Progress 09/01/11 to 12/31/15
Outputs
Target Audience:In Maryland, we had various groups of audiences in 2015. As usually, local growers and communities were reached through field day twilights, organic field days, vegetable meetings and Maryland Organic Food and Farmers Association meetings.New farmers in Maryland were learned from us through workshop. Undergraduate stduents at UMD campus learned from hand-on experiences and from guest lectures. Online extension publications have reached numeric families in Maryland. Vegetable growers and extension agents in the Northeastern region were reached through the 2016 Mid-Atlantic Fruit & Vegetable Convention. We reached our largest audiences through presentations at the "ASA, CSSA & SSSA International Annual Meeting" and "Entomological Society of America annual meeting" in Minneapolis, MN. In Hawaii, local crop producers, new farmers enrolled in the new farmers training program, GoFarm Hawaii, offered by the University of Hawaii (UH), College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR), undergraduate students from UH, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) agents, extension agents, cover crop seed distributors, educators in agriculture and nematologists. Changes/Problems:In Maryland, there were no major changes/problems. In Hawaii, the major change was tested crop. Instead of using cucurbit and lettuce as test crops specified in the original proposal, we modified field trials in 2013-2014 to use green onion crop after failure to obtain yield from the initial zucchini trials. This is due to heavy infestation of fruit flies and pickle worm damage despite intensive insecticide application and change of interest from our lettuce farmer. This modification does not affect our original goal in monitoring the impact of soil management on soil health. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In Maryland, 20 undergraduate students were trained to conduct scientific research as one-to-one phase on field sampling, laboratory analysis skills, data management and analysis, and writing scientific reports and public presentation. Five students took courses for research or intern credits. Project findings were also incoporated into teaching materials forINAG248 (Topics on sustainable agriculture). Two undergraduate students presented at UMD "College Park Scholars Science and Global Change Program". Two high school teachers and one high sschool student were also trained from this project.Three workshops on soil fertlity, soil health and IPM were provided. Research findings were presented three times at regional conferences and eight times at national-international conferences. In Hawaii, based on the concepts and research outcomes of this project, project activities were integrated into the teaching curriculum for GoFarm Hawaii, a new farmer training program. Public Media (Education) (Hawaii News Now, KHNL/KGMB) was used for workshop. Demonstration plots were provided for undergraduates course PEPS 310 (Environment and Agriculture) and PEPS 481 (Weed Science). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?In Maryland, two farmer participants were colloborated with field trials and demomstrations. Total seven field days (twilights) were held on the research farms. Research findings were presented 28 times at various local growers' meetings and total 29 extension articles were published. In Hawaii, public and client presentation was provided seven times. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
In Maryland after four-year experiments, we have found that (1) soil organic matter adn nitrogen contents and aggregate stability are significantly greater in fields of no-till (NT) and strip-till (ST) than conventional tillage; (2) weed population density and labor for hand-weeding were lower in the fields of no-till and conventioanl tillage with black plastic mulch (BP), compared to fields of strip-tillage and conventional tillage without surface mulch (BG); (3) Insect damage was consistantly lower in the NT fields in all 4 years; (4) annual greenhouse gas (N2O) emissions were lowest under NT system, intermediate under ST, higher under BG, and highest under BP using standard fertilizer management practices (cover crops and organic fertilizer input) in the Northeastern USA; (5) economic analysis has demonstrated that among the four treatments , BP is the most economically sound for eggplant production while ST is the most economically sound for sweet corn production in terms of yield, production cost, and profit. Combining both economic and environmental impacts of the four treatment practices, we have concluded that strip-tillage is a very promising and practical tool for future organic vegetable productions especially if other weed management tactics such as stale seedbed are combined. In Maryland Experimental fields, nematode community analysis revealed that although nematode community structure varied within each growing season, NT and ST treatments maintained more structured soil food web (as indicated by higher structure index or SI calculated from abundance of predatory and omnivorous nematodes) than BP or BG treatment. This study documented a strong relationship between soil health and greenhouse gas emission: higher SI and CI (channel index calculated from the ratio of fungivorous to bacterivorous nematodes) were highly corresponding to lower N2O emission. In Hawaii, one commercial field experiment was conducted. Soil health conditions of preplant soil treatments using nematodes as bioindicators revealed that after two years of zucchini crop, planting cover crops (sunn hemp alone and mix planting of sunn hemp and rapeseeds in no-till and tilled systems, respectively) enriched soil food web (increased in bacteria feeding nematodes) than bare ground (no-cover crop) or covered with metallic mulch at crop planting. However, this pre-plant treatments did not improve soil food web structure. Due to heavy infestation of pickle worms that results in total zucchini yield loss, we switched to monitor mulching effects on green onion in 2013 and 2014. Results from the green onion trials revealed that no-till cover cropping of sunn hemp associated with planting of cowpea as insectary borders increased abundance and richness of detritivorous and predatory arthropods, parasitoids and beneficial free-living nematodes. Green onion yield was consistently higher in the organic surface mulch systems (i.e. sunn hemp cover cropping with no-till practice) than synthetic mulch (soil solarization plastic mulch for this study) and bare ground control. Green onion plants in the no-till sunn hemp plots also had lower thrips and leaf miners damage among treatments in both years. This was followed by a reduction of the incidence of purple blotch in 2014. This study demonstrated the multiple benefits of growing green onion in a no-till cover cropping system although it did not suppress population densities of plant-parasitic nematodes and weeds.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Quintanilla-Tornel, M.A., K.-H. Wang, J. Tavares, C.R.R. Hooks. Effects of mulching on above and below ground pests and beneficials in a green onion agroecosystem. Agriculture, Ecosystems, & Environment
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Wang, K.-H., A. Park, S. Ching, S. Mishra, J. Sugano, J. Uyeda, J. Tavares, and M. Quintanilla-Tornel. 2015. Insectary Plants for Organic IPM. H?nai?Ai Newsletter Vol 24, July 2015.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Coffey,P., L,auren Hunt, and C.R.R Hooks. 2015. Using cover crops, strip-tillage and the stale-seedbed method as part of an integrated weed management program in vegetables. Headline News 6(7): 6-7.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Chen, G., and C. R. R. Hooks. 2015. Late Planting Window for Legume Cover Crops Species. Vegetable and Fruit Headline News 6(7): 22-23
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Chen, G. and C.R.R. Hooks. 2016. Minimum Tillage and Cover Cropping for Managing Weeds in Organic Vegetables. Proceedings for the 2016 Mid-Atlantic Fruit & Vegetable Convention. Hershey, PA. 2-4 Feb., 2016.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
C.R.R. Hooks and G. Chen 2016. Symposium title: Organic Vegetables. Talk title: Minimum Tillage and Cover Cropping for Managing Weeds in Organic Vegetables. Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention, Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, Hershey, PA. February 02-04, 2016. Attendance: ~100.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Wang, K.-H., G. Chen+, Z. Cheng, M. Quintanilla-Tornel S. L. F. Meyer and C.R.R. Hooks. 2015. Symposium title: Nematodes as indicators for Climate Change, Ecosystem Sustainability, and Food Security. Talk title: Contribution of no-till cover cropping to greenhouse gas remediation: Can nematodes tell the tale? Society of Nematologists Conference, East Lansing, MI. July 19-22, 2015.Attendance: ~30.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Chen, G., L. Kolb, R. R. Weil, M. Cavigelli, and C.R.R. Hooks. 2015. Using reduced tillage to mitigation N2O gas emissions. Department of Entomology Colloquium, University of Maryland.Attendance: ~40.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Buchanan, A+, G. Chen, C.R.R. Hooks. 2015. Symposium title: Management and Biological Control of Weeds in Agroecosystems. Talk title: Cover crop diversity and management for weed control in organic agro-ecosystems. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN. Nov 15-18, 2015. Attendance: ~40.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Hooks, C.R.R. 2015. Using cover crops as part of organic and conventional IPM farming systems. Virginia Tech University Agriculture and Environment Seminar Series. October 20, 2015. Blacksburg, VA. Attendance: ~50.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Chen, G., Brust, G., and Paulk, D. 2016. Soil Health Intensive. The Future Harvest CASA 17th Annual Conference: Cultivate the Chesapeake Foodshed. College Park, MD. Jan. 14, 2016
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Chen, G. and Hooks, C.R.R. 2016. Cover crops and plant available nitrogen for vegetable crops. Southern Maryland Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference. Ganbrills, MD. Feb. 11. Attendance: 52.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Chen, G. and Hooks, C.R.R. 2016. Maximizing Plant Available Nitrogen Contribution From Winter Cover Crops. Maryland Eastern Shore Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference. Ganbrills, MD. Feb. 23. Attendance: ~50.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Wang, K.-H., J. Sugano, D. Meyer, S. Ching, S. Mishra. CRATE Day. Poamoho Experiment Station, Waialua, HI. June 27, 2015 (Attendance: ~30).
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Wang, K.-H, A. Pant, and D. Meyer. CRATE (Center of Rural Agriculture Training and Entrepreneurship) Booth. Represent CTAHR on Ag Day at the Capitol, Honolulu, HI. April 15, 2015 (> 300 visitors).
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Chen G., A. Buchanan, L. Kolb, R.R. Weil and C.R.R. Hooks. 2015. Effects of Reduced Tillage on Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality of Organic Eggplant. ASA-CSSA-SSSA annual meeting. Minneapolis, MN. Attendance: ~50.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Sugano, J., S. Fukuda, K.-H. Wang, T. Radovich, A. Pant, J. Uyeda. Soil health workshops with NRCS. Poamoho Experiment Station, Waialua, HI. Feb 7, 2015 (Attendance: ~50).
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Wang, K.-H. Soil health and ground cover for home gardeners. Oahu Master Gardener, Urban Garden Center, Pearl City, Jan 24, 2015 (Attendance: ~40).
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Wang, K.-H. Soil health and ground cover for community garden. The Olaloa Garden Club, Mililani. Jan 15, 2015 (Attendance: ~30).
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Wang, K.-H., J. Sugano, J. Uyeda and T. Radovich. CRATE Field Day with NRCS. Poamoho Experiment Station, Waialua, HI. Oct 25, 2014 (Attendance: ~45).
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Wang, K.-H. and S. Ching. Organic Field Day. Waimanalo Research Station, July 26, 2014 (Attendance: > 100).
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Hooks, C.R.R. and G. Chen+. 2015. Evaluation of minimum till practices for managing weeds in vegetable. 2015 Central Maryland Vegetable Growers Meeting. Upperco, MD, January 30, 2015. Attendance 55.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Hooks, C.R.R. and G. Chen. 2015. Effects of two conservation tillage practices on weed management and vegetable yield. 2015 Southern Maryland Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference. Clements, MD, February 04, 2015. Attendance 50.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Hooks, C.R.R. and G. Chen. 2015. Can reduced tillage and cover crop residue be used to manage weeds in organically grown vegetables? Maryland Organic Food and farming Association (MOFFA) Winter Meeting. Annapolis, Maryland, February 21, 2015. Attendance 25
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Hooks, C.R.R. and G. Chen. 2015. Small Farm Conference. Princess Anne, MD. Workshop session Integrated Pest Management for Vegetable Growers. Talk title: Using reduced tillage and cover crops as part of an IWM program for vegetables. November 06-07, 2015. Attendance 20
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
C.R.R. Hooks. 2015. Using cover crops for pest suppression in organic and conventional systems. Private Applicators Re-certification Conference. Purcellville and Remington VA. Attendance 55.
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Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Our target audiences include local growers, extension personnals, scientists and researchers. The results have been disseminated to communities of interest mainly through field twilights, organic field day, local growers’ vegetable meetings, and MOFFA (Maryland Organic Food and Farmers Association) meetings. PD Chen and co-PI Hooks have also communicated with local growers via phone calls or e-mails to answer their questions. Dr. Chen, Hooks, and Buchanan also published their findings on local newsletters. Dr. Chen is going to present their findings in the coming academic conference (SSSA-ASA-CSSA 2013 annual meeting) in Tampa, FL this November. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Dr. Chen, the project director, has been responsible for coordinating with co-PI’s. she has also been in charge of maintaining field experiment, performing and supervising field sampling on GHG emissions, soil quality, weed control, plant growth and yields, data analysis, etc.. A post doc., Amanda Buchanan was hired this spring to help work on weed management. Through this project, four undergraduate students were hired and trained in the summer of 2012, two post-graduates, two undergraduate students, two middle school teachers, and one high school student were hired and trained in the summer of 2013. One of the undergraduates entered the graduate school this fall working on a relative research project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The results have been disseminated to communities of interest mainly through field twilights, organic field day, local growers’ vegetable meetings, and MOFFA (Maryland Organic Food and Farmers Association) meetings. PD Chen and co-PI Hooks have also communicated with local growers via phone calls or e-mails to answer their questions. Dr. Chen, Hooks, and Buchanan also published their findings on local newsletters. Dr. Chen has presented their findings in the Northeastern Branch of ASA-CSSA-SSSA annual meeting. Newark, DE. Jun. 23-26, 2013 and is going to present their findings in the coming professional conference (SSSA-ASA-CSSA 2013 annual meeting) in Tampa, FL this November. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We will continue with the third-year field experiment by growing eggplant in the summer of 2014. Field data collection will be the same as have done in the past. We will continue providing professional training for graduates and undergraduates and working with local growers. Besides, we will work more on the data at the end of next growing season and find out what the trends are on greenhouse gas emissions, soil quality change, weeds and insect control, crop performance and economic benefits from different tillage systems during the 3-year transitioning period. The results will again be disseminated to communities of interest through local growers’ meetings, professional and extension publications, and field days.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Field experiments were established in September 2011 at the University of Maryland's Central Maryland Research and Education Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. By the end of August 2013, we have finished two-third of this three-year project. A mixture of crimson clover and forage radish cover crop was planted in September 2011. In September 2012, a modified mixture of three cover crops (crimson clover, forage radish and rye) was planted as adding rye cover crop could achieve better summer weeds control. Cover crop growth was monitored over the winter and the spring. Cover crop biomass and nitrogen content were sampled before mowing. Tillage treatments were applied before planting cover crops in the August of 2011 and 2012, early May 2012 before eggplants transplanting, and early May 2013 before planting sweet corn. During the two-year experimental period, we have collected data on soil nitrogen mineralization, moisture and temperature, greenhouse gas emissions, weed density and time for weeding, plant growth and yield, and fruit insect damage from different tillage treatments. PD Chen and PI Hooks have presented the findings about ten times at local growers’ meetings in different regions of Maryland focusing on different subjects, and four field days on the farm. PD Chen has been working with local grower Dave Liker (owner of the Gorman Produce Farm) on adopting crimson clover cover crop and reduced-tillage system (strip-till, possibly) to his organic vegetable production systems. PD Chen also worked closely with Maryland Vegetable Association monitoring the influences of black plastic mulch on soil temperature, moisture, and plant growth and yield.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
1. Chen, G., L. Kolb, C. R2 Hooks, R. R. Weil, and M. Cavigelli. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Affected By Tillage, Surface Mulch and Fertilization Managements For Organic Vegetable Productions. Northeastern Branch of ASA-CSSA-SSSA annual meeting. Newark, DE. Jun. 23-26, 2013.
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