630 PB 484 AN ORGANIC VS. CONVENTIONAL FARMING SYSTEM IN KIWIFRUIT

Abstract

A kiwifruit vineyard converted to an organic farm was compared to a conventionally farmed vineyard from 1990 through 1992. February or March applications of composted chicken manure (organic plot) or NH4N O3 plus CaNH4 (NO3)3 through microsprinklers during the growing season (conventional plot) were applied to give equal rates of N. Soil analyses indicated no differences in nutrient or salt levels. Nitrogen leaf levels from the organic plot were consistently lower than those from the conventional system but were not deficient. Leaf concentrations of sodium and chloride increased over the three-year period in the organic plot, but not to phytotoxic levels. Organically grown fruit was as firm or firmer than conventionally grown fruit at harvest and four months after harvest. Damage from latania scale or omnivorous leaf roller was minimal in both plots until 1992, when the organic plot had 3.9% scale compared to 0% in the conventional plot. An economic analysis comparing the short-term profitability of the two systems will be presented.