Changes in understorey management which accompany a shift to organic production potentially affect water and nutrient relationships for apple trees. Here we report field trials from a biological production orchard established at Winchmore, Canterbury, New Zealand in 1989 which involved a study of the changes in nutrient status of soil and of apple trees within red clover, ryegrass and mixed herb ley understories. These changes were assessed by soil, leaf and fruit analysis and related to differences in fruit production, tree growth and fruit quality. Soil and leaf nutrient levels increased with additions of nitrogen and potassium in composts and mulches. Nitrogen levels changed with both herbage (main treatment) and mow management (sub treatment) and were higher in trees grown with legumes in the understorey than in trees grown with a ryegrass understorey.