Welcome!

To the

Clarksville Organic Apple Orchard Project

Clarksville Horticulture Experiment Station

Apple Orchard Ecosystem

The orchard ecosystem consists of all populations in a given area plus the physical environment within and beyond the farm boundaries. The living components include plants and animals such as birds, rodents and insects, and microscopic organisms such as bacteria, fungi and nematodes. The non-living components include water, soil, light, mineral nutrients and weather.

This website takes a closer look at the living components of an orchard ecosystem, which can be categorized as pests or beneficials. The management measures taken to sustain an organic ecosystem is also discussed.

For more information on the orchard ecosystem see MSU's "Fruit Crop Ecology and Management" Extension Bulletin E-2759.

Please send questions and comments to: Kirsten Losse, lossekir@msu.edu

or Danielle McEachin, mceachin@msu.edu