Effects of Organic Apple Production Systems on Foliar Macronutrient Concentrations

An organic apple (Malus ${\times}$ domestics 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) mow-and-blow (MB). Across all GMS, one of three NS was applied: A) a commercial organic fertilizer (CF), B) poultry litter (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.