Progress 09/15/04 to 09/14/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Developed Web pages covering composting methods, compost quality, compost use, and requirements in sustainable/organic agriculture. The pages are at: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/huen/hue_compost.htm, http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/huen/hue_organic.htm Trained a post-doc and a Ph.D. student on organic farming: techniques, requirements, and benefits. Presented to local organic farmers and home-owners advantages and disadvantages of organic farming.
PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Maria E. Ortiz-Escobar. A post-doc who was in charge of day-to-day operations of the project. She gained considerable experience from the project and subsequently obtained a faculty position, specializing on organic farming, at a Federal university in Northern Brazil. Mr. Rodolfo M. Morales. A Ph.D. student, who is studying nutrient recycling of forests. He has learned valuable analytical techniques and field experimental designs by working in the project. Hawaii Organic Farmers Association. Exchange information generated by the project.
TARGET AUDIENCES: Organic farmers, local as well as around the world (via web pages). Home owners who are interested in organic farming.
Impacts
Percentage of farmings, that are organic, has been rapidly increased in the U.S., the European Union, and many other countries (e.g., Australia, Argentina). Organic farming recycles many organic wastes, minimizes synthetic inputs (chemical fertilizers, pesticides) thus reducing adverse environmental impacts, and provides healthy food. In fact, organic food commands a premium price because it is believed to be chemicals-free, more nutritious, and tastier than conventionally grown food. In this project, we first made compost from tree trimmings and chicken manure, both locally produced. Then, we field-applied the finished compost, along with a commercial wood-based compost to an Oxisol and a Mollisol in Hawaii. Urea and nothing-added treatments served as "good" and "bad" controls, respectively. Tomato, sun-hemp, Chinese cabbage, and eggplant were used as test crops. The results showed that organic soil amendments expectedly decreased soil bulk density, increased soil
organic carbon content and microbial activities (CO2 production). Crop yields and plant nutrient contents were not statistically different among the four treatments. However, without chemical inputs, weeds and insects, especially nematodes, were challenging problems, causing marketable yields to be rather low.
Publications
- Ortiz-Escobar, M.E. and N.V. Hue. 2007. Current developments in organic farming. Chapter 3 In S. Pandalai (ed.), Recent Research and Developments in Soil Science. Research Signpost, Kerala, India, p. 29-62.
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Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06
Outputs
Organic farming has become popular around the world because the practice could recycle most organic wastes, minimize environmental pollution, and provide healthy food. In this project, we first made a compost by mixing 2 portions of finely chopped tree trimmings with 1 portion of chicken manure (2.5% total N). The mixture was incubated, with periodic turning and water replacement, in 120-liter plastic trash cans. The finished compost was then used in a greenhouse experiment to measure nitrogen supplying capacity of the organic amendment. The soil used was a relatively fertile Mollisol (Waialua series), and Chinese cabbage was a test crop. The experiment had 4 treatments: control (nothing added), fertilizer N (200 mg N in 2 kg of soil as urea), compost mix (60 g compost in 2 kg soil), and compost mulch (approximately 2.5 cm compost layer on the soil surface). Fresh weights of cabbage, after 6 weeks of growth, increased by 35, 104, and 79% over the control for the
fertilizer N, compost mix, and compost mulch, respectively. Finally, field trials with similar treatments were conducted at the Waimanalo (Mollisol) and Poamoho (Oxisol) experiment stations. Chinese cabbage produced good marketable yields, which were statistically similar among the treatments, however. Nutrient contents (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, B) of the plants did not show any noticeable differences either. Apparently, the soils at these two sites had adequate nutrients for cabbage production. On the other hand, we experienced serious weed (guinea grass) and insect problems in the fields, and had to spend considerable labor (for mowing) and resources (plastic mats and organically accepted BT insecticides) to deal with these production problems.
Impacts
Essential information is being generated to allow organic farmers to succeed. Organic wastes are recycled and environmental pollution is minimized.
Publications
- Hue,N.V., Bittenbender, H.C., and Ortiz-Escobar, M.E. 2005. Managing coffee processing water in Hawaii. J. Hawaiian Pacific Agric. 13:15-21.
- Ortiz-Escobar, M.E., Hue, N.V., and Cutler, W. 2006. Recent developments on arsenic. Recent Res. Devel. Bioenergetics. 2006:1-32.
- Silva, J.A., Hamasaki, R., Paull, R., Ogoshi, R., Bartholomew, D.P., Fukuda, S., Hue, N.V., Uehara, G., and Tsuji, G. 2006. Lime, gypsum, and basaltic dust effects on the calcium nutrition and fruit quality of pineapple. Acta Hort. 702:123-131.
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Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05
Outputs
Organic farming has become popular in the US, and the profit could be high: organic food costs nearly twice conventional food. In this project we tried to learn how to grow organic food, and the challenges that would face us which we might be able to solve. We set up two field experiments: one at the Poamoho experiment station where the soil is an Oxisol, and one at the Waimanalo experiment station where the soil is a Mollisol. The treatments were: (1) a commercial compost (Redwood) + chicken manure; (2) University of Hawaii compost + chicken manure; (3) urea at the same rate of nitrogen as (1) and (2); and (4) unamended control. Chinese cabbage was grown and the yield and nutrient contents are being analyzed. We found that weeds and insects are challenging problems. To control these problems, we set up another experiment in the green house with the soil from Waimanalo (Mollisol). The treatments were similar to that in the field. The soil and plant data are being
analyzed.
Impacts
These experiments will allow organic farmers to successfully compete and be profitable. The environment, free of most chemicals, is also improved as a result.
Publications
- Kuo, S., Ortiz-Escobar, M.E., Hue, N.V. and Hummel, R.L. 2004. Composting and compost utilization for agronomic and container crops. Recent Res. Devel. Environ. Biol. 2004:451-513.
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