
AppleCoal
Better eco-balance of fruit tree plantations with biochar and compost
The cultivation of tree fruit, such as apples, plays a major role in Brandenburg. However, changes in the climate with long, dry periods of heat in summer are forcing measures to be taken to prevent crop failures. A lack of rainfall and increasing pest pressure pose challenges for fruit growers. However, some of the countermeasures lead to increased greenhouse gas releases, such as the additional application of fertilisers and pesticides as well as artificial irrigation. Added to this: In Brandenburg, the proportion of organic tree fruit cultivation is increasing – it currently stands at around 32 per cent. Chemical pesticides and inorganic fertilisers are excluded here.
Biochar instead of more fertiliser
This is where the planned AppleCoal project comes in: The aim is to reduce artificial irrigation, fertilisation and the use of pesticides. One way to achieve this is through biochar. This is produced in the project from the green waste from the orchards and other plant residues. In the AppleCoal project, this is to be enriched through co-composting and the charcoal, incorporated into the plantation soil near the tree roots, will lead to an improvement in the soil in terms of water storage capacity, microbial diversity and nutrient availability. The biochar remains in the soil for some time – up to 100 years -, stores water and releases the stored nutrients for a certain period of time.
In addition to the project partner Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt für Gartenbau und Arboristik (LVGA), the practice partner B3 Projektbetreuung GmbH (B3) will also be involved in the project.
Discover more projects: Projects – Institute for Food and Environmental Research e.V. (ILU)
PROJECT DURATION:
01.07.2024 - 31.12.2027
PROJECT SPONSOR:
Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Consumer Protection
GRANT-NUMBER-PN:
PROJECT MANAGER:
Martin Almendinger (M. Sc.)
PROJECT PARTNER:
Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt für Gartenbau und Arboristik (LVGA); B3 Projektbetreuung GmbH (B3)