Fruit tree nurseries require high levels of inputs (fertilization, water, synthetic insecticides and fungicides, weeding time) to ensure rapid production of healthy and homogeneous plants. Faced with climatic changes and the global objective of reducing the use of phytopharmaceutical products, the sector is faced with the challenge of a necessary evolution. But research is currently lacking in terms of the availability of agroecological levers and alternative practices.
The aim of this project is to evaluate the benefits of organic amendments, establishment of multi-species cover and the combination of these two levers on input demand. Plant growth, input demand, soil functions, plant-soil interactions and biodiversity of auxiliary insects will be monitored over the 2-year nursery cycle in an on-farm experiment at the Veauvy fruit tree nursery.
