The horticultural industry encompasses a broad range of production systems. While traditionally referred to as the art of tending garden plants, horticulture has since been elevated to represent a branch of agriculture which includes the cultivation of fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants.
Horticultural systems range from intensively farmed, seasonal fruit and vegetable crops through to mixed shrub/tree plantings or orchards. Horticultural plants may also be propagated and grown in container media to be sold through wholesale or retail nurseries.
The ERA Farming Company recently commenced a programme with commercial orchards to investigate the microbial status of soils in high yielding production systems, which demand premium quality produce. Orchardists, like vignerons, are concerned with the ecology of their farms and wish to preserve and stimulate natural soil processes while maintaining profitable yields.
Over the next three years the ERA/UWA soil bioassay will be used to measure soil biological activity in a number of orchard sites. As this study develops we aim to evaluate various management practices alongside quantitative and composite (bacteria and fungi) measures of the soil biota.
The ERA Farming Company is dedicated to working with horticulturists to promote soil management practices that contribute to the long-term sustainability of their operations.