Progress 11/14/13 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In addition to training activities directed at extension faculty, the PI coordinated similar trainings for farmer groups on Oahu, Maui and Big Island. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been communicated through direct interaction with clientele, a thesis, and the development of web tools. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Goal 1 (Web tools) Developed and launched the web-based Hawaii soil Atlas (http://gis.ctahr.hawaii.edu/SoilAtlas) housed at the CTAHR GIS Portal (http://gis.ctahr.hawaii.edu/). The tool allows for easy access to soil maps for all the main islands of Hawaii. It is an interactive tool that allows the user to identify a location (visually using a Google Earth image or by inputting an address) and determine the soil map unit associated with the location. The tool has assembled all relevant soil data for the map unit and presents the information using laymen terminology, and also visually by summary graphs highlighting key properties of the specific soil. The tool provides a simple easily manipulated interface to rapidly access and use soil data for any location across the main Hawaiian Islands. In close collaboration with Dr. Miura and his graduate student (Jacob Gross), we developed and launched the HI-CROP Web Mapper tool (http://gis.ctahr.hawaii.edu/CropSuitability). The tool displays a coffee suitability map for the island of Hawai'i. Users can visualize the lands most or least suitable for coffee production. The tool was designed to accommodate additional crops. At present the coffee module has been expanded to all eight Hawaiian Islands, and data for additional crops has been added. I acquired a Supplemental funding award to modify an online irrigation and nutrient management tool called CropManage (https://v3.cropmanage.ucanr.edu/Home/SplashPage?ReturnUrl=%2F) developed by Dr. Michael Cahn (University of California, Cooperative Extension). The funding supported a MS graduate student who performed laboratory and field evaluations of the quick nitrate soil test, which is the key diagnostic tool used in the CropManage software to make nitrogen fertilizer recommendations. The student completed his thesis work in 2018. His work validated the accuracy of the nitrate quick test for a range of important agricultural soils, and he also found that soil nitrate critical concentrations for leafy green vegetable crops were similar to those developed in California. The soil nitrate quick test is now an important tool available to CTAHR extension faculty, which allows a rapid diagnosis of soil nitrate status, and the ability to make an appropriate nitrogen fertilizer recommendation. In 2016, Dr. Bateni (Water Resources Research Center) and I received a large competitive award ($999,708) from the NRCS-CIG National Program entitled "Real-time Optimization of Irrigation Scheduling for Farmlands in Hawaii, Guam, and American Samoa." With this award we have begun to modify the irrigation scheduling module in CropManage to work in Hawaii, Guam, and American Samoa farmlands. To date we have collected baseline data needed to adapt the algorithms for irrigation scheduling in CropManage for a range of important vegetable crops. We have also setup automated weather stations at farm sites on Oahu, Maui, Guam, and American Samoa, which have been linked with the CropManage system. On-farm trials assessing the irrigation scheduling with the CropManage tool will begin in 2019. In 2017 Dr. Susan Crow and I secured $449, 968 3-year grant from USDA-NIFA in support of a project entitled "Putting the farmer in the driver's seat: integrated web tool for improved soil health and carbon assessment monitoring and planning." The web tool will provide a portal housing educational information pertaining to soil health and carbon sequestration in managed and unmanaged lands of Hawaii, a place for farmers to track soil health monitoring on their lands, and the Comet-Farm tool adapted for Hawaii soils and climates where land users, faculty, students and policy makers can explore management strategies and their effects on soil health and carbon sequestration. The tool will be linked to the Hawaii Soil Atlas and other data layers important for agriculture and natural resource management. Goal 2 Through funding acquired from a supplemental grant (Developing decision tools to improve nitrogen and irrigation management for intensive vegetable production systems in Hawaii) a graduate was hired to adapt the soil nitrate quick test (SNQT) to Hawaii soils and vegetable farming systems. The first part of the adaption process required an accuracy assessment of the SNQT across the range of soil diversity present on Hawaii's vegetable farms. A total of 128 soil samples across six soil orders, with a wide range of soil nitrate concentrations, and from diverse vegetable cropping systems was collected and analyzed by the SNQT and the standard laboratory colorimetric method. We obtained a high correlation between the standard laboratory method and the SNQT (r2 = 0.96) indicating that the quick test provided an accurate measure of soil nitrate concentration. In order to use the SNQT as a nitrogen fertilizer diagnostic and recommendation tool, we needed to develop crop specific soil nitrate critical concentrations. A series of nitrogen response trails were established on Oahu and Maui to identify the soil nitrate critical concentration for head cabbage and Chinese cabbage. Results showed that the soil nitrate critical concentration for both crops was 35 mg NO3-N kg-1. For these to important crops, farmers can now use the SNQT to determine whether a nitrogen fertilizer event is required; if the SNQT shows nitrate concentrations below 35 mg NO3-N kg-1, then a side dress of nitrogen fertilizer is recommended. Through funds from the supplemental funding and the USDA-CIG grants mentioned above, we have completed the first phase of adapting the CropManage tool to assist farmers implement cost-effective irrigation practices across a range of vegetable farming systems in Hawaii. Crop data (i.e., crop coefficients and root growth dynamics) are now part of the data library in CropManage. Automated wifi-enabled weather stations are also connected to the CropManage software. The irrigation scheduling module of CropManage is now functional. The next step will involve establishing field trials in Hawaii to assess the effectiveness of irrigation scheduling using the web-based CropManage tool. Goal 3 (Training) The PI provided one-on-one training on the use of the Hawaii Soil Atlas web tool for extension faculty involved in crop production. The training gave extension faculty the ability to use the Atlas tool to identify soil types at any location of choice, retrieve relevant soil information, and use the information to inform clientele. The PI provided one-on-one training on the use of the CropManage software to guide irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer scheduling. The agents are now able to setup new farm sites in the CropManage system and help local Hawaii farmers manipulate the software to provide irrigation scheduling capability. Under the leadership of the graduate students, extension faculty were trained on the use of the in-field soil nitrate quick test. Extension faculty in Honolulu, Maui, and Hawaii Counties are now capable of using the SNQT to conduct in-field nitrate testing and use the result to make a fertilizer diagnosis and recommendation.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2018 Citation: Butnan, S., Deenik, J.L., Toomsan, B., and Vityakon, P. 2018. Biochar properties affecting carbon stability in soils contrasting in texture and mineralogy. Agriculture and Natural Resources. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anres.2018.03.002
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Loo, M. 2018. Building the foundation for the CropManage nitrogen fertilizer decision support framework to guide Hawaiis vegetable production systems. University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI.

Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Students, graduate students, extension agents, farmers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project provided training for 3 undergraduate students and 1 graduate student working directly under my supervision. Five extension agents received training opportunities through their direct involvement in project activities. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated directly to participating growers through written reports and field visits. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue field on-farm field trials associated with the development of a Hawaii specific form of CropManage.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Developing Decision Tools to Improve Nitrogen and Irrigation Management for Intensive Vegetable Production Systems in Hawaii (PI): We conducted two field trials to determine soil nitrate critical concentration for optimum cabbage production using the SNQT. We implemented 5 nitrogen fertilization treatments (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg N ha-1) superimposed on two pre-plant N treatments (0 and 50 kg N ha-1). We monitored soil nitrate (NO3-N kg-1) concentration at two depths 0-15 and 15-30 cm) throughout the crop cycle using the SNQT. At crop maturity fresh aboveground cabbage biomass was determined and plotted against SNQT nitrate concentration for each of the sampling times (1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after transplant). We used a semi-quantitative Cate-Nelson graphical approach and a quantitative fitting of the data with a two-parameter segmented equation to determine soil nitrate critical concentration separating responsive from non-responsive soils. At both sites, the SNQT at 3 weeks after transplanting was most predictive of biomass production. Soil nitrate critical concentration derived from both the Cate-Nelson and segmented equation was 32-36 mg NO3-N kg-1. The results indicate that increasing fertilizer applications beyond the soil NO3-N kg-1 critical concentration of 36 mg kg-1 did not result in higher crop yield. Fertilizer N application corresponding to optimum growth was 100 kg ha-1. Two farmer field days were conducted in Kula, Maui; the first to introduce members of the Kula Vegetable Cooperative to the concept and use of the SNQT and the second to demonstrate its use in the field at our N rate experiment at the Kula Agricultural Park. The second field day included the training of new extension agents (Kylie Wong and Joshua Sylva) in the use of the SNQT. Real-time Optimization of Irrigation Scheduling for Farmlands in Hawaii, Guam, and American Samoa (Co-PI): In a multi-institution collaboration with Dr. Sayed Bateni (Water Resources Research Center), Dr. Mohammad Golabi (University of Guam), Ian Gurr (American Samoa Community College), and CTAHR extension agents R. Shimabuku, R. Hamasaki, and J. Uyeda, we won a $999,708 competitive award from the NRCS-CIG National Program entitled "Real-time Optimization of Irrigation Scheduling for Farmlands in Hawaii, Guam, and American Samoa" to continue and augment the irrigation component of my 2015 Integrated HATCH Supplemental award (Developing Decision Tools to Improve Nitrogen and Irrigation Management for Intensive Vegetable Production Systems in Hawaii). Under my direct leadership, accomplishments to date include: 1) implementation of on-farm data collection field sites in Waianae, North Shore, Ewa, and the Kula Agricultural Park on Maui in collaboration with six farmers; and 2) establishment of automated weather stations at each site to record hourly micrometeorological data (wind speed, air temperature, rainfall, incoming solar radiation, and relative humidity) these data will be used in the Penman-Monteith equation to estimate real-time potential evapotranspiration (PET). Results to date include measurement of fraction of canopy coverage (%) by near-infrared imagery and root depth (Rd) were measured for 13 different crops, namely 1) Broccoli, 2) Head Cabbage, 3) Won Bok, 4) Arugula, 5) Tatsoi, 6) Red Salad, 7) Lolla Rosa, 8) Red Russian Kale, 9) Mesclun, 10) Cilantro, 11) Maize, 12) Onion, and 13) Zucchini. The fraction of canopy cover measurements from different fields will be used in the "Pacific Islands CropManage (PICM)" website to estimate crop coefficients during the crop cycle. The root depth will be used to estimate soil water storage throughout a cropping cycle. Co-PI Uyeda and I trained Co-PIs Golabi and Gurr and their field staff on how to establish field sites, configure weather stations, collect canopy near-infrared imagery, process imagery to estimate fraction of canopy coverage, measure root depth, and create a database structure to store and share data. We also assisted the America Samoa team establish on-farm data collection sites. Data collection has begun in Guam and American Samoa. Measurable Soil Quality (Co-PI): With the hiring of a GA on the project in January 2017, a Masters student was hired and she successfully defendeda thesis proposal entitled "Towards a Hawaii Soil Health Index: Indicator Development for soil Health and Carbon Sequestration Potential and Applications of Farmer Perspectives" outlining a research plan that addresses the core objectives of the CTAHR funded Supplemental HATCH project. The student hasidentified of 18 soil indicators to be evaluated for use in a Hawaii-specific soil health test. Preliminary results testing the sensitivity of the water stable aggregate indicator to organic and conventional farm management, showed that the percent of water stable aggregates in soil samples were significantly higher in the 0.25-2 mm and 2-4 mm aggregate size classes at the organic management property versus the conventional management property. This initial finding of aggregate stability supports its potential as an indicator of soil health sensitive to soil management. In June, we submitted a $497,000 proposal entitled "Putting the Farmer in the Driver's Seat: Integrative Web Tool for Improved Soil Health and Carbon Assessment, Monitoring, and Planning" to the USDA-NIFA AFRI Foundation Program. Hawaii Crop Suitability Modelling (Co-PI): Collaborative efforts continued with PI Dr. Miura (NREM) to expand the HICROP crop suitability analysis tool (http://gis.ctahr.hawaii.edu/CropSuitability) from three crops (coffee, macadamia nut, sweet potato) to seven crops (corn, cucumber, Chinese cabbage, bulb onion, breadfruit, cassava, and soybean). The model addresses current and future (late 21st century) climate conditions. Output maps ranking land suitability for each of the crops were produced in 100m cell size on the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Zone 4N grid, North American Datum 1983 (NAD83). The model considered the six environmental factors including rainfall, temperature, slope, soil pH, soil depth, and soil drainage. For each crop, these input layers were converted into suitability scores that ranged from 0 to 100 on a per-grid basis by comparing the values found on grid cells to the predetermined suitable ecological range (crop growth parameters) for the crop. The overall suitability score for each crop was determined as the minimum value found among the six input layers on a per-grid basis. Assumptions underlying the modelling exercise were no irrigation, no land cover/use is factored, and a mechanized production system. The model outputs included 7 maps depicting a land suitability ranking for each crop and a table summarizing modelling results. The model outputs were validated through visual inspection of the mapping results by Dr. Jonathan Deenik and by comparison with the Statewide Agricultural Land Use Baseline 2015 data (Melrose et al., 2016). We consider that our modeling results are acceptable, but that the crop environmental ranges should be improved to produce more reasonable results. Difference images that depict the changes in crop growth suitability from the current to the projected future conditions have also been generated. It should be noted that the units are different for the color stretch spectrum of each. We purposely color-stretched each difference map uniquely in order to make the color distinction clearly. To expand the work, we wrote a Supplemental HATCH project entitled "Land Suitability Analysis for Crop Growth" that was selected for funding (2017-2019).

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Yu, J., Deem, L.M., Crow, S.E., Deenik, J.L., and Penton, C.R. 2017. Biochar application influences on microbial assemblage complexity and composition due to soil and bioenergy crop type interactions. Soil biology and Biochemistry.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Long, M.S., Litton, C.M., Giardina, C.P., Deenik, J.L., Cole, R.J., and Sparks, J.P. 2017. Impact of nonnative feral pig removal on soil structure and nutrient availability in Hawaiian tropical montane wet forests. Biological Invasions 19(3):749-763.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Deenik, J.L. and Duponcheel, L. 2017. Soils and Agriculture on Tinian. Cooperative Extension Service Publication, CTAHR, SCM-34, pp. 8.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Hubanks, H.L., Deenik, J.L., and Crow, S.E. 2017. Towards a Hawai`I soil health index: water stable aggregates and carbon pools following change from conventional to conservation management. Poster presentation. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and College of Engineering, University of Hawaii at Mano, April 7-8.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Hubanks, H.L., Deenik, J.L., and Crow, S.E. 2017. Towards a Hawai`I soil health index: water stable aggregates and carbon pools following change from conventional to conservation management. Hawaii Agriculture Conference, Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu, Aug 29-30, 2017.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Deenik, J.L. 2017. Atolls to high volcanoes: soil diversity and agricultural adaptation across Micronesia. William A. Tex Frazier Lecture Annual Conference American Society of Horticultural Science, September 19, 2017, Waikaloa Hilton, Waikaloa, Hawaii.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Loo, M., Uyeda, J., Cahn, M.D., and Deenik, J.L. 2017. A Framework to Improve Nitrogen Fertilizer Use Efficiency in Intensive Vegetable Systems of Hawaii. Annual Conference American Society of Horticultural Science, September 19, 2017, Waikaloa Hilton, Waikaloa, Hawaii.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Reppun, F., Silva, J.H.S., Wong, K., and Deenik, J.L. 2017. A Soil Phosphorus Primer for Hawaiian Soils. Cooperative Extension Service Publication, CTAHR, SCM-33, pp. 5.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Deenik, J.L. and Loo, M.K. 2017. Preliminary assessment of the Solvita CO2 test in characterizing management effects on soil biological activity in some soils of Hawaii. Proceedings of the Western Region Nutrient Management Conference, Vol. 12, Reno, NV, March 2-3 , 2017.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Loo, M., Crow, S., Ryals, R., Yost, R., and Deenik, J. 2017. Soil Nitrate Quick Test Offers Accurate, Practical, Rapid, and Cost-effective Method for Soil Nitrate Determination in Hawaii Commercial Vegetable Production. Poster presentation. Student Research Symposium, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and College of Engineering, University of Hawaii at Mano, April 7-8.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Loo, M., Uyeda, J., Cahn, M., Yost, R., Ryals, R., and Deenik, J. 2017. Linking Research and Extension; On-Farm Impacts of a Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Framework. Oral presentation. Student Research Symposium, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and College of Engineering, University of Hawaii at Mano, April 7-8.

Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Students, fellow scientists, extension agents, and farmers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? 1 undergraduate research opportunity (UROP) awardee completed a research project entitled"Conversion of Food Waste to Renewable Energy and Nutrient-Rich Bioslurry" under my supervision. 1 MS student funded through my supplemental funding project entitled "Developing Decision Tools to Improve Nitrogen and Irrigation Management for Intensive Vegetable Production Systems in Hawaii" has completed his first year and passed his proposal defense. Three extension agents (R.Hamasaki, R. Shimabuku and J. Uyeda) are collaborating with me on my supplemental project. Through this collaboration, they have gained new knowledge and skills on the fundamentals of irrigation scheduling and rapid tests for soil nitrate. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Biochar research has been presented at National scientific meetings. Project results on Irrigation scheduling and rapid soil nitrate testing techniques have been presented to participating farmers on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii islands. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?1. Data collection campaigns to adapt CropManage software will continue on Oahu and expand to Maui and the Big Island. Two additional Oahu farmers and three farmers on Maui and Big Island have been recruited. Data collection will begin in January 2017. 2. A replicated field experiment will be implemented on Oahu to develop soil nitrate critical concentration values for leafy green vegetables. This experiment will provide the ability to interpret SNQT values. 3. A long term nitrogen mineralization experiment will be conducted to develop predictive capacity for N mineralization potential of important agricultural soils of Hawaii.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Biochar A two-year series of field trials and laboratory incubation experiments studying biochar effects on soil fertility and plant productivity at the CTAHR Poamoho and Waimanalo Research Stations were completed. Overall, biochar increased soil C by 47% compared to the control and influenced soil microbial community abundance but had little impact on other soil properties and crop yields. The biochar itself began to breakdown within the soil and become coated in clay particles. To assess the response to temperature, the soils collected after one year were incubated across an eight-point gradient to determine temperature sensitivity for both soil respiration and N2O flux. At 26°C there were no treatment effects in soil respiration, but for N2O the Mollisol had increased flux (p<0.01). Using the full gradient, the temperature sensitivity of the soils was assessed; almost all treatments had an increase in soil respiration with temperature. However, biochar nearly doubled the temperature sensitivity of soils (p=0.017). Most soils were temperature insensitive for N2O flux, with the exception of the Mollisol napiergrass biochar. Given the importance of N2O in the context of climate change, the gene encoding nitrous oxide reductase (nosZ) was enumerated in concert with the total microbial community (16S rRNA gene) using quantitative PCR. While total microbial abundance and the abundance of genes(?) involved in denitrification did not change with biochar and actually decreased with temperature (p=0.0088), the ratio of denitrifying bacteria to total bacteria nearly doubled in the 31°C compared to the 23°C (p=0.0144). The soils were then provided with an addition of a labile C source, similar to the addition of organic inputs or root exudates to see how the temperature-adapted communities responded. The biochar amended soils at 31°C had respiration 47% greater compared to soils with biochar at 23°C while the microbial abundance increased by 65% in the 31°C, although it was not significant. Conversely, no differences were found in N2O flux or in nosZ genes for the glucose amended soils. However, between the day 60 and labile soils, the denitrifying bacteria had greater abundance in the day 60 soils whereas the overall microbial abundance was increased in the labile soils. These results suggest that in some cases, while biochar increases soil C sequestration, it may exacerbate effects of climate change by increasing the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration in both more stable and more labile C pools as well as increase the temperature sensitivity of soil N2O flux in specific system. This indicates a need for a better understanding of how biochar alters the soil environment and a risk assessment for the use of biochar as a climate change mitigation strategy. From June to August, I supervised a biochar research project conducted by visiting Borlaug Fellow Dr. Chuong Nguyen from Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Min City. His research entailed investigating the effects of two biochar materials differing in physico-chemical properties on soil biological properties and cacao seedling growth. The biochar with higher volatile matter content showed the highest soil microbial activity as measured by CO2 evolution whereas the biochar with lower volatile matter and higher ash content showed the highest growth cacao seedling response. Soil Health Assessment Using soil samples collected from a series three field experiments conducted at the Kula Agricultural Park consisting of four organic soil management practices and conventional control we conducted an assessment of the Solvita soil respiration rapid test as way to measure soil biological health. The Solvita® test is currently being proposed as a rapid test for mineralizable C as a proxy measure for (a) the active pool of soil organic C and (b) the overall biological activity of the soil. We present a preliminary dataset evaluating the sensitivity of the Solvita test to discern management effects on soil C pools and biological activity across a range of soils differing in physical and mineralogical properties and farm management approaches. The results suggest that the Solvita test will be an important tool in helping farmers quickly diagnose management effects on soil biological health across a wide range of agricultural soils of Hawaii. We also show that the Solvita test is related to the accumulation of active C in the soil. Anaerobic Digestion of Food Waste Through funding obtained from the UH Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, Sean Reseigh (NREM) conducted laboratory and greenhouse experiments to evaluate the bio-methane potential (BMP) and bioslurry use as a soil amendment from anaerobic digestion of food waste produced at the University of Hawaii's Campus Center Cafeteria. The cafeteria at the Manoa campus center produces 584 tons of food waste annually. In a batch incubation experiment with food waste to inoculum treatments of 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1, methane production was optimized at 416 mL CH4 per g of volatile solid. The food waste bioslurry was then tested for its use as an organic fertilizer in a greenhouse experiment. The bioslurry applied at 200 and 400 mg N per kg produced equal plant growth to plants supplied with 400 mg N per kg from conventional blended fertilizer. Childrens Healthy Living Project I oversaw the conclusion of the Prevalence surveys in the Freely Associated States (The Republic of the Marshall Islands, The Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau). Final reports of the survey data were compiled and presented to the Ministries of Health and Education in each of the jurisdictions. The agrofoest survey in Pohnpei was completed and the results reported back to the community. Developing Decision Tools to Improve Nitrogen and Irrigation Management for Intensive Vegetable Production Systems in Hawaii. A graduate student was hired to initiate research work address objectives 1 (to modify the CropManage N uptake algorithm and crop coefficients for Hawaii grown lettuce and cabbage) and 2 (to evaluate the effectiveness of the soil nitrate quick test (SQNT) and N uptake models as tools to improve N fertilizer application guidelines). Aloun Farms on Oahu was recruited as the primary data collection site to begin building biomass, root growth, N uptake, and canopy algorithms required to model crop water and nitrogen use. Datasets for two cropping cycles each of broccoli, won bok, and head cabbage have been collected. In addition, the soil nitrate quick test (SNQT), used widely in the Salinas Valley (CA), was evaluated for use in Hawaii. The field data collection campaigns have resulted in the development of algorithms predicting biomass accumulation, N uptake, root growth, and canopy growth for broccoli, head cabbage and Chinese cabbage. These algorithms will be added the CropManage software as we move towards adapting CropManage for Hawaii cropping systems. We have also collected a substantial dataset (n=120) to evaluate the performance of the SNQT for Hawaii soils. Results show that the SNQT is highly correlated with the standard lab procedure (r2=0.97). We have full confidence that this test can be adopted by county extension agents as a rapid diagnostic tool to assess in-field soil nitrate concentrations.

Publications

• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Meulemans, J. 2016. NREM M.S. Plan A, Thesis option, Systems approach to assessing the environmental and economic sustainability of food and fuel crops with biochar soil amendment, May 2016.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Deem, L. 2016. NREM M.S. Plan A Mechanistic understanding of improvements in yield and sustainability of biochar-amended soil, May 2016.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Novotny, R., Li, F., Fialkowski, M.K., Bersamin, A., Tufa, A., Deenik, J., Coleman, P., Guerrero, R.L., and Wilkens, L.R. 2016. Prevalence of obesity and acanthosis nigricans among young children in the children's healthy living program in the United States Affiliated Pacific. Medicine 95(37):4711
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Li, F., Wilkens, L.R., Novotny, R., Fialkowski, M.K., Paulino, Y.C., Nelson, R., Bersamin, A., Martin, U., Deenik, J.L., and Boushey, C.J. 2016. Anthropometric Measurement Standardization in the US-Affiliated Pacific: Report from the Children's Healthy Living Program. American Journal of Human Biology 28(3): 364-371
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Novotny, R., Li, F., Fialkowski, M.K., Bersamin, A., Tufa, A., Deenik, J., Coleman, P., Guerrero, R.L., and Wilkens, L.R. 2016. Prevalence of obesity and acanthosis nigricans among young children in the children's healthy living program in the United States Affiliated Pacific. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016 Sep;95(37):e4711. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000004711.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Sumiyoshi, Y., Crow, S.E., Litton, C.M., Deenik, J.L., Taylor, A.D., Turano, B., and Ogoshi, R. 2016. Belowground impacts of perennial grass cultivation for sustainable biofuel feedstock production in the tropics. GCB Bioenergy doi:10.1111/gcbb.12379
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Butnan, S., Deenik, J.L., Toomsan, B., Vityakon, P., and Antal Jr., M.J. 2016. Biochar properties influencing greenhouse gas emissions in tropical soils differing in texture and mineralogy. J. Environ. Q. 45(5):1509-1519.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Deenik, J.L. and Cooney, M.J. 2016. The potential benefits and limitations of corn cob and sewage sludge biochar in an infertile Oxisol. Sustainability 8(2):131
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Fialkowski, M.K., Delornier, T., Hattori-Uchima, M., Leslie, J.H., Greenberg, J., Kim, J.H., Deenik, J.L., Dunn, M.A., Areta, A.A.R., and Novotny, R. 2015. Children's Healthy Living Program (CHL) Indigenous Workforce Training to Prevent Childhood Obesity in the Underserved US Affiliated Pacific Region. 2015. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, Vol: 26(2): 83-95
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Novotny, R., Li, F.F., Fialkowski, M., Vargo, D., Areta, A.A.R., Deenik, J., Guerrero, R.L., and Kim, J. 2015. Child Obesity and Acanthosis Nigricans in the Children's Healthy Living Program (CHL). Federation Amer Soc Exp Biol Journal, Vol 29 Supplement 1, Meeting Abstract 902.9
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Novotny, R., Fialkowski, M.K., Li, F.F., Paulino, Y., Vargo, D., Jim, R., Coleman, P., Bersamin, A., Nigg, C.R., Guerrero, R.T.L., Deenik, J., Kim, J.H., and Wilkens, L.R. 2015. Systematic Review of Prevalence of Young Child Overweight and Obesity in the United States-Affiliated Pacific Region Compared With the 48 Contiguous States: The Children's Healthy Living Program. American Journal of Public Health 105(1):22-35
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Crow, S.E., Meulemans, J., Deem, L., Biegert, K., Deenik, J., Yanagida, J., and Penton, C.R. 2016. The practical benefits of biochar application to environmental and economic viability. Biochar 2016 The Synergy of Science and Industry: Biochars connection to Ecology, Soil, Food, and Energy. Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, August 2016.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Deem, L.M., Crow, S.E., Deenik, J., Penton, C.R., and Yu, C. 2016. Biochar increases temperature sensitivity of soil respiration and N2O flux. Biochar 2016 The Synergy of Science and Industry: Biochars connection to Ecology, Soil, Food, and Energy. Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, August 2016.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Meulemans, J.*, Crow, S.E., Deem*, L., Yanagida, J., and Deenik, J. 2015. Effects of biochar amendment on GHG emission from tropical agricultural soils in two crop managements in Hawaii. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA International Annual Meetings, Minneapolis, MN, November 2015. (contributed poster)
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Deem, L.M., Crow, S.E., Deenik, J., Penton, R., and Yu, J. 2015. The evaluation of biochar effects at both the field and laboratory scale: soil carbon, microbial community composition, and carbon dioxide efflux. 5th International Symposium on Soil Organic Matter, G�ttingen, Germany, September, 2015. (contributed poster)
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Biegert*, K., Marhan, S., Meulemans*, J., Crow, S.E., and Deenik, J. 2015. Biochar effects on greenhouse gas emissions from two Hawaiian arable soils. Meeting of the German Soil Science Society, M�nchen (Germany), September 2015. (contributed poster)
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Yu, J., Crow, S.E., Deenik, J., Penton, C.R., and Deem, L. 2015. The effect of biochar amendment on microbial community composition, American Society for Microbiology, 115th General Meeting, New Orleans, LA, May 2015.

Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:Vegetable farmers in Hawaii Health workers and Department of Education teachers in the Federated States of Micronesia Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?1. Field day for Maui County vegetable farmers (25 participants) 2. Inservice trainings (3) to standardize local public health workers and elementary school teachers in Yap, Kosrae, and Chuuk States (Federated States of Micronesia) in anthropometric measurements (height, weight, waist circumference). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?1. Three peer-reviewed journal articles on results from CHL activities. 2. Field day for Maui farmers. 3. Community meetings in Yap, Kosrae and Chuuk to report back prevalence survey results. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?1. Soil health assessment will be expanded to include an in-field soil nitrate quick test, aggregate stability and the evaluation of these tests and the Solvita test on a broad range of farms across the state.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Biochar Laboratory work, greenhouse experiments, and field trials studying biochar effects on soil fertility and plant productivity are ongoing. Laboratory and greenhouse studies were completed addressing the question whether biochar ash constituents were the primary drivers of plant growth response to biochar additions to soil. The laboratory studies evaluated two ash extraction procedures and the greenhouse study assessed ash extracted biochars and their non-extracted counterparts on plant growth response in an infertile acid Oxisol (i.e., highly weathered, low fertility, tropical soil). Five biochars with varying ash amounts were de-ashed by treatment with hot water (80C) and a strong acid-base extraction. Hot water extraction removed 32-38% ash from wood-based biochars with low ash content whereas ash removal with hot water from anaerobic digester and sewage sludge biochars was only 5-6%. Acid-base extraction was significantly more effective in removing ash from the biochars with 57-95% ash removed. Addition of wood-based biochar caused significant reduction in plant growth compared with the control while the anaerobic digester biochar produced similar plant growth and the sewage sludge biochar increased plant growth compared with the control. Acid-base treatment to remove ash caused lower plant growth compared to the untreated biochar for the two eucalyptus biochars and the sewage sludge biochar. The results to do not support the hypothesis that ash provides the primary benefit to plant growth across a range of biochar types. Soil Health Assessment A series three field experiments were conducted at the Kula Agricultural Park consisting of four organic soil management practices and conventional control to provide an opportunity to assess a rapid test of soil biological activity by Solvita soil respiration. Across the three planting cycles, the Solvita CO2 respiration test detected significantly higher respiration in the organically amended plots compared to the conventional control. The higher respiration rates showed significant correlations with total soil organic carbon concentrations and dissolved organic carbon. These results suggest that the Solvita test can be used by farmers to indicate broad changes in soil biological activity due to soil management practices. Childrens Healthy Living Project I continued to lead the implementation and completion of three prevalence surveys on child health in Yap, Kosrae, and Chuuk States (Federated States of Micronesia). Anthropometric data, sleep and activity behavior data, socio-economic and cultural data, and a 2-day food log were collected from 569 children in the three jurisdictions. Body mass index data for Yap State show that the majority (81%) of the children fall within the healthy weight category, with 7% overweight, 5% obese, and 7% underweight according to USDA standards. Forty percent of the children met the minimum standard for daily activity while 55% of the children did not meet the minimum sleep requirement for their age group. Body mass index data for Kosrae State show that the majority (85%) of the children fall within the healthy weight category, with 7% overweight, 4% obese, and 4% underweight according to USDA standards. Sixty-two percent of the children met the minimum standard for daily activity while 67% of the children did not meet the minimum sleep requirement for their age group. Body mass index data for Chuuk State show that the majority (87%) of the children fall within the healthy weight category, with 8% overweight, 1% obese, and 4% underweight according to USDA standards. Seventy-seven percent of the children met the minimum standard for daily activity while 63% of the children did not meet the minimum sleep requirement for their age group. The State Department of Education will use the data to inform policy development to promote healthy eating, activity and sleep behaviors at the Early Childhood Education Centers. A follow-up study has been implemented to gather food system information from the parents/caregivers of children who previously participated in CHL measurement communities in Pohnpei. The focus of this research activity is to gather baseline data to describe the current status of agroforest diversity (the range of cultivated food crops), its productivity (the quantity), and the relationship of biodiversity to health in two communities (Sekere and Wenik) where a prevalence survey was previously conducted by CHL in October 2013. Sekere is representative of a more urban population whereas Wenik is representative of a rural community in Pohnpei. These communities were also selected as preliminary analysis of anthropometric data indicating that child Body Mass Index (BMI) was significantly higher in Wenik (rural) than Sekere (peri-urban). The overall research goal is to investigate whether differences in the agroforest properties and perceptions are linked to measured differences in child health. A household survey activity (n= ) and a field survey measuring biodiversity of a subset of households (n=20) in each community were completed. The agroforest composition in both communities was similar in number of food crops present (24 in Wenik, 21 in Sekere), but the rural community showed significantly greater species diversity (Simpson Index, P=0.0005) and species evenness (P=0.016). The rural community produced a significantly higher yield of food crops than the peri-urban community (P=0.0005). According to household survey results, both communities reported that most of the traditional crops grown in the agroforest were consumed at home with about half of the households reporting that they sold some of their crops. In both communities, a majority (91% in Wenik, 83% in Sekere) of the income generated from crop sales was used to purchase items with a high health risk (i.e., tobacco, alcohol, and processed imported foods).

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2015 Citation: Fialkowski, M.K., Delornier, T., Hattori-Uchima, M., Leslie, J.H., Greenberg, J., Kim, J.H., Deenik, J.L., Dunn, M.A., Areta, A.A.R, and Novotny, R. 2015. Children's Healthy Living Program (CHL) Indigenous Workforce Training to Prevent Childhood Obesity in the Underserved US Affiliated Pacific Region. 2015. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, Vol: 26(2): 83-95
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2015 Citation: Novotny, R., Li, F.F., Fialkowski, M., Vargo, D., Areta, A.A.R., Deenik, J., Guerrero, R.L., and Kim, J. 2015. Child Obesity and Acanthosis Nigricans in the Children's Healthy Living Program (CHL). Federation Amer Soc Exp Biol Journal, Vol 29 Supplement 1, Meeting Abstract 902.9
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2015 Citation: Novotny, R., Fialkowski, M.K., Li, F., Paulino, Y., Vargo, D., Jim, R., Coleman, P., Bersamin, A., Nigg, C.R., Leon Guerrero, R.T., Deenik, J.L., Kim, J.H., and Wilkens, L.R. 2015. Systematic Review of Prevalence of Young Child Overweight and Obesity in the United States-Affiliated Pacific Region Compared With the 48 Contiguous States: The Children's Healthy Living Program. American Journal of Public Health Vol 105(1): E22-E35

Progress 11/14/13 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: The primary target audiences served by the project are Extension faculty, NRCS technical staff, farmers, new farmer training programs, and students in Hawaii and the American Affiliated Pacific (Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and Republic of the Marshall Islands). Efforts have included one-on-one interactions with extension faculty, presentations at new farmer training programs, farmer workshops, on-farm trials, developmental meetings with NRCS staff, and one-on-one meetings with farmers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Farmer Field Schools 1. Four farmers received hands-on training to diagnose plant diseases/pests and implement variety trials. 2. Two meetings summarizing Farmer Field School activities were held in Kolonia, Pohnpei. One with the Department of Agriculture and the other with the Pohnpei Farmers Association. Biochar 1. One undergraduate honors student completed his honors thesis work on the remediation of Mn toxicity with biochar. 2. One undergraduate is halfway through his honors thesis project studying the influence of biochar ash content on soil properties and plant growth. Childrens Helathy Living Workshops were held in Pohnpei, Marshall Islands and Palau to provide training and measurement standardization for the Pohnpei (4 people), Marshall Island (6 people), and Palau (7 people) local teams assisting in the prevalence surveys. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Farmer Field Schools Biochar Results have been presented at the American Geophysical Unions 2013 Annual Meeting and the Soil Science Society of America CTAHR GIS Portal A demo of the Hawaii Soil Atlas was performed with the Director and staff of the Hawaii Agricultural Development Corporation. Childrens Healthy Living Preliminary survey results were presented to the Early Childhood Education Centers staff in Pohnpei and to one of the participating communities (Sekere). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Biochar 1. Established field trials will continue to be monitored for changes in soil properties. In addition to laboratory tests in field soil testing capacity will be evaluated. Tests will include pH, K, and NO3. 2. Current undergraduate Honors student will continue to evaluate ash contributions to changes in soil properties and plant growth response. 3. A new student has been brought on board to study biochar effects on soil microbial community structure/function and the influence on plant phytohormormone response in relation to plant growth. Childrens Helathy Living 1. Prevalence Survey to be completed in Yap State (FSM), Kosrae State (FSM) and Chuuk State (FSM) 2. Data for all prevalence surveys continues to be entered and as data entry is completed for each jurisdiction community reports will be generated and disseminated appropriately. 3. Junior Researcher will continue to implement Community Food Systems research activity.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Farmer Field Schools (Pohnpei, FSM) Building on work begun in summer of 2013, the Farmer Field School programcontinued in Sokehs, Nett, Uh and Madoleniwhm communities of Pohnpei. Farmer Field School programs were conducted in Feb 2014 to train 4 farmer leaders in IPM strategies and vegetablevariety selection trial protocols. Vegetable variety trials were established at four farms. Follow-up visits in July 2014 showed promising results for cherry tomato, eggplant, and Chinese cabbage production. Impact: 1) College of Micronesia faculty, extension agents, and farmers are knowledgeable and capable of diag nosing common plant diseases and pests on vegetable crops (powdery mildew, fusarium, etc...); 2) College of Micronesia faculty, extension agents, and farmers are knowledgeable and capable of implementing vegetable variety trials with the purpose of selecting high producing varieties. Biochar Laboratory work, greenhouse experiments, and field trials studying biochar effects on soil fertility and plant productivity have been completed and are ongoing. Laboratory studies to to test greenhouse gas emissions in an Oxisol (i.e., highly weathered, low fertility, tropical soil) were completed. Soil under four treatments (soil alone, soil +woodchip-based biochar, +organic fertilizer, and +biochar +organic fertilizer) were incubated at 16°C, 21°c, and 26°C to assess for labile C and apparent temperature sensitivity. When combined with an organic fertilizer, the application of biochar decreased labile C losses and reduced apparent temperature sensitivity while still maintaining corn yields. In general, as temperatures increase, soil respiration increases. However, if biochar promotes improved microbial C use efficiency, causes a shift to fungi (which partition C differently and respire less than bacteria), or physically protects labile organic matter in soil, then biochar may reduce the temperature sensitivity of soils by inhibiting organic matter from being degraded or by shifting the microbial community structure and function to one that uses C more efficiently, thus reducing respiration. To evaluate the potential of five biochars with differing physico-chemical properties in remediating Mn toxicity in acidic Oxisols a series of greenhouse experiments were implementedwith soybean as the test crop. Additionally, to compare the effects of calcium nutrition and pH, we conducted another experiment with 4 increasing rates of two different Ca sources, lime (CaCO3) and a neutral Ca salt (CaSO4). Our results showed that pH increase was effective in alleviating Mn toxicity from the soil; however, Ca nutrition independent of pH also contributed to alleviation. Biochar treatments maintained soybean growth similar to the limed control, despite having toxic levels of Mn in tissue and soil, suggesting alleviation by increasing plant Mn tolerance. A second planting in the same biochar treatments resulted in Mn toxicity in almost all biochars, suggesting that biochars' alleviating properties lack persistence in the soil, except for the anaerobic digest biochar, which continued to detoxify Mn. A follow-up bioassay grow-out was conducted, which gave results suggesting that alleviation from anaerobic digest biochar was from biochar-derived compounds absorbed into the plant. We propose that alleviation of Mn toxicity from biochar involves Mn tolerance through organic chelates, specifically phenolic compounds. Increasing internal tolerance with biochar can have implications not only in agriculture, but also in phytoremediation of heavy metals. Field trials testing the effect of an anaerobic digester biochar with and without an organic fertilizer supplement have shown no significant effects on napeir or sweet corn yields and soil properties one year after implementing the trials. CTAHR GIS Portal The Hawaii Soil Atlas webpage was completed and is now available to the public. Users can access the Atlas from personal computers to identify any soil in the state of Hawaii. The interactive webpage allows users to access descriptions and key data on all of Hawaii's soils. The information has been translated into lay language to make the soil information more usable for the broad public. The webpage has links to relevant websites containing technical information on the soils. Childrens Healthy Living Project I provided key leadership for the implementation and completion of three prevalence surveys on child health in Pohnpei, Marshall Islands, and Palau. Anthropometric data, sleep and activity behavior data, socio-economic and cultural data, and a 2-day food log were collected from 620 children in the three jurisdictions. Body mass index data for Pohnpei State show that the majority (78%) of the children fall within the healthy weight category, with 18% overweight and 4% obese according to USDA standards. Seventy-five percent of the children met the minimum standard for daily activity while 81% of the children did not meet the minimum sleep requirement for their age group. These data have been provided to Pohnpei State Public Health to be used to guide policy development to improve child health. The State Department of Education will use the data to inform policy development to promote healthy eating, activity and sleep behaviors at the Early Childhood Education Centers. In August 2013, a CHL sponsored addition to this study has been implemented to gather food system information from the parents/caregivers of children who previously participated in CHL measurement Pohnpei communities. The focus of this research activity is to gather baseline data to describe the current status of agroforest diversity (the range of cultivated food crops), its productivity (the quantity), and the relationship of biodiversity to health in one island community, Pohnpei of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). The research activities will focus on two communities (Sekere and Wenik) where a prevalence survey was previously conducted by CHL in October 2013. Sekere is representative of a more urban population whereas Wenik is representative of a rural community in Pohnpei. These communities were also selected as preliminary analysis of anthropometric data indicating that child Body Mass Index (BMI) was significantly higher in Wenik than Sekere. The overall research goal is to investigate whether differences in the agroforest properties and perceptions are linked to measured differences in child health. Survey tools have been developed and sent to the UH IRB for approval. Initial mapping of the agroforest has begun serving as baseline for the development of remotely sensed maps classifying the agroforest.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Penton, C.R., Deenik, J.L., Popp, B.N., Bruland, G.L., Engstrom, P., Mueller, J., Worden, A., and Tiedje, J. 2014. Assessing N transformations in a flooded agroecosystem using the isotope pairing technique and N functional gene abundances. Soil Science 179:2-10
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Wilken, L.R., Novotny, R., Fialkowski, M.K., Boushey, C.J., Nigg, C., Paulino, Y., Leon Geurrero, R., Bersamin, A., Vargo, D., Kim, J., Deenik, J.L. 2013. Childrens Healthy Living (CHL) Program for remote underserved minority populations in the Pacific region: rationale and design of a community randomized trial to prevent early childhood obesity . BMC Public Health, 13:944
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Novotny, R., Fialkowski, M.K., Areta, A.A.R., Bersamin, A., Braun, K., DeBaryshe, B., Deenik, J., Dunn, M., Hollyer, J., Kim, J., Leon Guerrero, R.T., Nigg, C.R., Takahashi, R.T., and Wilkens, L.R. 2013. The Pacific Way to Child Wellness: The Childrens Healthy Living Program for Remote Underserved Minority Populations of the Pacific Region (CHL).
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Deenik, J.L., Penton, C.R., and Bruland, G.L. 2013. N cycling in flooded taro agriculture. Cooperative Extension Service Publication, CTAHR, SCM-31, pp. 8.