The organic system relied on things such as mulch, landscape fabric and mowing to control weeds, and biological toxins and biochemical lures to kill pests. The conventional system used synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and chemical fruit thinners. The energy calculation accounted for energy consumed to make the fertilizer, compost and other materials used, as well as energy spent directly in cultivation. The organic system was found to be 5 percent more efficient than the integrated system and 7 percent more than the conventional system.
Taste is another matter.
To assess taste, researchers checked ratios of sugar to acidity. The organic apples came out sweeter, both at harvest and after six months' storage.