Organic Citrus – A growers’ manual – RIRDCNew ideas for rural Australia © 2009 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 1 74151 841 5 ISSN 1440-6845 Organic Citrus – A growers’ manual by David Madge Publication No. 09/050 The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the development of sustainable regions. You must not rely on any information contained in this publication without taking specialist advice relevant to your particular circumstances. While reasonable care has been taken in preparing this publication to ensure that information is true and correct, the Commonwealth of Australia gives no assurance as to the accuracy of any information in this publication. The Commonwealth of Australia, RIRDC, the authors or contributors expressly disclaim, to the maximum extent permitted by law, all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly from any act or omission, or for any consequences of any such act or omission, made in reliance on the contents of this publication, whether or not caused by any negligence on the part of the Commonwealth of Australia, RIRDC, the authors or contributors. The Commonwealth of Australia does not necessarily endorse the views in this publication. This publication is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. However, wide dissemination is encouraged. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the RIRDC Publications Manager on phone 02 6271 4165 Researcher Contact Details David Madge Research Officer Plant Protection Department of Primary Industries Victoria Box 905 Mildura VIC 3502 Phone: 03 50514500 Fax: 03 50514523 E-mail: [email protected] RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 2, 15 National Circuit BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6271 4100 Fax: 02 6271 4199 Email: [email protected]. Web: http://www.rirdc.gov.au Bookshop: 1300 634 131 Electronically published by RIRDC in July 2009 Print-on-demand by Union Offset Printing, Canberra at www.rirdc.gov.au or phone 1300 6343 13 ii Foreword Within the citrus industry—one of Australia’s major horticultural producers and exporters—there has been growing interest in improving the industry’s overall environmental performance and in organic production specifically. This has been driven by market demands, the global trend towards reduced impact of agriculture and concerns regarding soil health. The main barriers to increased adoption of organic practices have typically been the lack of relevant information, or ease of access to that information. To address that information requirement, RIRDC co-funded the development of this manual for organic citrus production in Australia. The manual is intended to address the specific information needs of organic citrus producers and growers who are interested in conversion to organic, while also bridging the gap between ‘standard’ and organic methods to ease the transition for growers who seek to change selected practices for environmental and marketing reasons. This project was funded by RIRDC core funds which are provided by the Australian Government, together with funds from the Department of Primary Industries Victoria and the Murray Valley Citrus Board. This manual is an addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 1800 research publications. It forms part of our Organic Produce R&D program, which aims to facilitate the development of a viable organic industry through increasing adoption of sustainable organic farming systems. Most of RIRDC’s publications are available for viewing, downloading or purchasing online at www.rirdc.gov.au. Purchases can also be made by phoning 1300 634 313. Peter O’Brien Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation iii Acknowledgements The author gratefully acknowledges the following organisations and people who supported the development of this manual through the project Organic citrus technical manual: building supply capability: • the Department of Primary Industries Victoria, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation and Murray Valley Citrus Board who jointly funded the project • the organic certifiers—Australian Certified Organic, National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia, Organic Food Chain, Organic Growers of Australia and Tasmanian Organic-Dynamic Producers, who distributed survey forms and information about the project to their certified organic citrus growers • the growers from all states who responded to a survey of the organic citrus industry • the following growers who shared their knowledge and experience with the author during orchard visits in four states—Ian Armstrong, Philip Burkett, Blake Dorrington, Glen & Linda Chislett, Colin Furniss, Lyn Harvey, Humphrey Howie, Michelle Medhurst, Dawn and Rob Klok, Greg Lancaster, James Mosher, John and Dorothy Priestly, Peter Smith, Robert Ridgwell and Jan Denham, Alasdair Smithson, Jeromy Wallis The following researchers and others who provided technical information and/or reviewed sections of this document: • Dr Michael Treeby (DPI NSW) – soil and tree nutrition • James Altmann (Biological Services, Loxton SA) and Dan Papacek (Bugs for bugs, Mundubbera QLD) – pest management • Peter Dixon and Bruce Mackie (DPI Victoria), Deanna Chin (DPIFM Northern Territory) and Bill Woods and Shirani Poogoda (DAF Western Australia)—fruit flies • Dr Bob Emmett (DPI Victoria) – disease management • David Rumbold and Jane Rhodes (DPI Victoria) – pesticide use • Lyn McMahon (DPI Victoria) – English expression throughout the entire manual Photograph credits. Any photographs not taken by the author are labelled as follows: • DPI Staff of the Department of Primary Industries Victoria (photographer unknown) • JH Julie Hawtin • MP Miriam Pywell • GL Greg Lancaster iv Contents Foreword .............................................................................................................................................. iii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................... iv Contents .................................................................................................................................................v 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 What is Organic? .......................................................................................................................................................1 Management approaches ............................................................................................................................................3 Livestock ....................................................................................................................................................................5 Certification & standards ...........................................................................................................................................7 Orchard inputs .........................................................................................................................................................13 The grower as researcher ..........................................................................................................................................15 2. Establishment and conversion ................................................................................................... 17 Orchard establishment—optimising organic management .......................................................................................17 3. Environment and landscape management ..................................................................................23 4. Soil management ......................................................................................................................... 25 Managing the soil as a resource ................................................................................................................................26 Managing the nutrient cycle .....................................................................................................................................31 5. Water management ...................................................................................................................... 57 6. Pest, disease and weed overview ............................................................................................... 63 A whole system approach .........................................................................................................................................63 Aiming for a balance ................................................................................................................................................65 Integrated management ............................................................................................................................................66 7. Weed management ....................................................................................................................... 75 Pre-conversion weed management ............................................................................................................................75