Orchard Alleyway’s Cover Crop Pt1 – 2024
Orchard Alleyway’s Cover Crop Pt1 – 2024
Primarily one apricot row was diagnosed with silver leaf by our visiting Plant Health Inspector. Afterwards, samples were sent to Plant Health in York for analysis. They diagnosed that they did not have silver leaf. But did not diagnose anything else as the only test carried out was to confirm whether or not Silver Leaf.
We were advised that samples should be sent of the roots and soil to Plant Health in York for analysis. They ascertained that the roots contained a high level of dagger nematodes among other species. Detailed as below.
Xiphinema diversicaudatum (dagger nematode) – 95 found
Merlinius brevidens (stunt nematode) – 32 found
Pratylenchus sp. (root-lesion nematode) – 1 found
Malenchus sp. (root-hair feeding nematode) – 33 found
Boleodorus sp. (root-hair feeding nematode) – 19 found
So the cause of the deaths of my apricots was put down to the weather ??. We had a very hot summer a few years ago, and a drought, that stressed the trees. This was followed by a very wet winter, so the nematodes increased, causing root rot. It was this stress that produced ‘False Silver Leaf’.
This then started the ball rolling, of trying to solve the problem.
We decided (I am the organizer due to ill health, and have helpers to do the hard work), to pollard all the apricots, to see if new fresh growth grew the following year with no False Silver Leaf. But as can be seen, the very first tree was cut down to ground level there was staining of the trunk centre. This was believed to be a sign of Root Rot.
The subsequent above photos show staining of the centre of the wood. Also, note the fungi on the outer bark. This is known as Turkeytail (Trametes versicolor). This grows on dead wood is regarded as a common fungi that gets its nutrients and energy from dead organic matter. It is an important part of the ecosystem of the forest or orchard.
With all the stumps dug out and burnt, the area was cleared and 60cm holes were bored into the ground and fresh compost was added. You can also see the ground is compacted with water runoff. The grass that was between the rows had previously all been cleared, to prevent aphids from overwintering on the grass roots (advice by Plant Inspectors, due to the occurrence of Plum pox virus spread by aphids). This probably did not help the situation.
The soil is clay with ph7 and we do not irrigate The whole field area was originally put down to ridge and furrow hundreds of years ago. But the orchard area has been more or less flattened over the years. The clay soil appears to be in strata’s/layers.
The above 2 photos show the soil cracking during summer, in the whole of the orchard. In some places, you can get your hand into the cracks up to your wrist. This is an indication of soil compaction, with little to no organic matter.
SEE PT2 for the NEXT STAGE
Recommended Reading
1 – Cotswold Seed Catalogue also Sort out your Soil, Cotswold Seeds Ltd, Moreton in Marsh, GL560JQ, UK
2 – Cover Crops and Sustainable Agriculture, CRC Press, ISBN: 978-1-032-03440-9
3- Managing Cover Crops Profitably, SARE Handbook Series Book 9, ISBN 978-1-888626-12-4
4 – Cover Cropping for Vegetable Production A Grower’s Handbook, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Publication 3517, ISBN-13: 978-1-60107-679-3
5 – Building Soils For Better Crops (Ecological Management for Healthy Soils), ISBN 9781888626193
6 – A Comprehensive Guide to Living Soil, No Till etc, AMÉLIE DES PLANTES, No ISBN
7 – The Complete Guide to Restoring Your Soil, Dale Strickler, No ISBN
7 – Orchard Floor Management Practices to Reduce Erosion and Protect Water Quality
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, No ISBN as online PDF
8 – Cover Cropping in Vineyards A Growers Handbook, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources , Publication 3338, ISBN 1-879906-35-X
9 – Cover Crops in Sustainable Crops, CRC Press