of three native ground cover plants, Glechoma hederacea, Thymus magnus, and Ixeris stolonifera, on the soil coverage, time-periodic weed occurrence, fruit characteristics, and soil chemical properties. The plant height of G. hederace, T. magnus and I. stolonifera were 15.0 ㎝, 13.4 ㎝ and 7.2 ㎝, respectively. The dry weight of G. hederace, T. magnus and I. stolonifera were 463 ㎏/10a, 247 ㎏/10a, and 255 ㎏/10a, respectively. The plant height and dry weight of G. hederacea were higher than in the other species. T. magnus and I. stolonifera having relatively lower soil cover rate during their life cycle produced a lot of weeds in the orchard as compared with the control. In contrast, G. hederacea showed 100 percentage of ground cover in the first year, and maintained high percentage of ground cover in the growing season of ‘Tsugaru’ apple for another 2 years. When the soil was covered with G. hederacea in the orchard for 3 years, the amount of weed was only 114 ㎏/10a and number of weeding was also reduced about 33% compared with control as well as the other species. There were no differences in the tree growth and fruit characteristics between the native ground cover plants and the control; however, positive effects of native ground cover plants on soil chemical properties were found. In G. hederacea, available P2O4content in soils remarkably increased and was a significant difference among native species. In addition, cation (Ca, Mg and K) content in soils increased by 39% in Ca, 6% in Mg, and 11% in K at G. hederacea compared with control. These results suggest that G. hederacea could be advantageous in terms of reducing the amount of herbicide applied and the labor required for weed control, and controlling soil chemical properties; therefore, it is a good candidate for sod culture in an organic apple orchard.

An organic apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) orchard was established to study the interaction effects of ground cover management systems (GMS) and nutrient sources (NS) on soil and tree nutrient status and tree growth. Trees received one of four GMS: 1) green compost (GC), 2) wood chips (WC), 3) shredded paper (SP), and 4) mowand- blow (MB). Across all GMS, one of three NS was applied: A) a commercial organic ferlilizer (CF), B) poultry Iitter (PL) ， and C) control (NF). Overall, GMS had greater effects on the variables than did NS. GC mulch supplied greater nutrients, followed by WC, SP, and MB mulches. SP trees had lower foliar [N] in the first two years than the GC and WC trees. GC- and WC-treated trees had larger trunk cross sectional area than the SP and MB trees.

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of organic fertilizers and mulches on the growth and CO₂ assimilation in MM.106 apple trees. Growth and CO₂ assimilation of MM.106 apple trees grown in a greenhouse were affected by the nutrient concentrations and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) ratio in the raw materials of organic fertilizers and mulches. The optimum C:N ratios, which makes microorganism convert the organic N into the inorganic N, were obtained in the organic fertilizer, poultry litter, green compost, and grass clippings, resulting in increasing single shoot height, SPAD, and CO₂ assimilation. The SPAD and CO₂ assimilation were affected by the treatments 5 weeks after the treatments, and then the tree growth was affected by the treatments 6 weeks later. The most efficient tree growth and development were observed in the 10 to 15 ㎎ㆍ㎏⁻¹ of the inorganic N in a soil, and the N was strongly related to the tree growth and development.

During 2005~2009, current status on the occurrence and the management of the major disease, insect and mite pests were investigated in the non-chemical or organic cultured apple orchards in Korea. Numbers of certified organic or non-chemical apple orchards increased from 14 in 2005 to 78 in 2008. Severe damages on leaves and fruits were caused by the several diseases such as marssonina blotch, bitter rot, white rot, sooty blotch and flyspeck, and the several insect pests such as apple leaf-curling aphid, woolly apple aphid, oriental fruit moth and peach fruit moth on the almost certified organic or non-chemical pest control orchards. About 10 and 18 environmental-friendly materials were used to control diseases and insect or mite pests, respectively. But, lime sulfur and bordeaux mixture to diseases and machine oil, plant oil mixed with egg yolk, and pheromone mating disruptions to insect pests were effective under the adequate conditions.