Organic high tunnel production of raspberries in a humid region

High tunnels modify the crop environment and can potentially facilitate organic production by affecting pest and disease prevalence and nutrient management.
Three red raspberry cultivars (‘Himbo Top’, ‘Joan J’, ‘Polka’) were planted in 2010 under multiple bay high tunnels on a certified organic site in East Lansing, Michigan, USA, in order to study organic management methods.
Three tunnels contained a single row of each cultivar.
Tunnels were covered with plastic from May through October.
Although cultivars differed in annual yields, multiple year yields were similar.
Adequate plant nutrition was maintained with combinations of compost, a soy based fertilizer and liquid fish emulsion injected through the irrigation system.
No diseases have caused economic losses.
The most serious insect pests have been spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii), japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) and potato leafhoppers (Empoasca fabae). Physical exclusion of D. suzukii has been tested and shows promise for minimizing the need for insecticide application to control this pest.

XI International Rubus and Ribes Symposium

E. Hanson, T. Marks, R. Isaacs

spotted wing drosophila, multiple bay tunnels, Rubus idaeus

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1133.40