Agro-economic performance of peach orchards under low pesticide use and organic production in a cropping system experimental network in France

Abstract

A significant reduction in chemical pesticide use is strongly recommended in fruit production systems to reduce environmental and consumer health risks. Our objectives were to assess the consequences of pesticide reduction use on peach orchards’ agronomic and economic performance. Three management strategies were tested at six sites in France during the 2013–2019 period within a network using the system experiment methodology: conventional reference systems (REF) representatives of current commercial orchards, low-input (LI) systems with reduced chemical use and according to Integrated Production guidelines and organic systems (ORG). The last two systems combine many action levers ranging from structural planting strategy and combined with many alternative methods carried out throughout the years to progress towards agroecological orchards. The performance indicators were statically compared to those observed in the conventional REF system growing under the same experimental conditions over seven years. Chemical pesticides were reduced by 55% in LI compared to REF systems (20.4 treatment frequency index). Marketable yield was significantly lower in LI (−13%) than in REF systems (33.0 t ha-1). The reduction in production costs per hectare in LI systems (−11.4%) did not compensate for the decrease in gross revenues (−14.2%), resulting in a significant reduction in margins (gross revenues minus production costs, −15.8%). In the ORG systems, chemical pesticides were reduced by 80% compared to REF systems. The marketable yield was strongly reduced (−68%), but economic margins were close to REF systems thanks to the premium prices. The agroecological systems achieved in a quarter (LI) and half (ORG) of the situations (system x year) a 50% reduction in chemical pesticides and similar margins to the REF system. However, the reduction of pesticides in LI and ORG systems was accompanied by increased production costs expressed per kg of fruit and the lowest yield stability. These results highlight the importance of commercial labels to promote more eco-friendly orchards considering the impact on production costs.