Tag Archives: organic

589-594 K. Kahu, L. Klaas and A. Kikas
Effect of cultivars and different growing technologies on strawberry yield and fruit quality
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Effect of cultivars and different growing technologies on strawberry yield and fruit quality

K. Kahu, L. Klaas and A. Kikas

Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Agricultural and EnvironmentalSciences, Polli Horticultural Research Centre, Karksi-Nuia, 69108, Estonia;e-mail: kersti.kahu@emu.ee

Abstract:

The interest in organic farming and organically produced products is increasing every year in Estonia. In 2003 the trial with four widely grown strawberry cultivars: ‘Polka’, ‘Bounty’, ‘Korona’ and ‘Senga Sengana’ in two variants, the organic and the conventional, was established at the Polli Horticultural Research Centre. The objective of this study was to assess the strawberry cultivars in organic and conventional growing with regard to their yield and berry quality. No significant differences in commercial and defective yield per plant between two growing variants were observed in 2004, but the commercial yields were significantly higher in the conventional variant in 2005 and 2006. It was noted that organically grown strawberries had a higher content of soluble solids, but a lower content of ascorbic acid comparing with conventionally grown strawberries. Due to its good productivity and high content of soluble solids and ascorbic acid, ‘Bounty’ was the most profitable cultivar in this study, and appeared highly suitable for organic cultivation.

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522-527 I. Tamm, Ü. Tamm and A. Ingver
Spring cereals performance in organic and conventional cultivation
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Spring cereals performance in organic and conventional cultivation

I. Tamm, Ü. Tamm and A. Ingver

Jõgeva Plant Breeding Institute, 1 Aamisepa St., 48309 Jõgeva, Estoniae-mail: ilmar.tamm@jpbi.ee

Abstract:

The field trials were carried out at the Jõgeva Plant Breeding Institute to compare grain yield and quality characteristics of spring wheat, barley and oat in organic and conventional conditions. Thirteen varieties of each cereal crop were tested during the four trial years (2005–2008). By the results turned out that all the spring crops were able to produce comparatively high yields in organic conditions after a suitable precrop. Oat as the most unpretentious crop was the highest yielding in organic trial and had the best weeds suppressing ability among the spring cereals. The most widely spread weeds were (Chenopodium album) and (Viola arvensis). Among the quality traits protein content was the most influenced by the management regime having evident decrease in organic conditions. A yield gap between organic and conventional production depended on crop, precrop and growing conditions.

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585-591 I. Blanco-Penedo, M., López-Alonso, R.F. Shore, M. Miranda, C. Castillo,J. Hernández and J.L. Benedito
Evaluation of food safety and quality in organic beef cattle in NW Spain; a comparison with intensive and conventional systems
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Evaluation of food safety and quality in organic beef cattle in NW Spain; a comparison with intensive and conventional systems

I. Blanco-Penedo¹, M., López-Alonso¹, R.F. Shore², M. Miranda³, C. Castillo¹,J. Hernández¹ and J.L. Benedito¹

¹Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Departamento de Patoloxía Animal, Facultade deVeterinaria, 27002 Lugo, Spain.
²NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue,Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK.
³Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Departamento de Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias,Facultade de Veterinaria, 27002 Lugo, Spain.e-mail: isabel.blanco.penedo@usc.es

Abstract:

The objective of this study was to analyse how beef-cattle farming in NW Spain on organic farms compares with intensive and conventional systems in terms of impacts on the safety and quality of cattle products. Data on the hygiene and quality of 244, 2596 and 3021 carcasses of calves from organic, intensive and conventional farms, respectively, were collected at the slaughterhouse. Organic calves generally had fewer condemnations for liver, kidney and heart pathologies. Liver parasitic infections were 2 fold higher in organic calves than those from other types of farm. Farm processes and resultant food product quality are linked through the health of the animal and its disease status. Overall better health status was not reflected by carcass performance as this was significantly lower for organic calves than for calves from conventional and intensive farms. Carcass performance seemed to be more determined by dietary component than by health status in the animals in our study.

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