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| It is also clear that, when established
within their appropriate ecosystem, plants protect themselves
quite well from external threats. So, we oppose any pressure
to disrupt that ecosystem. We like bugs, and snakes, and weeds
(in moderation, of course!). When things are in balance, harmful
pests cannot dominate. We must, naturally, deal with certain
crop-threatening pests, but we try to do so in as sensitive
and surgical a manner as possible: by closely observing the
pest, we can make the timing of our organic applications quite
precise, thus keeping the amount of material to a minimum.
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| Animal manure, compost, cover crops
and pruning residues are used for fertilization in organic olive
orchards. Soil fauna and flora are enriched in organic olive
groves with the use of cover crops, animal manures and compost.
Organic matter content has been increased gradually in organic
olive orchards from 0.5-1% to 2%-3%, depending on soil management
and soil type. This increased organic matter levels are due
to the application of animal manures and composts, the incorporation
into the soil of the pruning and other grove residues as well
as to the use of cover crops. Mixtures of leguminous plants
with cereals are sown, in rotation, in autumn and managed in
springtime. |
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In organic olive groves an ecological infrastructure
is applied for enhancing diversity and for preventing pest outbreaks.
Ecological infrastructure is made up of linear and non-linear
elements. Cover crops, border planting, uncultivated patches
of vegetation and stonewalls contribute to ecological infrastructure.
Olive fly (Bactocera oleae) is the major pest of conventional
and organic olive orchards. In organic olive orchards the olive
fly is managed with the mass trapping method and the use of
cultural practices. Cultural practices are also used for managing
other pests. Yield levels of organic olive orchards are similar
to the conventional ones.
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