Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Micro-predators are an essential part of healthy organic soils, but the impact of organic management on most predators is unknown. This project will investigate how organic matter amendments affect soil micro-predator diversity to promote crop health. Aligned with the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) 2024 priorities 1, 4, 5, and 8, it focuses on critical aspects of organic farming, including disease management and soil health, as well as development of educational materials. The primary goal is to enhance organic growers' understanding of the function of soil micropredator communities by examining the interactions between soil organic matter, microbiomes,and plant health. To accomplish this goal, our multidisciplinary team will:- Identify organic management and soil effects on predator function by conducting a "predator-ome" and soil health survey across 12 organic tomato farms in four states (Obj. 1).- Discover how different types of organic soil amendments support predator function and pathogen suppressiveness by conducting controlled microcosm experiments (Obj. 2).- Confirm and apply new knowledge of predator function by developing predator-based soil inoculants and grower testing kits (Obj. 3).- Educate growers and students about the role of soil predators through extension and curricular activities (Obj. 4).This integrated approach of research, teaching, and outreach aims to provide actionable insights for organic farmers, promoting crop productivity and sustainable soil health management. The project's design reflects the needs of organic farmers identified in our OREI planning grant surveys and workshops, ensuring its relevance and potential impact in the organic farming community.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
0%
Goals / Objectives
Micro-predators are an essential part of healthy organic soils, but the impact of organic managementon most predators is unknown. This project will investigate how organic matter amendments affectsoil micro-predator diversity to promote crop health. Aligned with the Organic Agriculture Researchand Extension Initiative (OREI) 2024 priorities 1, 4, 5, and 8, it focuses on critical aspects of organicfarming, including disease management and soil health, as well as development of educationalmaterials. The primary goal is to enhance organic growers' understanding of the function of soilmicropredator communities by examining the interactions between soil organic matter, microbiomes,and plant health. To accomplish this goal, our multidisciplinary team will:- Identify organic management and soil effects on predator function by conducting a "predator-ome" and soil health survey across 12 organic tomato farms in four states (Obj. 1).- Discover how different types of organic soil amendments support predator function and pathogensuppressiveness by conducting controlled microcosm experiments (Obj. 2).- Confirm and apply new knowledge of predator function by developing predator-based soilinoculants and grower testing kits (Obj. 3).- Educate growers and students about the role of soil predators through extension and curricularactivities (Obj. 4).This integrated approach of research, teaching, and outreach aims to provide actionable insights fororganic farmers, promoting crop productivity and sustainable soil health management. The project'sdesign reflects the needs of organic farmers identified in our OREI planning grant surveys andworkshops, ensuring its relevance and potential impact in the organic farming community
Project Methods
Collect soil samples from farms in different states, characterize physicochemical properties and communities.Conduct experiments to assess the survival of pathogens, beneficials and predators in soil amended with different organic matter.Carry out greenhouse experiments to assess the beneficial effects of organic matter amendment in regard to pathogen control usingbeneficials and predators.Collect soil samples from up to 300 organic farms for 'citizen science' participation and real world data collection.Develop undergraduate curricula focused on soil microbiome and predators and teach classes at different institutions.Presentations and focus groups at regional and national organic grower conferences.Develop a webpage and an extension article posted on eOrganic to help in identifying organic growers interested in the science of soil microbial processes.