Sea buckthorn in Northeast Germany its cultivation, experiences and research

by Dr. Rolf Hornig, LMS Agrarberatung Dr. Friedrich Hhne, LFA Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Griseldis Dahlmann, rihaWeserGold, Mostobstanbau Schwechow

International Conference Neubrandenburg 28th - 29th November 2012

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SEA BUCKTHORN IN NORTHEAST GERMANY

Content
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Introduction Natural range Biological characteristics Data on sea buckthorn cultivation in Northeast Germany Demands on the location Cultivation in orchards Harvesting Overview: Sea buckthorn trials in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 9. Brief look at the German-Estonian variety trial 10. Use of sea buckthorn 11. Conclusion
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Natural range of sea buckthorn (Hippopha rhamnoides L.)

Reference: Darmer, G. 1952

SEA BUCKTHORN IN NORTHEAST GERMANY

Biological characteristics
deciduous shrub, between 2 to 5 m tall, rarely up to 10 m thorny branches spreading root system in symbiotic relationship with soil actinomycetes (nitrogen fixation) dioecious, with separate male and female plants pollination is only possible by wind

SEA BUCKTHORN IN NORTHEAST GERMANY

View of a sea buckthorn orchard

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Old sea buckthorn plantation in Estonia

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SEA BUCKTHORN IN NORTHEAST GERMANY

Biological characteristics
deciduous shrub, between 2 to 5 m tall, rarely up to 10 m thorny branches spreading root system in symbiotic relationship with soil actinomycetes (nitrogen fixation) dioecious, with separate male and female plants pollination is only possible by wind

SEA BUCKTHORN IN NORTHEAST GERMANY

Development of sea buckthorn area in Northeast Germany

300 250 200
Hectare

150 100 50 0
n.d. n.d.

1980

1990

2000
Brandenburg

2005

2011

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Reference: Statistisches Bundesamt

Saxony-Anhalt
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Farms ( ) with sea buckthorn cultivation in Northeast Germany

Reference: google.maps

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Demands on the location

full light, does not tolerate shade deep, porous and well aerated soil optimal pH value between 6.0 to 8.0 moisture sensitive plant, a water level of 1.5 to 3.0 m deep is ideal additional irrigation should take into account windy sites can be advantageous (pollination)

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Cultivation in orchards
Propagation by hardwood cuttings in tree nurserys planting in single rows distances between planting rows: 4,00 to 4,50 m and within the rows: 1,00 to 1,50 m

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Propagation by hardwood cuttings

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Young sea buckthorn orchard, open soil

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Cultivation in Orchards
male and female ratio: 1 : 8 - 1 : 10 arrangement of male plants in the orchard: mixed rows or single rows approximately 1.500 female shrubs per hectare (net area) soilmanagement: within the rows open soil (mechanical weed clearing or herbicide use) and betweeen the rows grass exspected life of a plantation: 25 to 30 years

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Grass between the rows

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German sea buckthorn varieties and their harvest time

Variety Sirola Frugana Askola Hergo Dorana Habego Leikora Variety Approval 2006 1986 1990 1983 1990 2006 1979 Approval August September October August September October

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Harvesting
Manually Crushing the berries at the twigs Picking by hand Mechanical Harvesting Berry-shaker: Shaking off the berries at the shrub Cutting the fruit branches with hand pruners and pneumatic scissors, afterwards a freezing process Cutting the branches with a (full-)harvester, afterwards a freezing prozess
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Picking by hand
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SEA BUCKTHORN IN NORTHEAST GERMANY

Harvesting
Manually Crushing the berries at the twigs Picking by hand Mechanical Harvesting Berry-shaker: Shaking off the berries at the shrub Cutting the fruit branches with hand pruners and pneumatic scissors, afterwards a freezing process Cutting the branches with a (full-)harvester, afterwards a freezing prozess
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Berry-shaker
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Berry-shaker in use
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SEA BUCKTHORN IN NORTHEAST GERMANY

Harvesting
Manually Crushing the berries at the twigs Picking by hand Mechanical Harvesting Berry-shaker: Shaking off the berries at the shrub Cutting the fruit branches with hand pruners and pneumatic scissors, afterwards a freezing process Cutting the branches with a (full-)harvester, afterwards a freezing prozess
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Cutting fruit branches

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Cutting fruit branches

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Transportation of fruit branches

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Foto

Branch harvester
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Branch harvester in use

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After mechanical harvesting, leaving a hedge

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Preparation of the branches for the freezing process

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Quickly freezing tunnel

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Machine for separating the frozen berries from the branches

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Nitrogen tank
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Sea buckthorn trials in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Year
2005 2008 2009 2009 2011 2011 2011 2011 2012

Topic
German-estonian variety trial (12) Fertilisation and irrigation trial variety trial (7) Sea buckthorn graftings (7 varieties) Sea buckthorn graftings (7 varieties) Fertilisation and irrigation trial Variety testing (of German origin) Replant problems Variety testing (of Swedish origin [5])

Site
at 4 sites Glzow Glzow Glzow Glzow Schwechow Schwechow Ludwigslust Schwechow

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Brief look at the German-Estonian variety trial Female

German origin
Askola Dorana Frugana Habego Hergo Leikora Sirola

Estonian/Russian origin
Botanitcheskaja Ljubitelskaja Gibrid Pertsika Otradnaja Podaruk Sadu Trofimovskaja

Male

German origin
Pollmix, 1 4

Estonian/Russian origin
Pollmix
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Right: Plant with Verticillium symptoms, left: healthy plant

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Dead plants until 2011 (n = 15), German sites

Leikora Sirola Habego B. Ljubitelskaja Trofimovskaja Gibrid Pertsika Askola Hergo Otradnaja Podarok Sadu Frugana Dorana
0 5 10 Number of plants 15

Glzow Schwechow

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Yield in the crop year

Average of 3 years of harvests at the German sites (1.230 shrubs per hectare) Habego Leikora Hergo Sirola Askola B. Ljubitelskaja Otradnaja 0 2 4 6
t/ha Adjusted Yield (consideration of plant losses) Yield (without losses)
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10

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Content of ascorbic acid, site Schwechow, 2009 and 2011

Dorana Leikora Askola Habego Gibrid Pertsika Trofimovskaja Hergo Sirola Otradnaja Frugana Podarok Sadu B. Ljubitelskaja 0 500 1000 1500
mg/l

2011 2009

2000

2500

3000

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Content of total-carotene, site Schwechow, 2009 und 2011

Otradnaja Sirola Podarok Sadu Habego Trofimovskaja Gibrid Pertsika Askola Dorana Frugana B. Ljubitelskaja Leikora Hergo 0 50 100
mg/l

2011 2009

150

200

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(Potential) use of sea buckthorn

Food Health food, Functional Food Pharmaceuticals Medicinal Veterinary care Beverages Dyes

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Conclusion
Sea buckthorn is still a young fruit crop in Europe. The market potential is not yet fully discovered. Established knowledge of varieties and cultivation are available. Special machines for the harvest, freezing and shake off exist as pilot plants. Sea buckthorn offer varied opportunities as a new (niche) crop in commercial fruit growing.

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Thank you very much for your attention!

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