• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.617-627
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• 2013

This study was conducted to survey the current pest occurrence and grower's pest management practices, and to investigate biodiversity including birds, snakes, rodents, and amphibians in organic pear orchards. From the questionnaires and field survey of 22 organic orchards in 2010, the materials such as lime sulphur, plant extracts and their mixtures with microorganisms, and oils were preferred over insecticides. Scab, mealybugs, woollybugs and barkminers were the major pests for organic pear growers. Environment-friendly fungicides and insecticides were applied 9 to 10 and 5 to 6 times respectively. Incidence and severity of scab on Niitaka pear fruits in organic orchards was higher than in conventional ones. Whereas for mealybugs there was no significant difference between organic and conventional orchards. Pear fruits in organic orchards were significantly smaller than those of non-organic orchards. For the biodiversity of amphibians, snakes, pheasants, and rodents, there was no significant difference between organic and conventional orchards, but Rufous turtle doves were monitored more in organic areas than in conventional ones.