• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.463-477
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• 2019

This study was conducted to compare the community structure and biodiversity of epigeic spiders between pear fields cultivated by integrated pest management (IPM) and organic methods. This is the first study of this kind to be conducted in Korea. Eighty-four spider species from 22 families were identified among the collected 2,489 arthropods, with 754 individuals being sampled from IPM fields and 1,735 individuals from organic fields. Generally, Theridiidae, Linyphiidae, Lycosidae, Agelenidae, Gnaphosidae, and Salticidae were the dominant spider families in the pear orchard regardless of the farming methods, and species richness and abundance were higher in organic fields than in IPM fields. The dominant species were the wolf spiders (Lycosidae) and stone spiders (Gnaphosidae), and their cumulative abundance was 70.7% in IPM fields and 72.7% in organic fields. The community structure between organic and IPM fields was heterogeneous, with a 45% similarity level. Biodiversity, species richness, abundance, and species diversity index were higher in organic fields than in IPM fields, and significantly different between the farming methods. Seasonal fluctuations in biodiversity were similar in both IPM and organic fields. The species richness and species diversity index increased and the abundance decreased in the second half of the cultivation period. This study on the community structure and biodiversity of epigeic spiders, which form one of the most important predator groups, will provide principal ecological and faunistic information required to maintain the biodiversity of useful arthropods in agricultural ecosystems and help implement sustainable agriculture based on the active use of natural enemies.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.567-575
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• 2009

Organic pear (Pyrus pyriforia) fruits have remarkably increased in Korea since year 2000 due to increase consumer's demand for the fruit, and the farmers are keep trying to change their cultivation system that is replaced from conventional farming to organic-base farming for the fruit. However, there is little information for the soil properties, tree nutrition, and tree growth at organic orchards in Korea. Therefore, this study was established to investigate for the chemical properties of soils and leaf and bud characteristics of a conventional and organic pear trees in experimental orchards for two years. Commercial (Sanwool, YoungHwa Co., Korea) compost was applied to the orchard soils with conventional farming systems for two years for pear trees (10 to 15 year old trees) in KyungSan, Korea. The compost application increased pH, organic matter content, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and, microbial biomass in the soil. The compost treatment also increased specific leaf weight and foliar $P_2O_5$ concentration as well as leaf and floral bud sizes.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.245-257
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• 2018

The efficacy of different control techniques against the large black chafer, Holotrichia parallela Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), in organic pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) orchards was evaluated. In this study, field trials were conducted in three locations in Korea-Naju, Hampyeong, and Boseong-to evaluate different techniques to suppress these beetles. Pheromone traps, bio-insecticides (Hongmengye and Melchungdaejang), and a combination of the two were applied as treatments. In Naju, Hampyeong, and Boseong, the highest number of adult H. parallela were caught in the control plots (n=45, n=39, and n=20, respectively), while the fewest were caught in the pheromone plus bio-insecticide plot (n=19) in Naju and in the combined treatment plot in Hampyeong (n=10). In Naju, the greatest leaf damage was observed in the control (66%), and in all locations (Naju, Boseong, and Hampyeong), the least damage occurred in the combined treatment plots (42%, 36%, and 24%, respectively). Regarding the tree canopy, the greatest leaf damage was observed in the upper canopy, and less damage was observed in the lower canopy. These results demonstrate that the combination of sex pheromone traps and bio-insecticides can be used to manage H. parallela in organic pear orchards.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.93-107
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• 2011

This research was carried out to investigate invertebrate fauna with organic and conventional pear orchards, which used four collected methods; soil sampling for soil microorganism, pitfall, malaise, and black light trap for over ground species. Collected species were 37 species, 1,184 individuals in organic and 28 species, 501 individuals by soil sampling in conventional pear fields. Those were 38 species, 646 individuals and 29 species, 440 individuals by pitfall trap, 55 species 650 individuals and 47 species, 508 individuals by malaise trap, and 23 species, 201 individuals and 9 species, 42 individuals by black light trap. Collembola was collected 389 individuals in organic which was 5 times than in conventional in soil sampling. In pitfall trap, that was 183 individuals which was 3 times. The diversity indices of organic pear orchards were 1.956 in May, 2.638 in August and those of conventional was 1.426 in May, 2.011 in August in soil sampling. In pitfall trap, the dominant species were spiders, collembollan, and coleopteran. Among Coleoptera, indicator insects for the evaluation of agricultural environment suggested were Eusilpha jakowelewi as organic pear orchard and Anisodactykus punctatipennis and Pheropsophus jessoensis as conventional. Malaise trap was collected dominant species as Diptera and Hymenoptera of Braconidae and Ichneumonidae. The diversity indices of organic pear orchards were 2.952, 3.120, and 2.010 in pitfall, malaise and black light trap in over ground invertebrate sampling. The highest diversity was in malaise trap. The higher diversity indices, the lower dominance indices.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.259-268
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• 2018

The study investigated the efficacy of four different essential oils on the repellent responses of large black chafer (Holotrichia parallela) Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in organic pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) orchards. Cinnamon, pine, peppermint, and eucalyptus oils were used, and the behavioral responses and repellent effects against H. parallela were investigated under laboratory and field conditions. Adult beetle responses to different oils were examined using a Y-tube olfactometer in the laboratory and four absorbent blocks with each oil in the field. The repellent responses rates of H. parallela were 100% for cinnamon oil; however, only 67% of adult beetles avoided peppermint and eucalyptus oil in the Y-tube olfactometer bioassay. In the field tests, the least damage to leaves was observed on trees treated with cinnamon oil, whereas the most damage was observed in the control (non-treated) trees and those treated with peppermint oil, followed by eucalyptus and pine oil. Therefore, cinnamon oil can be used as a repellent to avoid damage form large black chafers in organic pear orchards.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.299-313
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• 2016

This study aims to investigate the present status and factors influencing farmers' satisfaction on the crop insurance for pear. Data analyzed were collected by survey and ordered logistic model was utilized for an empirical analysis. The results demonstrate that producers who are more highly educated and have an experience to receive an educational program related to crop insurance for pear are more likely to satisfy. In addition, it is shown that sales have a negative effect on the satisfaction whereas cultivated areas have a positive relationship with it. Based on the findings, it is necessary to develop a new educational program, strengthen public relations, and support an insurance premium for improving farmers' satisfaction of the insurance for pear.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2010

The study was conducted to investigate effects of different organic fertilizers on 'Niitaka' pear tree performances in a controlled greenhouse. The four 'Niitaka' pear seedling trees per treatment were grown in a greenhouse for 6 months. Each pot was filled with control, rice bran (RB), coffee bran compost (CBC), and the mixture (RCC) of RB + CBC + chitin incubated compost (CIC). Each pot was filled with 1:1:1 (v/v/v) of soil : sand : fertilizer, and control, RB, CBC, CIC, and RCC were applied as treatments. Root fresh weights and root activities were increased by all the organic fertilizers, especially by RCC. RCC treated trees had the highest tree height and thickest tree trunk, and all organic fertilized trees showed increased tree growth compared to the control. The more diseased and damaged degrees on the leaf by spider mites increased leaf falling rates on all the treatments. The reduced diseased and healthy leaves were found on RCC treated trees that had better tree performance. Also, all the organic fertilized trees seemed to prevent the occurrence of disease in the leaf. Therefore, the organic fertilizer applications could be a good strategy to obtain better tree performance and maintain healthy seedlings in the nursery market or young organic pear orchard.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.401-406
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the control effects of the environmental-friendly materials against major diseases of pear and to elucidate factors related to spore disperse of pear scab and pear rust. Spore disperse was deeply related ambient temperature in the early stage of disease occurrence and the maximum spore disperse was affected greatly by the air humidity, Percent of infected leaves of pear scab in plot treated with Trichoderma harzianum-YC459 was 29.3% and 43.3% in plot treated with Sulfur-80%. Two formulations above-mentioned were less effective to control pear scab than the chemical pesticide, hexaconazole. Control effect in plots single- and mixed-treated with Trichoderma harzianum-YC459, Sulfur-80% and hexaconazole against pear scab were compared with that in plot treated with chemicals by conventional application schedule in pear orchard. The incidence of pear scab was lower in plot treated with the environmental-friendly materials than that of untreated plot. However there was no significant difference among the treatments at the 5% level. Application of Sulfur-80% reduced significantly the incidence of pear scab (7.8%) compared to that (10.3%) in plot treated by conventional application schedule in organically cultivated pear orchard. Alternative application of Trichoderma harzianum-YC459 and Sulfur-80% (4.3%) suppressed the incidence of pear rust than that (7.1%) in plot treated by conventional application schedule in organically cultivated pear orchard.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2018

Pear scab and rust are the major diseases causing severe epidemics in organic cultivation of pear trees. Incidences of pear scab and rust were compared in organically managed plots and conventionally managed plots to obtain optimum application schedule of environment-friendly control agents in organically managed plots. Organically cultural practice with 10 time-applications of lime sulfur and Bordeaux mixture showed higher than 40% of control efficacies of pear scab and rust compared to conventionally cultural practice. Organically cultural practice with 8 time-applications of lime sulfur considering weather condition showed higher than 30% of control efficacies of pear scab compared to conventionally cultural practice. The results suggest that proper application of environment-friendly control agents such as lime sulfur considering weather condition will enable effective control of the major diseases for organic cultivation of pear.