Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Several experiments have been conducted during the previous year to generate new knowledge in greenhouse fertilizer management and mitigation of nutrient runoff to the environment. Research activities included: 1) Determined growth response of two poinsettia cultivars to regulated deficit irrigation, and investigated whether silicon additions to the fertilizer program would improve post-harvest performance; 2) Determined the growth and visual response of 28 bedding plant species exposed to chronic low levels of ethylene (10 and 50 ppb); 3) Investigated the potential for use of alternative fertilizer products (certified organic) and substrate incorporated vermicompost in bedding plant production; 4) Screened 28 bedding plant species for response to high salinity irrigation water, and the ability of silicon to recover growth of salt stressed plants; 5) Conducted experiments in hydroponics to determine the mechanisms behind silicon mediated resistance to salt stress for New Guinea Impatiens; 6) Developed liquid fertilizer guidelines for 14 relatively new bedding plant species grown with overhead and water efficient sub-irrigation; 7) Determined growth response and nutrient leaching of Calibrachoa and New Guinea Impatiens to liquid feed and six different controlled release fertilizers (CRFs) to determine if CRFs can reduce nutrient leaching while optimizing plant growth; 8) CRFs were tested for the ability to grow outdoor garden mums and reduce nutrient leaching; and 9) in conjunction with the solar decathlon project a hydroponic channel growing system was developed to filter household greywater and render it suitable for reuse; native plants were tested for their filtrative properties. Services - I provide direct assistance to New York State greenhouse growers through on-site visits and telephone/email responses. Several questions are fielded each month such as: diagnosis of nutrient disorders, interpreting water, tissue, and soil tests, and helping to determine inefficiencies in greenhouse operations. Events - I served as co-coordinator for 3 IPM In-depth hands-on training sessions developed for greenhouse growers; and have disseminated research and information through 14 additional conferences/workshops held throughout NYS. These in-person efforts have reached over 700 individuals during the past year. Products - Results have been disseminated through the development of 10 trade journal and newsletter articles; and the development of three online factsheets posted on the Cornell Commercial Greenhouse webpage: www.greenhouse.cornell.edu. PARTICIPANTS: INDIVIDUALS Priniciple Investigator: Neil Mattson; Rachel Brinkman, Technician (04/2008-present; involved in all projects); Dr. Roland Leatherwood, Postdoctoral Associate (05/2008-present; coordinated all silicon projects, coordinated chronic ethylene experiments);Dr. Jinrong Liu,Visiting Fellow (04/2008-present; coordinated organic fertility trial; coordinated silicon and salinity screen); Gonzalo Villarino, MS/PhD Student (07/2008-present; salinity projects); Dr. Jinping Fan, Visiting Fellow (09/2009-present; silicon enzyme carriers) PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS New York Farm Viability Institute (Funding), Post/Schenkel Endowment (Funding), New York State Flower Industries(Funding/Outreach), NYS IPM (Funding/Outreach) COLLABORATORS AND CONTACTS Dr. Bill Miller (Horticulture, Cornell), Dr. Mark Bridgen (Horticulture, Cornell), Margery Daughtrey (Plant Pathology, Cornell), Dr. John Sanderson (Entomology Cornell), Dr. Betsy Lamb (NYS IPM), Dr. Roberto Lopez (Purdue), Dr. Brian Krug (University of New Hampshire), Dr. Stephanie Burnett (University of Maine), Dr. Jennifer Dennis (Purdue), Dr. Daniele Massa (University of Pisa, Italy), Dr. Heiner Lieth (UC Davis), Dr. Beni Bar-Yosef (Agricultural Research Organization, Israel), Dr. Byoung Reoung (Gyeongsam University, Korea), Dr. Martin Gent (Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station), Dr. George Eliot (University of Connecticut), Dr. Nora Catlin (CCE Suffolk County), Teresa Rusinek (CCE Ulster County), Walt Nelson (CCE Monroe County), Sharon Webber (CCE Erie County), Chris Logue (CCE Schenectady County), Rose Baglia (CCE Orange County), Brian Eshenauer (NYS IPM), Gary Couch (NYS IPM), Karen Hall (NYSFI), Dr. Cari Peters (J.R. Peters Fertilizer), Dr. Fred Hulme (the Scotts Company) TRAINING OR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Graduate advisees (Gonzalo Villarino, Dave Moody, Kendra Hutchins) Undergraduate students mentored through independent research projects (Kelly Coulon, Matthew Hussa Lowenthal, Ian Holst , Ryan O'Neil) TARGET AUDIENCES: The primary target audience is greenhouse producers throughout New York State. Many of these production operations are in rural New-York and contribute substantially to the local economy. Other audiences include: nationwide greenhouse producers, horticulture students at Cornell, nursery operations, and Master Gardeners. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
New knowledge has been generated in several areas: 1) we found that poinsettias exposed to regulated deficit during production resulted in smaller sized-plants that lasted longer in post-harvest and that silicon additions to the fertilizer program resulted in even longer post-harvest life; 2) we recorded a visual record of ethylene damage to 28 bedding plant species and determined new strategies and species to watch for symptoms of early damage; 3) we found that two liquid organic fertilizers (from seed oil extract and fish emulsion) were suitable for bedding plant production, but a cost analysis revealed using these products was six and ten times more expensive than conventional liquid fertilizers; 4) silicon was useful for mediating the salt stress response of half of the 28 bedding plant species analyzed, in some cases salt stressed plants that had silicon were as big as control plants; 5) we further explored the silicon/salt relationship in New Guinea Impatiens and found that silicon mediated salt tolerance by reducing translocation of salt to leaves, enhancing cell membrane integrity, and mediating expression of antioxidant enzymes; 6) fertilizer guidelines were developed for 14 new bedding plant species grown via over-hear or sub-irrigation, half of these species exhibited salt burn symptoms when fertilized with 350 or 500 ppm nitrogen; 7) we found that several controlled relesase fertilizer products were suitable for calibrachoa and New Guinea Impatiens production, these fertilizers leached seven times less nitrogen and phosphorus than conventional liquid fertilizers. Evaluations from workshops that I have co-coordinated and presented at have revealed that a high percentage of producers plan to change production practices as a result of knowledge gained. For example, 63% of survey respondents from a July 2009 IPM In-Depth workshop stated that they had a greater understand of their water alkalinity and its effect on fertilization practices, and that they intended to adjust their fertilization practices as a result of the workshop.
Publications
- Mattson, N.S., Leatherwood, W.R. 2009. Potassium silicate drenches increase leaf silicon content and affect morphological traits of several floriculture crops grown in a peat-based substrate. HortScience. (Accepted)
- Guo, W.D., Guo, Y.P., Liu, J.R., Mattson, N.S. 2009. Midday depression of photosynthesis is related with carboxylation efficiency decrease and D1 degradation in bayberry (Myrica rubra) plants. Scientia Horticulturae. 123:188-196.
- Bar-Yosef, B., Mattson, N.S., Lieth, J.H. 2009. Effects of NH4:NO3:urea ratio on cut roses yield, leaf nutrients content and proton efflux by roots in closed hydroponic system. Scientia Horticulturae. 122:610-619.
- Mattson, N.S., Bridgen, M. 2009. Nutrient leaching from garden mums fertilized using water soluble fertilizer, controlled release fertilizer or a combination program. Abstract and presentation at 106th Annual ASHS Conference. St. Louis, MO, July 25-28. HortScience. 44(4):1072.
- Leatherwood, W.R. Mattson, N.S., Dole, J.M. 2009. Possible roles of silicon, calcium, and regulated deficit irrigation on poinsettia plant quality and postharvest performance. Abstract and presentation at 106th Annual ASHS Conference. St. Louis, MO, July 25-28. HortScience. 44(4):1018.
- Leatherwood, W.R., Mattson, N.S. 2009. Long term low concentration ethylene exposure affects growth and development of twenty-eight ornamental taxa. Abstract and presentation at: the 8th International Symposium on the Plant Hormone Ethylene. Ithaca, NY, June 21-25, 2009.
- Lieth, J.H., Mattson, N.S., Massa, D. 2009. Modeling N, P, and K uptake of flush-harvested cut flower roses: calibration of a model under high and low irradiance. Abstract and presentation at: GreenSys 2009: International Symposium on High Technology for Greenhouse System. Quebec City, June 14-19, 2009.
- Mattson, N.S., Leatherwood, W.R. 2009. Why you should know the difference between nutrient solubility and mobility. Greenhouse Management and Production (accepted).
- Burnett, S.E., R.G. Lopez, and N.S. Mattson. 2009. Evaluate your greenhouse to save energy. Greenhouse Management and Production. 29(9):20-26.
- Mattson, N.S., S.E. Burnett, B.A. Krug, and R.G. Lopez. 2009. Becoming sustainable by reducing crop shrinkage. Greenhouse Grower. 27(5): 26-32.
- Mattson, N.S. W.R. Leatherwood, and C. Peters. 2009. Planting the seeds for consumer success: are your irrigation and fertility practices backfiring on the end consumer and causing garden failure GrowerTalks Magazine. 73(1):56-59.
- Mattson, N.S. W.R. Leatherwood, and C. Peters. 2009. Ten tips to save on fertilizer costs. GrowerTalks Magazine. 72(12):52-56.
- Mattson, N.S., Leatherwood, W.R., Peters, C. 2009. Nitrogen: all forms are not equal. Greenhouse Management and Production. 25(6):18-23.
- Mattson, N.S. 2009. Free Money! Federal program offers grants for energy efficiency. Long Island Horticulture News. March, 2009. 1-3.
- Mattson, N.S. 2009. Free Money! Federal program offers grants for energy efficiency. Hudson Valley Horticulture. 9(2).
- Mattson, N.S., Leatherwood, W.R. 2009. Fertilizer concentration and irrigation method affects growth of several bedding plant taxa. Abstract and presentation at: GreenSys 2009: International Symposium on High Technology for Greenhouse System. Quebec City, June 14-19, 2009.
- Leatherwood, W.R. Mattson, N.S. 2009. Silicon supplementation of bedding and ornamental greenhouse crops. Abstract and presentation at: GreenSys 2009: International Symposium on High Technology for Greenhouse System. Quebec City, June 14-19, 2009.
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Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities - Several experiments were conducted during the previous year to address project objectives. 1) Determined the optimal fertilizer requirements of nine bedding plants under overhead versus sub-irrigation systems. 2) Screened twenty bedding plants for their response to silicon additions to the fertilizer program. 3) Coordinated trials at 7 commercial greenhouses to test if silicon additions could improve plant performance or reduce disease incidence 4) Tested silicon effects on growth and post-harvest quality of poinsettias 5) Conducted preliminary experiments screening petunia and snapdragon varieties for resistance to damage caused by high salts in the irrigation water 6) In conjunction with Dr. Mark Bridge at the Riverhead Horticulture Experiment Station studied the use of controlled release fertilizers to reducing N and P leaching from field grown garden mums. During 2008 I conducted a needs assessment survey of the New York State greenhouse industry, to gain a greater awareness of current production practices and challenges to profitability. The top 3 business challenges cited by the 132 respondents were rising energy costs, labor costs/finding suitable labor, and product marketing. Major challenges to growing high quality plants included insect and disease control, weather, and crop irrigation/fertilization. I was a co-organizer for two events in July: Cornell's Floriculture Field Day (attendance 115) and IPM In-Depth a hands-on workshop covering insect and disease identification, and testing container media for pH and salts (attendance 30). Services - I provide direct assistance to New York State greenhouse growers through on-site visits and telephone/email responses. Several questions are fielded each month such as: diagnosis of nutrient disorders, interpreting water, tissue, and soil tests, and helping to determine inefficiencies in greenhouse operations. Products - Results have been disseminated to greenhouse growers in New York State and in the Northeast through presentations at 9 conferences/workshops. These in-person efforts have reached over 500 individuals during the past year. Education materials have also been made available through newsletters and the creation of a Nutrient and Fertilizer Management webpage, available online at: http://www.greenhouse.cornell.edu/crops/nfmanagement.htm PARTICIPANTS: INDIVIDUALS Priniciple Investigator: Neil Mattson; Rachel Brinkman, Technician (04/2009-present; involved in all projects); Roland Leatherwood, Postdoc (05/2008-present; coordinated silicon projects, involved in all projects); Jinrong Liu, Visiting Scientist (04/2008-present; coordinated fertilizer requirement projects); Gonzalo Villarino, MS/PhD Student (07/2008-present; salinity projects) PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS New York Farm Viability Institute (Funding), Post/Schenkel Endowment (Funding), New England Greenhouse Conference (Funding), The Gloeckner Foundation (Funding), New York State Flower Industries COLLABORATORS AND CONTACTS Bill Miller, Mark Bridgen, Teresa Rusinek, Walt Nelson, Sharon Webber, Chris Logue, Nora Catlin, Rose Baglia, Margery Daughtrey, John Sanderson, Betsy Lamb, Brian Eshenauer, Gary Couch, Karen Hall, Roberto Lopez, Brian Krug, Stephanie Burnett, Jennifer Dennis, Cari Peters, Daniele Massa, Heiner Lieth, Beni Bar-Yosef, Byoung Reoung TRAINING OR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Graduate advisees (Gonzalo Villarino, Dave Moody, Kendra Hutchins) Undergraduate students mentored through independent research projects (Kelly Coulon, Matthew Hussa Lowenthal) TARGET AUDIENCES: The primary target audience is greenhouse producers throughout New York State. Many of these production operations are in rural New-York and contribute substantially to the local economy. Other audiences include: nationwide greenhouse producers, horticulture students at Cornell, nursery operations, and Master Gardeners. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
New knowledge has been generated in several areas 1) The optimal fertilizer regimes for 9 bedding plants under two irrigation systems has been determined. These results show that bedding plants require lower fertilizer rates when grown using sub-irrigation as opposed to overhead irrigation. The results also demonstrate that several species were negatively affected by salt build-up under high fertilizer concentrations, particularly with sub-irrigation. 2) We found that of the 20 bedding plants screened for silicon response; half of them showed enhanced tissue silicon levels. Further, 3 of these species showed enhanced growth characteristics, these plants are targets to study silicon benefits in the future when they are grown under conditions of biotic/abiotic stress. 3) Poinsettias provided with silicon in the fertilizer program appear to have improved post-harvest quality, though results are preliminary at this time. Further research will elucidate whether a real potential exists to extend plant shelf-life or reduce product losses during marketing. 4) We found that the use of controlled release fertilizers as opposed to water soluble fertilizers could significant reduce the nutrient run-off from outdoor mum production. However, plant size was reduced when only controlled release fertilizers were used so a combination of the two fertilizers is recommended. Evaluations from some of the conferences that I have presented at have revealed that a high percentage of producers plan to change production practices as a result of my presentations. For example, at the 2008 Hudson Valley Nursery and Greenhouse School 69% of respondents stated that they planned to change their nutrient management program based on my presentation. example changes include: adjust for the high pH of water, test water and soil more regularly, add more nutrients, and use better plants less prone to nutrient disorders. In future years, evaluations should be able to capture whether or not a change in practice did take place and the potential benefits associate with the change.
Publications
- PEER-REVIEWD JOURNAL ARTICLES Massa, D., Mattson, N.S., Lieth, J.H. 2008. Effects of saline root environment (NaCl) on nitrate and potassium uptake kinetics for rose plants: a Michaelis-Menten modeling approach. Plant and Soil. DOI 10.1007/s11104-008-9821-z.
- Mattson, N.S., Lieth, J.H., Kim, W.S. 2008. Temporal Dynamics of Nutrient and Carbohydrate Distribution during Crop Cycles of Rosa spp. Kardinal in Response to Light Availability. Scientia Horticulturae. 118:246-254.
- Massa, D., Mattson, N.S., Lieth, J.H. 2008. An empirical model to simulate sodium absorption and accumulation in a closed hydroponic system for rose culture. Scientia Horticulturae. 118:228-235.
- Mattson, N.S., Lieth, J.H. 2008. Kardinal rose exhibits growth plasticity and enhanced nutrition absorption kinetics following nitrate, phosphate, and potassium deprivation. Journal American Society Horticultural Science. 133(3):341-350.
- TRADEJOURNAL ARTICLES Leatherwood, W.R., Mattson, N.S. 2008. Microirrigate your way to a greener, more profitable operation. Nursery Management and Production. 24(11):27-32.
- Leatherwood, W.R., Mattson, N.S., Owen, J.S. 2008. Clay-amended substrates improve water use and nutrient efficiency. Nursery Management and Production. 24(10):41-43.
- NEWLETTER ARTICLES Mattson, N.S. 2008. May 2008 greenhouse ornamentals - tales from the field. Capital District Growing Trends. 12(2):1-3.
- Mattson, NS. 2008. Growing cooler means growing longer. Hudson Valley Horticulture - Commercial Horticulture Electronic Newsletter.
- Mattson, N.S. 2008. NYS DEC targets greenhouse industry for pesticide compliance. Ornamental Crops IPM E-Newsletter. Winter, 2008.
- Mattson, N.S. 2008. Editor/contributor: Chapter 11 Growth Regulators for Greenhouse Floral Crops in K.C. Bennett (ed.) 2009 Cornell Guide for the Integrated Management of Greenhouse Floral Crops. Release date, Dec. 2008.
- Mattson, N.S. 2008. Editor/contributor: Chapter 10 Growth Regulation of Greenhouse Floral Crops in K.C. Bennett (ed.) 2008 Cornell Guide for the Integrated Management of Greenhouse Floral Crops. Release date, Dec. 2008.
- ABSTRACTS Mattson, N.S., Lamb, E.M. 2008. New York State greenhouse IPM and needs assessment surveys. Abstract and oral presentation at 105th Annual ASHS Conference, Orlando, FL. HortScience. 43(4):1144.
- Mattson, N.S. 2008. Growing cooler means growing longer. Update Newsletter - New York State Flower Industries. January, 2008.
- Mattson, N.S. 2008. Are you in compliance with pesticide regulations Horticulture News (Long Island). January, 2008.
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