Progress 07/01/08 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: One of the most significant outputs of this project is the ability to grow organic sweet corn at a similar nutritional level and yield to its conventional sweet corn counterpart. A novel method has been developed to use aerobic and anaerobic organisms to break down bound organic protein sources into organic nutrient solutions of known ammonium nitrate concentrations fortified with organic secondary and micronutrients. This method is being patented at present. These organic nutrient solutions can then be fertigated using prescription nutrient levels to grow the crop expeditiously without depending on soil mineralization of bound organic matter. We instructed growers at a field day on the implications of new organic technology that will certainly impact the greater production of organic produce. Another significant output is the ability to force strawberries in high tunnels from early November, through the holiday season continuing to May. This information was shared with growers at field days. We have developed the technology to produce high quality feverfew for the dietary supplement industry. We have determined marker compounds spike in concentration during December and January yearly. We determined that Regal Graze Ladino clover is an excellent living mulch variety growing in companionship with specialty crops to help suppress weeds. This clover may be mowed close to the ground between crop rows. This clover is perennial in nature and can tolerate Southeast summer heat and humidity and continue to grow and fix nitrogen in green manure fields. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Commercial vegetable and small fruit growers PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
This research has further increased our knowledge of new options for the production of organic vegetables to capture small niche markets and be more competitive in the market place. As a result of this work, many growers have pursued the concepts introduced and are planning to adopt this new technology on their farms.
Publications
- Dufault, R. 2005. Sweetgrass and its uses in African-American folk art. Encyclopedia of Plant and Crop Sciences, Marcel Dekker, Inc., N.Y.
- Hassell, R., T. Phillips, R. Dufault and J. Ballington. 2006. Fall transplanting date affects strawberry cultivar performance. International Journal Fruit Sci. 6(2):73-85.
- Hassell, R., T. Phillips and R. Dufault. 2006. Influence of fertigation rates applied at different developmental stages on muskmelon earliness, yield and quality. Acta Hort. 731:519-524.
- Korkmaz, A. and R. Dufault. 2003. Short-term cyclic cold temperature stress on watermelon yield. HortScience 37(3):487-489.
- Korkmaz, A. and R. Dufault. 2003. Influence of short-term cyclic cold temperature stress on muskmelon and honeydew yield. HortTechnol. 13(1):67-70.
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: One of the most significant outputs of this project this year is the ability to grow organic sweet corn at a similar nutritional level and yield to its conventional sweet corn counterpart. A novel method has been developed to use aerobic and anaerobic organisms to break down bound organic protein sources into organic nutrient solutions of known ammonium nitrate concentrations fortified with organic secondary and micronutrients. This method is being patented at present. These organic nutrient solutions can then be fertigated using prescription nutrient levels to grow the crop expeditiously without depending on soil mineralization of bound organic matter. In 2009 a field day was conducted and growers instructed as to the implications of new organic technology that will certainly inpact the greater production of organic produce. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Commercial vegetable and small fruit growers PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
This research has further increased our knowledge of new options for the production of organic vegetables to capture small niche markets and be more competitive in the market place. As a result of this work, many growers have pursued the concepts introduced and are planning to adopt this new technology on their farms.
Publications
- Dufault, Ward and Hassell. 2009. Dynamic relationships between field temperatures and romaine lettuce yield and head quality.Scientia Horticulturae. (In press)
- Dufault and Ward. 2009.Enhancing the Productivity and Fruit Quality of Forced Sweet Charlie Strawberries through Manipulation of Light Quality in High Tunnels. International Journal Fruit Science (In review)
- Williams, M. and R. Dufault. 2009. South Carolina, Corps enter partnership, received help to preserve valued sweetgrass. The Corps Environment 10(3):14.
- Dufault, R. and B. Ward. 2009. Further Attempts to Enhance the Forced Sweet Charlie Strawberry Yield through Manipulation of Light Quality in High Tunnels. International Journal Fruit Science 9:409-418.
- Dufault, R.and B. Ward. 2009. Enhancing the productivity and fruit quality of forced Sweet Charlie strawberries through light manipulation of light quality in high tunnels. International Journal Fruit Science 9:176-184.
- Forcing Strawberries for the Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year's Holiday Season: Is this Possible SC Fresh Express, July, 2008 (Publication of the SC Fruit, Vegetable & Specialty Crop Association, Columbia, SC).
- Dufault, R., B. Ward and R. Hassell. 2009. Dynamic relationships between field temperatures and romaine lettuce yield and head quality. Scientia Horticulturae 120:452-459.
- Ward and Dufault. 2008. Enhancing winter forced strawberry productivity and fruit quality through light manipulation in high tunnels. HortScience 43(4): 1113.
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: One of the most significant outputs of this project has been the ability to produce high quality, highly potent feverfew for the dietary supplement industry. Over a three year period, we have determined that marker compounds spike in concentration during December and January yearly. Experiments have been completed that replicate this effect yet naturally occurring environmental mold contamination at time of marker compound spiking is an adverse affect. The dietary industry is working on ways of removing this contamination through green types of sanitation and once this is rectified, commercial production of feverfew is highly likely. During this year, we have evaluated forcing strawberries in high tunnels for the Thanksgiving through New Year's holiday season using ChromatiNets which modify the light environment surrounding these plants. This is the first year of this research with a second year planned. Research continues to create highly potent organic nitrogen solutions
to prescription feed organically grown vegetables. A process has been developed that can generate this product and the early stages of patent application are ongoing. Perfection of this process would allow organic farmers to fertilize precisely organic vegetables and medicinals with the advantage of increased earliness, uniform maturity and higher quality. In fall semester, I team taught an undergrad and grad level vegetable production class using distance education from Charleston to Clemson campus. A field day was conducted in 2007 and I instructed growers in the potential of growing asparagus as a new crop to our region.
TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for this research is the vegetable growing community and dietary supplement raw processors. Field days have been the major vehicle for transferring knowledge as well as one-on-one discussions with growers or processors.
Impacts
This research has advanced our knowledge of new options for the production of specialty crops (organics, medicinals, forced small fruits) to capture new markets and be more competitive. In relation to medicinal plants, after many years of uncertainty, we now understand how strongly climate affects quality and is even more important than the genetic makeup of the varieties, since they all spike in relation to cold weather.
Publications
- Dufault, R., B. Ward and R. Hassell. 2008. Dynamic relationship between field temperatures and romaine lettuce yield and head quality. Scientia Horticulturae (In review).
- Dufault, R., Hester, A. and B. Ward. 2007. Influence of organic and synthetic fertility on nitrate runoff and leaching, soil fertility and sweet corn yield and quality. Communications Soil Science Plant Analysis. 39: ( 3+4)
- Hassell, R.L., Phillips, T.L. and Dufault, R.J. 2007. Influence of fertigation rates applied at different developmental stages on muskmelon earliness, yield and quality. Acta Horticulturae 731:519-524.2007-2008.
- Hassell, R., T. Phillips, R. Dufault, T. Hale and J. Ballington. 2006. Fall transplanting date affects strawberry cultivar performance. International Journal Fruit Society 6(2):73-85.
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
MEDICINAL PLANTS - In final stage of commercial development, all components of previous cultural practices were combined for use a large acreage of feverfew were planted in fall 2005 and harvested in 2006. To control weeds and pathogens prior to planting, the experimental field was solarized for 5 months (April - Sept) which successfully killed weed seedlings. Feverfew transplants were planted through clear plastic in mid-Sept. Parthenolide was measured in fall and increased from 0.35% to 1.35% from November to late February. Dry weight leaf yield was 475 kg/acre. Total cost for crop production was $7,746/acre. In summer 2006, larger acreage was planted to determine reproducibility of this past year's outcome. Feverfew will be harvested in winter 2007, economic analysis conducted to determine profitability of this new crop. ORGANIC PRODUCTION Public awareness of the need for healthier foods has led to an increased demand for highly nutritious organic vegetables. There
is prevalent public opinion that organic vegetables are always more nutritious than conventionally grown foods. In order to conduct fair comparisons, the fertility practices for organic and conventional production need to provide similar nutrient levels for plant growth. In new research, we attempt to develop new methodology that uses organic nutrients applied according to plant need using drip irrigation systems. Our objective is to develop new methods of prescription feeding crops with organic fertilizers that allow fair tests of the superiority of either organic or conventional production will be possible and appropriate. Our research goals are to determine the optimal organic nitrogen substrate that maximizes the growth of microbes that break organic nitrogen to ammonia, then conversion to nitrite and then into nitrate. In controlled environment growth chamber s, we will bioassay organic versus synthetic nutrient solutions on spinach growth. Finally, in field bioassays, we will
contrast organic and synthetic nutrient solutions on spinach growth and determine spinach nutrient/antioxidant levels.
Impacts
This research has advanced our knowledge of the production of high value niche crops at lower levels of risk. We reduced the mystery in their production and have revealed the most potent production techniques for SC farmers. This information will be used in extension programs to reach growers for implementation.
Publications
- Dufault, R., Hester, A. and B. Ward. 2007. Influence of organic and synthetic fertility on nitrate runoff and leaching, soil fertility and sweet corn yield and quality. Comm. Soil Science Plant Analysis (In review).
- Dufault, R., A. Korkmaz, B. Ward and R. Hassell. 2006. Planting date and cultivar affect muskmelon and honeydew yield and quality. HortScience 41(7):1559-1564.
- Dufault, R. 2006. Asparagus-The aristocrat of vegetables: A review of its botany, horticulture and commercial appeal. Proceedings of the 6th National Vegetable Crops Symposium, University of Kahramanmaras,Kahramanmaras, Turkey, Sept., 2006, Pg. 4.
- Dufault, R., B. Ward and R. Hassell. 2006. Planting date and cultivar affect romaine lettuce yield and head quality. HortScience 41(3):640-645.
- Hassell,R., T. Phillips and R. Dufault. 2006. Influence of fertigation rates applied at different developmental stages on muskmelon earliness, yield, and quality. Acta Hort. (In press)
- Hassell,R., T. Phillips, R. Dufault, T. Hale, and J. Ballington. 2006. Fall transplanting date affects strawberry cultivar performance. J. Fruit Variety (In press)
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
MEDICINAL PLANTS In final stage of commercial development, all components of previous successful cultural practices were combined in the 2005 growing season for growing a large acreage of feverfew. To control weeds and pathogens prior to planting, the experimental field was solarized (covered with clear plastic mulch) for 5 months (April to Sept) which successfully killed weed seedlings. Feverfew transplants were planted through the same clear plastic in mid September. Regal Ladino clover cultivar was planted in row middles to control weeds. In previous work, we detected that parthenolide levels(marker compound of interest to Dietary Supplement Industry) in all experimental plantings were less than 0.5% in mid summer, but spiked to over 1.5% in November samples but dropped to less than 0.9% by Feb. 2005. Feverfew will be harvested in winter 2006, given to local industry representatives for commercial acceptability, economic analysis conducted to determine
profitability of this new crop and its true potential for grower production. ORGANIC PRODUCTION In previous research, we found that broadcasted solid organic composts did not release enough nutrients to sustain vegetable quality by harvest and that other approaches are necessary. Organic teas have been the focus of research in which we have evaluated bat guano and other fertility sources in compost tea brewing. Our objective is to develop brewing approaches and teas that can be fertigated through drip irrigation that can prescription feed our crops up to production of high quality marketable products. In field research, we have used these compost teas in tandem research with conventional fertility to produce cantaloupe. Because of NOP restrictions of bat guano not being used 120 days before harvest, other sources will be evaluated for suitability for organic fertigation of vegetable crops.
Impacts
This research project has advanced our knowledge about the production mechanics of new and/or high value crops at low risk levels. We are reducing the mystery in the production of high-value medicinals and vegetables and the most potent organic production techniques. This knowledge will be channeled into extension programs to reach the SC grower for implementation.
Publications
- Dufault, R. 2005. Impact of cutting pressure on yield, quality, root carbohydrates and survival of spring-harvested or summer-forced asparagus in coastal South Carolina. HortScience 40(5):1327-1332.
- Dufault, R., B. Ward and R. Hassell. 2006. Planting date and cultivar affect romaine lettuce yield and head quality. HortScience (submitted).
- Dufault, R.,A. Korkmaz, B. Ward and R. Hassell. 2006. Planting date and cultivar affect muskmelon and honeydew yield and quality. HortScience (submitted).
- Hassell,R., T.Phillips and R. Dufault. 2006. Influence of fertigation rates applied at different developmental stages on muskmelon earliness, yield, and quality. Acta Hort. (submitted).
- Hassell,R., T.Phillips, R. Dufault, T. Hale, and J. Ballington. 2005. Fall transplanting date affects strawberry cultivar performance. HortTechnol (submitted).
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
ECHINACEA ANGUSTIFOLIA ECOTOLERANCE. Thirty-two germplasm selections of E. angustifolia from the USDA Germplasm Repository, Ames, Iowa, were evaluated for ecotolerance in our area. Transplants were planted in spring 2004 on plastic mulched, drip-irrigated beds and grown throughout the summer. In late August, stand counts were taken to determine survival. PI631320 had the greatest number of survivors with strong vigor of all PI lines and this line has the best adaptation of all available PI lines for the humid Southeast. PI1631320 has the strongest candidacy for use in plant breeding programs to develop an E. angustifolia cultivar that will thrive in the southern coastal regions. FEVERFEW CORRELATIONS. Samples of feverfew leaf tissue were analyzed for mineral and parthenolide contents to determine any mineral relationships that can be indicators of herbal potency. Calcium was the only mineral that correlated with parthenolide with R square of -.30. As parthenolide
increased in content, calcium content decreased. VARIATION IN FEVERFEW MARKER COMPOUND WITHIN CLONAL SELECTIONS. Field grown clonal green feverfew plants were analyzed for parthenolide content in mid-summer 2004. Parthenolide content of 15 genetically identical clones ranged from 0.19 to 0.51 and it is an enigma why clonal plants differed so widely in marker compounds. Apparently, parthenolide is moderated by other unknown factors in the microenvironment. SUMMER/FALL/WINTER FORCED ASPARAGUS. Work was discontinued in forcing Jersey Gem asparagus into production Aug. 1, 16 and Sept. 1 since summer forced asparagus emerged slowly with unimpressive yields; winter forced asparagus in low tunnels in Nov. through Jan. experienced a dormancy and lack of any spear emergence which passive soil heating could not reverse. ORGANIC WEED CONTROL. Six clover varieties (Aliske, Red Kenland, Alfalfa, Redland III, Sweet Yellow, and Regal Ladino) were evaluated for ecotolerance and longevity throughout
spring, summer and fall, 2004. Red Ladino clover was the only variety that suppressed weeds, especially yellow nutgrass, tolerated mowing and survived throughout the summer and had best potential as a living mulch in organic medicinal/vegetable production fields. ORGANIC FERTILITY. Field research using commercially available fertilizer solutions was conducted in summer, 2004 on vegetable production; however, fertilizer usage for quality production were very high and proved cost prohibitive. Future work will evaluate compost teas made locally to reduce production costs.
Impacts
SC growers are in dire need of new crops and the cultural information to grow these crops with a minimum of risk. Information from this project will provide SC growers with a niche to excel in high value crop production and improve their economic status.
Publications
- Hassell, R., R. Dufault and T. Phillips. 2004. Relationship among seed size, mother plant age and temperature of Echinacea anugustifolia, pallida and purpurea. Acta Horticulturae 629:239-243.
- Dufault, R. and B. Ward. 2004. Influence of defoliation timing and severity on cauliflower earliness, yield and quality. Acta Horticulturae 618:421-426.
- Rushing, J., R. Dufault and R. Hassell. 2004. Drying temperature and developmental stage at harvest influence the parthenolide content of feverfew leaves and stems. Acta Horticulturae 629:167-173.
- Hassell, R. R. Dufault and T. Phillips. 2004. Influence of temperature gradients on medicinal plant seed germination. HortTechnology 14(2):1-4.
- Korkmaz, A. and R. Dufault. 2004. Differential cold stress duration and frequency treatment effects on muskmelon seedling and field growth and yield. Europ. J. Hort. Sci. 69(1): 12-20.
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Progress 07/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
SELECTION OF ECOTOLERANT ECHINACEA AND FEVERFEW WITH HIGH MARKER COMPOUNDS. Nine diverse seed lots of Echinacea purpurea were field grown and leaf sampled for chicoric acid. Of these, 23 individual plants were identified with chicoric acid levels ranging from 2.98% to 5.49%. These plants will enter a breeding program and crossed in 2004. Seven diverse seed lots of feverfew were field grown and leaf sampled for parthenolide. Of these, 9 individual plants were identified with parthenolide ranging from .53% to 1.10%. These plants will enter a breeding program and crossed in 2004. SUMMER, FALL, WINTER FORCED ASPARAGUS. Jersey Gem asparagus was forced into production Aug. 1, 16 and Sept. 1, 2003 by mowing fern and harvesting spears for 6 weeks. Other plots were mowed on Nov. 1 and Jan. 2 and covered with low tunnels and harvested. Summer forced asparagus emerged slowly with unimpressive yields and winter forced asparagus in tunnels experienced a dormancy that soil heating
could not reverse. ORGANIC WEED CONTROL. Twenty clover varieties were evaluated for ecotolerance and longevity throughout spring, summer and fall, 2003. Varieties showing potential include Aliske, Red Kenland, Red Ladino, Alfalfa, Redland III, and Sweet Yellow; these varieties will graduate to 2004 testing of ecotolerance, weed suppression, mowing tolerance and longevity. ORGANIC FERTILITY. Field trials are planned to evaluate organic versus synthetic fertility on bell pepper, grape tomato, broccoli, muskmelon and Echinacea purpurea yield, quality and nutrient content in spring 2004.
Impacts
SC growers are in dire need of new crops and the cultural information to grow these crops with a minimum of risk. Information from this project will provide SC growers with a niche to excel in high value crop production and improve their economic status.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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