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| Apple Polycutlure vs Apple Monoculture Study |
During this post, I'll present the trial garden and trial design, cover what we will record, and take a look at some of the shortcomings of the study.
So, let's start with a look at the garden where we'll be growing the trials.
Trial Garden Overview
Location: Shipka, Bulgaria, Southeast Europe
Köppen Climate Classification - Dfc borderline Cfb
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5b (conservative) - 7a (risky)
Latitude: 42°
Elevation: 565 m
Average Annual Rainfall: 610 mm
Prevailing Wind: NW & NE
Garden Area - 352m2
Garden Location on our Project Map - See here
We'll be growing four trials on the plot as seen in the below image. We chose this plot as each trial will more or less experience equal environmental conditions. There is a very mild slope on the site from N - S and no slope W-E.
We'll be growing four trials on the plot as seen in the below image. We chose this plot as each trial will more or less experience equal environmental conditions. There is a very mild slope on the site from N - S and no slope W-E.
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| Perennial Polyculture Research Garden - Orexis |
The plant we chose to feature in the trial is Apple - Malus pumila ‘Red Cap’
Here's some info on this cultivar
- Origin: A mutation of a spur Red Delicious with a sweet taste and a crisp texture.
- Growth: Strong growth, develops more shoots in comparison with other spur mutants of Red Delicious.
- Fruit Colour: Ripens with a full deep dark red colour.
- Fruit Size: Big, elongated fruits.
- Fruit Storage: Good, similar to other clones of Red Delicious.
- Taste: The fruit is sweet, with crunchy and firm flesh, which becomes softer during long storage.
- Flowering: Early to midseason bloom. It blooms relatively early, but for a long period. Good pollinator cultivars include Evereste, Idared and Golden Delicious.
- Production: Early and regular, at the end of September and beginning of October.
The Four Trials
We'll be growing 4 trials with each trial planted in a 56m2 area. The trials will include 2 polycultures and 2 monocultures as shown below.
Polyculture 1 - Suitable for broadscale application- Apple planted with two Nitrogen fixing shrubs (Elaeagnus umbellata) and bulbs at the base of the tree. The spacing of the shrubs and bulbs is such that a compact utility tractor can operate within the orchard, leaving two strips of wildflowers between tree and shrub rows.
You can find an example of how this polyculture would look within an orchard setting in the below image.
Polyculture 2 - Intensive polyculture. only really practical for gardens or small market gardens, schools, parks or small scale landscaping in general. It will be high maintenance.
Monoculture Organic - Apple cultivation with the full works of organic synthesized proprietary products applied (all recommended fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and fungicides).
Monoculture Conventional - Apple cultivation with the full works of non-organic synthesized proprietary products applied (all recommended fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and fungicides).
What we will Record
Our project mission is to develop and promote practices that can produce food and other resources for humans while enhancing biodiversity, so it's important to us to record biodiversity within the trials. We'll attempt to do this via simple botanical and invertebrate surveys.
What we will record - Botany - On the first week of each month during April - September, we’ll photograph all flowering vegetation within each trial plot, identify species and record on sheets.
- Sweep netting - 10 mins - Ground/grass layer
- Vegetation Beating - 10 mins - Tree/shrub and herb layer
- 4 Pitfall traps set on Thursday and emptied on Friday.
The number of unique species identified will be recorded for each plot.
The below image indicates (in greenish grey) the area of each plot that will be mown.
Growth will be recorded by the girth of stem at the base and new growth at end of the season, the no. of flowers in the spring, and the weight of the fruits in the autumn.
What we will Record - Management - Polyculture 1 and 2 - Time and Cost to Manage each Trial
Fertility - Apply 20 L of compost to the surface of the planting area every spring for 4 years.
Mulching - Apply a thick mulch (10 - 20 cm deep) when the ground is thoroughly soaked and before the dry season begins for 4 - 5 years.
Irrigation - Applying approx 20 L of water every 20 days without rain (or when the soil is dry below the surface).
Weed/Mow - Mow area every 4th week of the month April - September.
Pruning - Formative prune when young i.e pruning to form the desired shape of the mature tree. Standard prune every year, i.e remove deadwood and crossover branches.
What we will Record - Management - Organic and Conventional - Time and Cost to Manage each Trial
Spraying - Application of recommended organic pesticide, fungicide, and herbicide additives.
Irrigation - Applying approx 20 L of water every 20 days without rain (or when the soil is dry below the surface).
Weed/Mow - Mow area every 4th week of the month April - September.
Pruning - Formative prune when young i.e pruning to form the desired shape of the mature tree. Standard Prune every year i.e remove deadwood and crossover branches.
What we will Record - Time and Cost to Establish each Plot
Plant, Materials and Labour costs will be recorded for each trial.
Thank you Simon Leupi for your feedback and suggestions on the study design, and to Chris Mallorie for discussing the trial with me, and working on the organic fertility and pesticide protocol.
Support Our Project
If you appreciate the work we are doing you can show your support in several ways.
Become a member of the Polyculture Project by subscribing to our Substack
Make a purchase of plants or seeds from our nursery or Online Store
Consider joining us for one of our Courses or Online Courses
Comment, like, and share our content on social media.
Make a direct donation via PayPal to balkanecologyproject@gmail.com
If you appreciate the work we are doing you can show your support in several ways.
Become a member of the Polyculture Project by subscribing to our Substack
Make a purchase of plants or seeds from our nursery or Online Store
Consider joining us for one of our Courses or Online Courses
Comment, like, and share our content on social media.
Make a direct donation via PayPal to balkanecologyproject@gmail.com
