Organic Eprints (International Centre for Research in Organic Food Systems, and Research Institute of Organic Agriculture) · 2008 · 10 citations · 0 references
Open access
AgricultureAgricultural EconomicsOrganic AgricultureAgroecosystem EcologyOrganic ViticulturePomologyCrop Loss AssessmentFruit PestsOrganic Orchard ManagementPest ControlPest DynamicsAgricultural Damage ValuationCrop Damage From AnimalsFinancial Loss QuantificationFruit Crop PestsFruit Damage AssessmentGrowth Loss EstimationPest Management EconomicsPotential Economic Impact
Vole species, especially Arvicola terrestris and Microtus arvalis cause significant economical damage in organic pomiculture by gnawing the root system of trees. The importance of voles as pest organisms is well known. Nevertheless, the estimation of financial loss caused by voles is difficult for German fruit growers. We conducted a survey among organic fruit growers to get data on kind and amount of annual damage. Using the available publications and official statistics we calculated economical values of organic apple trees for different types of orchard processing and tree ages. Furthermore we calculated the number of trees lost due to voles in one year.