Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/14
Outputs
Target Audience:Our primary target audience is the organic grain growing industry in the northeastern U.S., including both producers and the agricultural support industry. Efforts were made in 2014 to reach these stakeholders through a variety of mediums. In summary, research personnel shared our results at 9 extension workshops, 7 academic seminars, 2 extension articles and a webinar. Eight presentations concentrating on aspects of our research were given at scientific conferences. As in previous years, our research was highlighted at the 4rd Annual Sustainable Agriculture Triad Research Symposium at PSU in March 2014. This symposium brings together personnel associated with three USDA-funded projects for information exchange and networking. Finally, we published our 8th ROSE (Reduced-tillage Organic Systems Experiment) Review newsletter in the winter of 2013, which summarizes our findings in the 2012-2013 production year and details other noteworthy events related to the experiment. The newsletter can be found online: http://agsci.psu.edu/organic/research-and-extension/rotational-no-till/publications/organic-reduced-tillage-times Changes/Problems:This report was sent back for changes but not sure why since it terminated back in December 2014 and changes were made at that time. A few edits were made again and it is now being resubmitted. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Presentations at Scientific meetings: Barbercheck ME, Mullen C (2014)The Seed Corn Maggot and Metarhizium are Related to Maize Yield in an Organic, Cover Crop-Based Farming Systems Experiment. Society for Invertebrate Pathology Annual Meeting Proceedings. Aug. 3 - 8, 2014. Mainz, Germany.p 87. Curran W, Dempsey M, Keene CL, Mirsky S, Ryan M, Scott B, VanGessel M, Young L (2014) An introduction to the Reduced-tillage organic systems experiment (ROSE). Proceedings the of Weed Science Society of America, Vancouver B.C. Access: http://wssaabstracts.com/public/22/proceedings.html Dempsey MA, Ryan M, Keene CL, Curran W, Mirsky S, VanGessel M (2014) Weed management in ROSE: The power of avoidance, suppression and supplemental control tactics. Proceedings of the Weed Science Society of America, Vancouver B.C. Access: http://wssaabstracts.com/public/22/proceedings.html Keene CL (2014) Corn, soybean and wheat performance in an organic rotational no-till system in Pennsylvania. Proceedings of the Northeastern Weed Science Society, Vancouver, B.C. Keene CL, Dempsey MA, Curran W, Mirsky S, Ryan M, VanGessel M (2014) Corn, soybean and wheat performance in the ROSE. Proceedings of the Weed Science Society of America, Vancouver, B.C Access: http://wssaabstracts.com/public/22/proceedings.html Mirsky S, Curran W, Dempsey MA, Keene CL, Ryan M, VanGessel M, Young L (2014) Engineering solutions to improve the biology: making cover crop-based no-till crop production work. Proceedings of the Weed Science Society of America, Vancouver B.C. Access: http://wssaabstracts.com/public/22/proceedings.html Ryan M, Curran W, Dempsey MA, Keene CL, Mirsky S, VanGessel MJ (2014) Putting the pieces together: regional recommendations from the ROSE. Proceedings of the Weed Science Society of America, Vancouver, B.C. Access: http://wssaabstracts.com/public/22/proceedings.html VanGessel M, Keene CL, Curran W, Dempsey MA, Mirsky S, Ryan M, Scott B (2014) Cover crop management in the ROSE: the good, the bad, and the weedy. Proceedings of the Weed Science Society of America, Vancouver, B.C. Access: http://wssaabstracts.com/public/22/proceedings.html Extension Activities: Barbercheck ME (2014)Assessment of Biological Soil Health. Gettysburg Young Farmers Twilight Field Walk. Brown Valley Farm, Littlestown, PA (Adams Co.) 22 August 2014. 50 attendees, 2 women. Barbercheck ME, Hinds J (2014) Preserving Beneficial Predators in the Home Garden. Ag Progress Days. 14 August 2014. 50 attendees, 20 women. Barbercheck, ME (2014)Biological Soil Health. Western No-Till Alliance Conference, Meadville, PA 25 March 2014. 75 attendees, 3 women. Barbercheck, ME (2014) Soil Health Assessment Western No-Till Alliance Conference, Meadville, PA 25 March 2014. 75 attendees, 3 women. Barbercheck, ME (2014)The Soil Food Web and Pest Management. Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention. Hershey, PA. January 30, 2014.200 attendees. 100 women. Barbercheck, ME (2014) Biological Soil Health: The soil food web and pest management.Potter Co. Crops Conference. January 24, 2014. Ulysses, PA. 75 attendees, 3 women. Barbercheck, ME (2014) Biological Soil Health: The soil food web and pest management. Lancaster Co. Crops Conference. January 16, 2014. Lancaster, PA. 150 attendees. 3 women. Curran WS (2014) Penn State dairy cropping systems research field day - corn and soybean insect and weed management. July 1, 2014 [30 attendees]. White, C. Organic Agriculture at Penn State. Display at FarmFest, Centre Hall Grange Fairgrounds, Centre Hall, PA, Aug. 4, 2012 Seminar/Symposiums: Curran WS (2014) Herbicide resistant weeds and resulting integrated weed management renaissance or fallacy. Botany, Plant Pathology and Weed Science Dept Seminar Series. Purdue University. April 2, 2014. [50 attendees]. Ellis, K., Barbercheck, M. 2014. Cover crops as an early-season resource for native bees in temperate annual cropping systems. 2014. 4th Annual Triad Sustainable Cropping Systems Symposium. Penn State University, University Park. March 21, 2014. Keene C, Wallace J, Curran W, Dempsey M (2014) Lessons learned from the Reduced-tillage Organic Systems Experiment (ROSE). 4th Annual Sustainable Agriculture Cropping Systems Symposium, Pennsylvania State University. March 21, 2014. Keene C (2014) Successes and challenges of cover crop management in ROSE. 4th Annual Sustainable Agriculture Cropping Systems Symposium, Pennsylvania State University. March 21, 2014. Rivers A, Barbercheck M (2013) Conservation agriculture and soil-dwelling arthropods. The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Entomology Student Colloquium. December 5, 2013. Rivers A, Barbercheck M (2014) Arthropod community composition in conservation agriculture at two North American sites. The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Entomology Student Colloquium. June 5, 2014. Rivers A, Mullen C, Barbercheck M (2014) Epigeal predators and predation in an organic cover crop-based reduced tillage cropping system (ROSE). 4th Annual Sustainable Agriculture Cropping Systems Symposium, Pennsylvania State University. March 21, 2014. Ryan M (2014) Cover crop-based, organic rotational no-till crop production in the USA. FESIA meeting. Department Agroecologie et Environement. ISARA-Lyon Ryan M (2014) Expanding the utility of cover crops in the northeast. Plant and Soil Science Seminar Series. University of Vermont. Webinars: Curran W, Hoover R, Wallace J (2014) Putting the pieces together: lessons learned from a reduced- tillage organic cropping systems project. April 8 2014. Access:https://www.extension.org Extension Articles: Barbercheck, ME (2014) Brown's Ranch: Farming in Nature's Image to Regenerate Land, Productivity, and Quality of Life. Sustainable Agriculture Newsletter, Spring 2014. http://extension.psu.edu/susag/news Ellis K, Barbercheck ME (2014) Bees and Cover Crops: Using flowering cover crops for native pollinator conservation. PSU Entomology Fact Sheet. http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/bees-and-cover-crops What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Cover Crop Management. We demonstrated that consistently high biomass production of hairy vetch-triticale and cereal rye cover crops is achievable across a gradient of sites in the Mid-Atlantic. During the ROSE (Reduced-tillage Organic Systems Experiment), cover crop termination with a roller-crimper was improved by adding a second pass. This also reduced volunteer hairy vetch in the succeeding rye cover crop across sites and volunteer rye in wheat at one of two sites. The Reduced-tillage Organic Systems Experiment (ROSE) results indicate that enough cover crop biomass can be grown to attempt organic no-till and that adequate control can be achieved with multiple well-timed roller-crimper passes. These results are promising for the future of cover crop-based organic rotational no-till but also demonstrate the importance of preventing cover crop seed production in all stages of the rotation. Cash Crop Performance. Improving no-till planting equipment so that it can handle the challenges of extremely high-residue environments will be necessary to increase corn and soybean populations. The highest corn grain yield was 9.63 Mg ha-1 at the USDA site in Beltsville, Maryland (MD) in 2013 and was achieved with 70% stand. Maximum soybean yield was 4.71 Mg ha-1 at Maryland in 2011. The maximum soybean yield was 4.40 Mg ha-1 at Maryland in 2012 with a population at 49% of the seeding rate. In this organic rotational no-till system, crop performance is limited by several factors: for corn, the most likely factor is nitrogen fertility. At the Maryland site, the team was able to band poultry manure staggered according to planting date while the Delaware site (DE) had to broadcast poultry manure across all planting dates in one application. The more targeted fertility application method used at Maryland is speculated to have increased corn yields at Maryland relative to Delaware. Visual appearance of the corn at the Pennsylvania (PA) site suggested nitrogen stress beginning in early August in 2012 and 2013. These observations emphasize the importance of adequate nitrogen fertility in organic corn and support other research identifying nitrogen supply as the yield-limiting factor in organic corn. Weed Management. In reduced tillage organic grain production systems, cash crop planting is delayed to avoid early-season weed competition. Planting after the peak of summer annual weed germination can help minimize the number of weeds germinating with the cash crop. Delaying planting also maximizes cover crop biomass which further suppresses weed emergence. In PA, weed biomass was generally low regardless of termination timing and crop, but was somewhat greater in corn (240 kg/ha) than in soybean (130 kg/ha), especially at the middle termination date. Giant foxtail (Setaria faberi Herrm.) tended to be the most abundant species. In Maryland, weed biomass was also greater in corn than soybean (1415 vs 610 kg/ha) and tended to increase from early to late termination dates, but increased more in corn (450 to 2650 kg/ha) than soybean (405 to 775 kg/ha). Amaranthus species were most abundant. In Delaware, weed biomass was greater in soybean than in corn (1135 vs 350 kg/ha), and was greater in the early termination date compared to the middle and late termination dates. High residue cultivation decreased weed biomass by 65% in PA and about 30% in MD and DE, relative to non-cultivated plots. Insect Pest Management. Processing is currently underway of the final arthropod samples collected to characterize the ground-dwelling arthropod community. In the data we have finalized thus far, predatory ground-dwelling arthropods have increased in abundance at the PA site over the course of the three year experiment, including abundance of the biologically important Carabidae beetles. We collected 36 species of Carabidae in the first two years (confirmed), and several species new to the site were collected in the third year. The composition of the Carabidae community has changed, with an increase in species rare to the site by the third year, and a shift to larger species. In all three cycles of the rotation, predation of live sentinel waxworms increased by the third year. This implies that the potential for biocontrol has increased over the course of the project. Confirmation of Carabidae identifications from the final year of the project is scheduled, at which time the predatory dataset will be complete. The effects of pest management strategies on the activity of Metarhizium, an entomopathogenic fungus, was monitored each year at the PA site with the use of sentinel (Galleria mellonella). Infection of G. mellonella was higher than the baseline (2010) in the first (2011) and second (2012) year of the study, but dropped to baseline levels in 2013. High residue cultivation did not affect incidence of Metarhizium. In 2011 and 2012, the incidence of Metarhizium was greater in corn than in wheat and soy. In 2013, however, there were no differences among crops. In preliminary analyses, the effect of planting date on the incidence of Metarhizium differed among years and crops. Higher incidence of Metarhizium was observed at the early and middle planting date in corn two out of three years. In soybeans, Metarhizium incidence was highest at the late planting date in two out of three years. Soil Quality. Active carbon (permangate oxidizable C) ranged from 306 mg/kg to 431 mg/kg across the site. Soil concentrations of active C were similar in 2011 and 2012 in comparison to the baseline year (2010), but fell below the baseline in 2013. Active C tended to be lower during the wheat phase of the rotation in comparison to corn. Trends suggest that active C was highest in the corn phase relative to other crops, but concentration levels were comparable to soybean in 2011 and 2013. Planting date did not produce reliable trends in comparisons of active C. In the corn phase of the rotation, active C increased with delay in planting two out of the three years; this pattern was similar in soybean. Few differences were observed in comparisons of organic matter at the beginning and end of the three-year rotation for each site. Across the three sites, total organic matter ranged from 1.0 to 3.3%. Economic Analysis. Cost of production budgets are beingprepared for each year and phase of the rotation, and will include partial enterprise budgets and break-even points for alternative management strategies. This information will also be used for analysis of energetic associated with ROSE management strategies and for an overall synthesis manuscript to be prepared in the fall of 2014 and winter of 2015.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Schipanski ME, Barbercheck ME, Douglas M, Finney DM, Haider K, Kaye JP, Kemanian A, Mortensen DA, Ryan M, Tooker J, White C (2014) A framework for evaluating ecosystem services provided by cover crops in agroecosystems. Agricultural Systems 125:12-22
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Schipanski ME, Smith RG, Pisani-Gareau TL, Jabbour R, Lewis DB; Barbercheck ME, Mortensen DA, Kaye JP (2014) The structure of multivariate relationships influencing crop yields during the transition to organic management. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 189: 119-126.
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Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Our primary target audience is the organic grain growing industry in the northeastern U.S., including both producers and the agricultural support industry. Efforts were made in 2013 to reach these stakeholders through a variety of mediums. In summary, research personnel shared our results at 5 field days and 3 workshops. PI Barbercheck also produced a semester course, a webinar, and an extension news article related to experimental work being conducted on this project. As in previous years, we shared our findings at the Reduced-tillage Organic Systems Experiment (ROSE) Annual Advisory Board meeting in December of 2012. We also shared our research findings with other PSU faculty, cooperative extension, post-doctoral researchers and graduate students at the 3rd Annual Sustainable Agriculture Triad Research Symposium at PSU in March 2013. Individual efforts related to extension-outreach activities are documented in the ‘Other Products’ section of this report. And finally, we published our 7th ROSE Review newsletter in the spring of 2013, which summarizes our findings in the 2011-2012 production year and details other noteworthy events related to the experiment. The newsletter can be found online:http://agsci.psu.edu/organic/research-and-extension/rotational-no-till/publications/organic-reduced-tillage-times. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? In each year, this project has supported 3-5 undergraduate researchers, 2 PhD students and 1 post-doctoral research associate. These research personnel have been engaged in all aspects of the project, including development and implementation of research objectives, analysis and written reporting of research results and extension-outreach efforts. Individual accomplishments and professional development activities are detailed in the 'Products' and 'Other Products' section of this report. In the past year, experience gained from this research has helped our post-doctoral research associate (co PI Ryan) find a permanent faculty position at Cornell University, where he will continue research on reduced-tillage, organic grain production. Experience gained from this project has also enabled a research technician find employment within agricultural industry. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Our results have been disseminated to communities of interest using a variety of delivery tools including field days at the various study site locations, presentations at grower field days and workshops, written extension publications, webinars, professional conference presentations and scholarly journal articles. Detailed descriptions of these efforts are found in the 'Products' and 'Other Products' section of this report. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Dissemination of results using a variety of mediums will continue in the next reporting period. Due the conclusion of treatment implementation, we anticipate publication of several scholarly journal articles in the next reporting period summarizing our results. We also anticipate submitting a competitive grant proposal that builds upon our project findings in order to continue development of a sustainable and economically profitable reduced-tillage organic grain production system.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Overview The Reduced-tillage Organic Systems Experiment (ROSE) was initiated in 2010 at Penn State, The Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) in Maryland, and the University of Delaware. The ROSE examines soil quality, weeds and early-season insect pests in a cover crop-based, organic rotational no-till corn, soybean and wheat rotation. In the 2012-13 production year, we completed the third full cycle of the crop rotation at each study site. Accomplishments for the reporting year (9/1/12 to 8/30/13) include data processing, analysis and summary of the 2012 production year as well as treatment implementation and data collection for the 2013 production year. Due to space constraints, a summary of 2012 research findings for Pennsylvania is provided. A detailed summary of Maryland, Delaware and on-farm research can be found in the 2013 ROSE newsletter, available online. Pennsylvania (PSU). We planted Blue River Hybrid corn and soybeans on three dates (early, middle and late) to test the effect of planting date on the performance of a single variety (Standard), and on a variety well-suited to the planting date (Variable). In addition to measuring cash crop yields and populations, we also measured cover crop biomass at time of termination (at cash crop planting), and peak weed biomass (late summer) to get a sense of weed control provided by cover crops and high-residue cultivation. The following results are for the 2012 season only. In 2012, the cover crop was rolled twice, about one week apart, and corn was planted when the cover crop was first rolled. Planting dates occurred between May 31 and June 15, in 1 week intervals. The hairy vetch-triticale cover crop dry weight at planting ranged from 4900 to 5800 lb/acre depending on planting date. Delaying planting about 7 days from the first to second date increased dry matter by about 900 lb/acre. Cover crop dry matter did not increase between the second and third planting dates. For our Standard corn variety we used a 90 day maturity hybrid, and the maturity of the Variable corn varieties depended on planting date and ranged from 85 to 99 days. Results for corn in 2012 showed that the Standard variety population averaged only 19,700 plants/acre, while the Variable variety averaged 25,800. Our target population was 34,000/acre. The low crop populations were a result of a number of issues that arose when planting corn, including planter miscalibration and issues with wet soil, slit closure and seed placement. Establishing consistent corn populations in heavy cover crop residue remains one of our biggest challenges in Pennsylvania. Weed biomass was collected in late summer and was relatively low, averaging 115 to 135 lb/acre, and in general weed control was better in the cultivated plots. Previous research has shown that weed biomass less than 1000 lb/acre does not consistently reduce corn or soybean yield. Corn silage yield ranged from 12.6 to 14.8 tons per acre and there were no differences in yield due to planting date or cultivation because of the relatively low weed populations. Variety was significant with the Variable cultivars tending to yield better than the Standard; this was likely related to lower corn populations in the Standard variety. In general, the low corn yields in both Standard and Variable cultivars could be attributed to low corn populations and the mid-summer drought that occurred in Pennsylvania in 2012. The rye cover crop biomass at termination ranged from 4350 lb/acre at the early termination to 5350 lb/acre at the late termination. The rye cover crop was rolled twice (2nd pass about one week after the first) and soybean was planted after the second rolling starting on May 25 (early) and ending on June 11 (late) in 2012. In PA, the Standard soybean variety belongs to a 2.1 maturity group and the Variable soybean variety depended on planting date and ranged from 1.1 to 2.9. Soybean populations were more consistent and better than corn and ranged from 150,000 to 180,000 plants per acre. However, our target population was 225,000 per acre and like corn, we have had problems achieving targeted populations because of heavy residue. Weed biomass was relatively low in soybean and ranged from 90 to 190 lb/acre and as with the corn, weed biomass tended to be higher in the plots that were not cultivated. Soybean grain yields averaged 43 to 55 bu/acre and were not consistently influenced by planting date. However, both variety and cultivation affected yield with the Variable varieties yielding more than the Standard, especially with the early and mid-planted soybeans (4-5 bu/acre), and the cultivated plots yielding less than those not cultivated (6 bu/acre). We have observed a negative effect with cultivation on yield previously in soybean when weed density is low and when summer drought stress occurs during cultivation. We used emergence traps to monitor for the presence of seedcorn maggot, which can be a pest of germinating corn and soybeans. Seed-corn maggot flies lay their eggs in the soil and the maggots burrow into the seeds and destroy the seed germ. Damaged seed may germinate, but there are not enough reserves left in the seed for the plant to survive. This insect is most likely to cause losses in fields with abundant decaying organic matter such as manure and plant residue, and during years when the early growing season is cool and damp. Therefore, our manured fields in which we are also building organic matter levels by reducing tillage and incorporating cover crops into the rotation may be at risk for severe infestations. Adjusting planting date is one approach to avoiding damage by seedcorn maggot. Recommendations are to plant the field after 450 growing degree days (base temperature threshold of 40° F) have elapsed since organic matter was plowed down. This is the time required for the maggots to complete development and move to another host. Because we are rolling cover crops and leaving residue on the surface, we want to determine how cover crop management date affects the occurrence of maggots. To do this we are using emergence traps constructed of a window box into which we have inserted a glass jar on top. As insects emerge from the soil they are attracted to the light provided by the glass jar, and are trapped there, where we can later retrieve and identify and count them. The clearest result (and best news) from 2012 was that we captured very few, less than 1 per trap on average, seedcorn maggot flies (Anthomyiidae) emerging from the soil in corn. What was most interesting was the more abundant numbers of insect-parasitic wasps (average 2 – 4 per trap), and predatory/parasitic staphylinid beetles (average 1 – 2 per trap). Staphylinid beetles are known predators of seedcorn maggots in the soil. We are currently having the parasitic wasps identified so that we can determine if they may be playing a role in the dynamics of seedcorn maggot at the PA site.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Mirsky, S.B., M.R. Ryan, J.R. Teasdale, W.S. Curran, C.S. Reberg-Horton, J.T. Spargo, M.S. Wells, C.L. Keene, and J.W. Moyer. 2013. Overcoming weed management challenges in cover crop-based organic rotational no-till soybean production in the Eastern United States. Weed Tech. 27:193-203.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Keene, C.L., W. Curran, M. Ryan, S. Mirsky, M. Dempsey, B. Scott and L. Young. 2013. Reliance on cover crops for weed control in the Mid-Atlantic. Northeastern Weed Science Society Annual Meeting. Baltimore, MD. Feb 4-7, 2013.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Schipanski, M.E., R.G. Smith, T.L. Pisani Gareau, R. Jabbour, D.B. Lewis, M.E. Barbercheck, D.A. Mortensen, J.P. Kaye. The structure of multivariate relationships influencing crop yields during the transition to organic management. Ecological Society of America, Minneapolis, MN, Aug 3-8, 2013.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Ellis, K. E., M.Barbercheck. 2013. Evaluation of native bee visitation and floral resources of early-season canola (Brassica napus) cover crop mixtures. 2013 International Conference on Pollinator Biology, Health and Policy. August 14-17, 2013. University Park, PA
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Barbercheck, M.E., R. Jabbour, C. Mullen. 2013. Conservation of soilborne fungi and nematodes in sustainable cropping systems. Invited symposium presentation, in: Growing Towards a Sustainable Future: Current Research, Insights and Discussions on Sustainable Management. Annual Meeting, Eastern Branch Entomological Society of America, Lancaster, PA, March 16 19, 2013
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Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The Reduced-tillage Organic Systems Experiment (ROSE) was initiated at Penn State, The USDA BARC in MD, and the University of DE. We completed one full cycle of a wheat, corn, soybean, rotation and harvested the first organic no-till planted corn and soybeans. Cover crops in "Early" plots were terminated at all sites starting at anthesis, which occurred in cereal rye on May 2 in DE, May 3 in MD, and May 26 in PA, and in the "Middle" and "Late" plots 10 and 20 days later. Cover crop biomass increased with termination date at all sites, except with hairy vetch-triticale in PA, where there was no difference between the "Middle" and "Late" treatments. For both cover crops and across all sites, efficacy of the roller-crimper increased with termination date. Cash crop planting dates were later than the predicted presence of cutting stages of black cutworm and true armyworm larvae, and noctuid larvae numbers and crop seedling damage were very low. Emergence of seed corn maggot flies was low, but greater from corn on the first two planting dates compared with the third planting date, and from soybean for all three planting dates. Captures of predatory staphylinid beetles in emergence traps were equal to or greater than captures of seedcorn maggot fly. Activity-densities of arthropods collected in pitfall traps increased over the season, and were generally higher in corn than in soybean. Predators were the dominant trophic group, with carabid beetles dominating. Predation rates on sentinel larvae were greater for the "Early" and "Middle" than for the "Late" treatments in corn and soybean. Fungal infection rates of sentinel insects increased over the growing season. Crop damage from herbivores increased with planting date. Weed biomass in corn decreased with cover crop termination date in PA and MD, with the opposite trend in soybean at these two sites. Severe crop damage in DE released weeds from crop competition. High-residue cultivation consistently reduced weed biomass in corn at the PA and MD sites, and was more effective in PA compared to MD. In soybeans, high-residue cultivation resulted in a 90% reduction in weed biomass in PA compared to a 43% reduction in MD. In PA, corn silage yield was greatest in the "Middle" and lowest in the "Late" treatment. In MD, corn grain yield was greatest in the "Early" and lowest in the "Late" treatments. The greatest soybean yields in PA were in the "Early" and the lowest yields were in "Late" treatments. In MD, the greatest soybean yield was in the "Middle" and lowest yield was in the "Early" treatments. No DE yield data are reported due to early season drought stress and insect damage. On-farm research is being conducted in PA, MD, and NC. In PA, organic no-tilled beans outperformed conventionally tilled beans by 4.6 bu/ac. Both farms intend to investigate no-till soybean production during 2012. In MD, a rye cover crop was planted on farm during October 2011. Soil was sampled on farm during mid January 2012 and cover crop biomass, corn yield and population collected the previous summer and results were presented to Aaron Cooper at the advisory board meeting in March 2012. PARTICIPANTS: Mary Barbercheck, William Curran, Matt Ryan, Clair Keene, Jay Harper, Ron Hoover, Del Voight, Greg Hostetter, Charlie White, Mark Dempsey, Christina Mullen, Ariel Rivers, Steven Mirsky, Don Weber, Lauren Young, Mark VanGessell, Barb Scott, Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture TARGET AUDIENCES: Farmers, Extension specialists and educators, agricultural professionals, students, researchers, and academics. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The team conducted 19 outreach and extension events reaching over 1000 people, and produced 13 extension articles to engage our stakeholders about our project and results. On-farm research and a summary of our third Farmer Advisory Board meeting at BARC in March, 2012 are summarized in our biennial project newsletter, "The ROSE Review" ( http://agsci.psu.edu/organic/research-and-extension/rotational-no-til l/publications/organic-reduced-tillage-times). At a soil health workshop organized through this project, evaluations completed by 26 attendees revealed that 73% learned something that would make their operation more profitable in 2011 and 92% planned to adopt a new soil management or assessment practices in 2011. The project team delivered 15 project-related presentations at scientific conferences, and published 11 project-related peer-reviewed scientific publications. PSU faculty, cooperative extension, post-doctoral researchers, and graduate students shared ideas, and discussed ways to foster collaboration between three groups working on sustainable cropping systems research and extension projects at Penn State, including this project, at an Annual Sustainable Cropping Systems Triad Symposium.
Publications
- Keene, C. L. and W. S. Curran. 2012. Effectiveness of shallow high-residue cultivation in no-till soybean. Annual Meeting of the Northeastern Weed Science Society. Philadelphia, PA. January 2012. 66:27.
- Mirsky, S. B., C. Reberg-Horton, W. Curran, M. R. Ryan, J. R. Teasdale, and S. M. Wells. 2012. Overcoming weed management challenges in cover crop-based, organic rotational no-till corn and soybean in the mid-Atlantic region. Proceedings Weed Science Society of America. Waikoloa, Hawaii. Feb. 6-9, 2012. 52:180.
- Mirsky, S, J. Spargo, W. Curran, M. Ryan, and S. C. Reberg-Horton. 2012. Early season phenological indicators of cereal rye performance. Proc. Northeastern Weed Science Society. Philadelphia, PA. January 2012. 66:28
- Mirsky, S. B., J. Spargo, W. Curran, C. Reberg-Horton, and M. R. Ryan. 2011. Predicting late-season cereal rye biomass at green-up across a range of fall and spring available nitrogen. Proceedings Agronomy Society of America Meeting. 370:5.
- Ryan, M. R., D. A. Mortensen, J. R. Teasdale, R. G. Smith, S. B. Mirsky, and W. S. Curran. 2012. Interactions that matter: Improving efficacy with strategic combinations of cultural weed management practices. Proceedings Weed Science Society of America. Waikoloa, Hawaii. Feb. 6-9, 2012. 52:352.
- Ryan, M. R., D. A. Mortensen, J. R. Teasdale, R. G. Smith, S. B. Mirsky, and W. S. Curran. 2012. Integrated weed management symposium. Interactions that matter: Improving efficacy with strategic combinations of cultural weed management practices. Proceedings Northeastern Weed Science Society of America. Philadelphia, PA. January 2012. 66:42.
- Schipanski, M., S. Bailey, M. Barbercheck, M. Douglas, D. Finney, K. Haider, J. Kaye, D. Mortensen, J. Tooker, and C. White. 2011. A conceptual framework for evaluating multifunctionality of cover crops in agroecosystems. ASA/CSSA/SSSA International Annual Meetings, San Antonio, Texas. Oct. 16-19, 2011. http://a-cs.confex.com/crops/2011am/webprogram/Paper67788.html.
- Barbercheck, M., N. E. Kiernan, A. G. Hulting, S. Duiker, J. Hyde, H. Karsten, and E. Sanchez. 2012. Meeting the "multi-" requirements in organic agriculture research: Successes, challenges, and recommendations for multifunctional, multidisciplinary, participatory projects. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 27:93-106.
- Crockett, B. C., S. Mirsky, and W. S. Curran. 2012. Hairy vetch seedbank persistence as influenced by mechanical scarification and soil depth. Proc. Northeastern Weed Science Society. January 2012, Philadelphia, PA. 66:19.
- Smith, R. G., M. R. Ryan, and F. D. Menalled. 2011. Direct and indirect impacts of weed management practices on soil quality. Soil management: Building a stable base for agriculture. Eds. J. L. Hatfield and T. J. Sauer. American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society of America. Madison, WI. Pages 275-286.
- Jabbour, R., Barbercheck, M. 2011. Soil microarthropod response to the application of
entomopathogenic nematode-killed insects in maize and flower strip habitats. Pedobiologia 54:243-251.
- Lewis, D. B., J. P. Kaye, R. Jabbour, and M. E. Barbercheck. 2011. Labile soil carbon accumulates under reduced tillage during agroecosystem transition into organic management. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 26:342-353.
- Mirsky, S. B., M. R. Ryan, W. S. Curran, J. R. Teasdale, J. Maul, J. T. Spargo, J. Moyer, A. M. Grantham, D. Weber, and T. Way. 2012. Tillage issues: Cover crop-based organic rotational no-till grain production in the mid-Atlantic region. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. 27:31-40.
- Mirsky, S. B., W. S. Curran, D. M. Mortensen, D. L. Shumway, and M. R. Ryan. 2011. Timing of cover crop management effects on weed suppression in no-till planted soybean using a roller-crimper. Weed Science 59:380-389.
- Ryan, M. R., W. S. Curran, A. M. Grantham, L. K. Hunsberger, S. B. Mirsky, D. A. Mortensen, E. A. Nord, and D. O. Wilson. 2011. Effects of seeding rate and poultry litter on weed suppression from a rolled cereal rye cover crop. Weed Science 59:438-444.
- Smith, R. G., T. Gareau, D. Mortensen, W. Curran, M. Barbercheck. 2011. Assessing and visualizing management practices: A multivariable hands-on approach for education and extension. Weed Technology 25:680-687.
- Barbercheck, M. 2011. Biology and management of aphids in organic cucurbit production systems. eExtension.org. Organic Farming Resource Area. http://www.extension.org/pages/60000/biology-and-management-of-aphids -in-organic-cucurbit-production-systems.
- Barbercheck, M. 2011. Organic Crop Meeting Focuses on Tillage, Pest Management Practices. Sustainable Agriculture Newsletter 8(3): Summer 2011. http://extension.psu.edu/susag/news http://extension.psu.edu/susag/news/2011/June-2011/1-organic-crop-mee ting.
- DuPont, S. T., and M. R. Ryan. 2011. Creating a weed management plan for your organic farm. http://extension.psu.edu/start-farming/vegetables/creating-a-weed-man agement-plan-for-your-organic-farm/view.
- Ryan, M. R. (Ed.) 2011. The ROSE Review. Biannual project newsletter. Fall 2011. http://agsci.psu.edu/organic/research-and-extension/rotational-no-til l/publications/organic-reduced-tillage-times.
- Ryan, M. R. (Ed.) 2012. The ROSE Review. Biannual project newsletter. Spring 2012. http://agsci.psu.edu/organic/research-and-extension/rotational-no-til l/publications/organic-reduced-tillage-times.
- Ryan, M. R. 2011. PSU grain crops guy blog: Artisan wheat variety trial. http://psucropsguy.blogspot.com/2011/06/artisan-wheat-trial.html.
- Barbercheck, M. E. 2011. Peering into the black box: building an understanding of the population biology of entomopathogenic nematodes. Invited symposium presentation in Legacy of Entomopathogenic Nematology- Contributions to Science & Environmental Sustainability. Society of Nematologists Annual Meeting, Corvallis, OR. July 16-20, 2011. Vol.50:50.
- Barbercheck, M. E. 2011. The real dirt: Harry Kaya's influence on entomopathogenic nematode ecology. Invited presentation for cross-divisional symposium: The careers of Harry Kaya and Lerry Lacey: High impacts on science and scientists. International Congress of Invertebrate Pathology & Microbial Control, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Aug. 8-11, 2011. Vol. 44:6.
- Barbercheck, M. E. 2011. Hunter and hunted: entomopathogenic nematodes in the soil food web. Invited presentation for Member Symposium, "Entomopathogenic Nematodes: Their Biology, Ecology, and Application. A Tribute to the Dynamic Career of Harry K. Kaya." Entomological Society of America, Reno, NV. November 13-16, 2011. Vol.59:111.
- Curran, W. S., S. B. Mirsky, D. A. Mortensen, and M. R. Ryan. 2011. Integrating a hairy vetch cover crop for improved weed management in no-till corn. Proceedings Northeastern Weed Science Society of America. Philadelphia, PA. January 2012. 66:97
- Keene, C. L., W. Curran, M. R. Ryan, S. B. Mirsky, M. VanGessel, M. Dempsey, B. Scott, and L. Young. 2012. Cover crops, planting date and cultivation: Strategies for Weed Management in an organic cropping system. Proceedings Weed Science Society of America. Waikoloa, Hawaii. Feb. 6-9, 2012. 52:22.
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Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: A series of experiments were conducted in 2010 and early 2011 to test different management practices and sampling protocols, including an organic short-season corn variety trial, and experiment to test different methods of using a roller crimper for controlling hairy vetch cover crops and to test different ratios of hairy vetch and triticale for improved weed suppression. On-farm research trials were implemented in PA, MD, and NC. In March, 2011, an advisory board meeting was held at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) to discuss project progress with advisors consisting of experienced organic farmers from PA and MD, extension educators from Penn State, and representatives from the seed industry. The project team organized or participated in 12 extension programs related to the project, and delivered two webinars on organic weed management in field crops via eOrganic.org. The Reduced-tillage Organic Systems Experiment (ROSE) was successfully implemented at Penn State (PSU), the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), and the University of Delaware (UD) in late 2010. In September and October 2010, baseline soil samples were collected and analyzed for physical and chemical properties, cover crops were planted, and weed seed bank microplots were established. In May and June 2011, organic corn and soybean were no-till planted into a rolled cover crop consisting of hairy vetch and triticale or cereal rye, respectively. In the summer of 2011, several weed management strategies will be tested including pest avoidance (planting date), expressive (false seedbed), suppressive (mulch), and supplemental (high residue cultivation). Extensive early-season insect monitoring and weed sampling programs were initiated in Spring 2011. These data, along with cover crop biomass and soil quality indicator data will be used to explain variation in crop performance and weed suppression. All crops will be harvested to assess their performance and to determine the economic feasibility of the different strategies. PARTICIPANTS: Researchers, scientists, extension educators, agency personnel, farmers, agricultural industry representatives, other agricultural professionals, graduates students, undergraduate students, non-governmental non-for-profit organizations TARGET AUDIENCES: Researchers, scientists, extension educators, agency personnel, farmers, agricultural industry representatives, other agricultural professionals, graduates students, undergraduate students, non-governmental non-for-profit organizations PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Understanding the effects of production practices, like tillage and rotation, on soil quality, weeds, naturally-occurring beneficial organisms in organic agroecosystems will help us conserve natural resources and help producers reduce their reliance on synthetic insecticides. Reduction in the use of pesticides reduces risks of environmental contamination and human exposure. Of 26 people attending a project sponsored soil assessment and management workshop: 73 percent learned something that they thought will make their operation more profitable in 2011; 92 percent planned adopt a new soil management or assessment practice; 10, 7, 4, and 4 people increased their knowledge about 13 to 16 out of 16 topics, 10 to 12 topics, 7 to 9 topics , and 4 to 6 topics, respectively. Of 32 people participating in a project related whole farm evaluation workshop, 30 increased their knowledge of how one or more farm system components interacted with other farm system components, 25 increased their knowledge of how 6 or more farm system components interacted with other farm system components, 20 increased their awareness of how recommendations about one part of a farm system could affect other parts of a farm system, and 25 reported that they would change how they make recommendations to farmers. Of 175 people attending a project-sponsored ecological pest management workshop, 74 percent very useful, 26 percent learned something moderately useful, 70 percent absolutely expected to use the information they learned within the next year, 29 percent possibly expected to use the information they learned within the next year, 63 percent would absolutely attend another session by the same presenter, and 36 percent would possibly attend another session by the same presenter.
Publications
- Barbercheck, M, W. S. Curran, and J. M. Dillon. 2010. Organic Crop Production, Ch. 11 in: The Agronomy Guide. PSU COAS. http://extension.psu.edu/agronomy-guide/cm/sec11.
- Barbercheck, M. 2011. Organic Grower Network Focuses on Organic Grain Marketing. Sustainable Agriculture Newsletter 8(2):Spring 2011. http://extension.psu.edu/susag/news/2011/April-2011/4-organic-marketi ng.
- Barbercheck, M. 2011. Organic Growers Meeting on Markets. Field Crop News. March 8, 2011. Vol. 11, Issue 3. http://fcn.agronomy.psu.edu/2011/fcn1103.cfm#e.
- Barbercheck, M. 2011. Sign-up for NRCS funding program for organic farming underway. Field Crop News. April 26, 2011. 11:7. http://extension.psu.edu/field-crop-news/archives/2011/april-26#j.
- Dempsey, M., M. Schipanski, and M. Barbercheck. 2011. Penn State Organic Corn Variety Trial. Sustainable Ag Newsletter, January 20, 2011. http://extension.psu.edu/susag/news/Jan-2011/4-organic-corn-variety-t rial.
- Dempsey, M., M. Schipanski, and M. Barbercheck. 2011. Penn State Organic Corn Variety Trial. Field Crop News. January 11, 2011. Vol. 11, Issue 1. http://extension.psu.edu/field-crop-news/archives/2011/january-11#g.
- Dempsey, M., M. Schipanski, and M. Barbercheck. 2011. Penn State Organic Variety Trial. Organic Matters. PCO Quarterly Newsletter Winter 2011. pp. 9-10.
- Curran, W. S., S. B. Mirsky, D. A. Mortensen, and M. R. Ryan. 2011. Integrating a Hairy Vetch Cover Crop for Improved Weed Management in No- Till Corn. Proceedings Northeastern Weed Science Society of America. 66:97. (Abstract).
- Ryan, M. (ed.). 2011. The ROSE Review. Project Newsletter, Spring 2011. http://agsci.psu.edu/organic/research-and-extension/Rotational%20No-t ill/publications-1/organic-reduced-tillage-times/Spring%202011%20ROSE %20Review.pdf/view.
- Ryan, M. R., S. B. Mirsky, D. A. Mortensen, J. R. Teasdale, and W. S. Curran. 2011. Synergism between cereal rye mulch and soybean planting density. Proceedings Weed Science Society of America. 51:249. (Abstract).
- Ryan, M. R., D. A. Mortensen, J. R. Teasdale, W. S. Curran, R. G. Smith, and S. B. Mirsky, 2011. Synergism Between Cultural Weed Management Tactics. Proceedings Northeastern Weed Science Society of America. 66:67. (Abstract).
- Ryan, M. R., S. B. Mirsky, D. A. Mortensen, J. R. Teasdale, and W. S. Curran. 2011. Potential synergistic effects of cereal rye biomass and soybean planting density on weed suppression. Weed Science 59:238-246.
- Schipanski, M., D. Sandy, and M. Barbercheck. 2011. Organic Corn yields in a Drought Year. Organic Matters, PCO Quarterly Newsletter Winter 2011. pp. 11, 22. http://www.paorganic.org/pdf/2011/OM_winter11.pdf.
- Gareau, T. L. P., R. G. Smith, M. E. Barbercheck, and D. A. Mortensen. 2010. Spider Plots: A Tool for Participatory Extension Learning. Journal of Extension 48(5):5TOT8. http://www.joe.org/joe/2010october/tt8.php.
- Mirsky, S. B., J. R. Teasdale, W. S. Curran, D. A. Mortensen, M. R. Ryan and J. Moyer. 2010. Reducing tillage in mid-Atlantic organic grain production. Proceedings Agronomy Society of America Meeting. 181-1. (Abstract). http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2010am/webprogram/Paper57564.html.
- Reberg-Horton, C. 2009. Fertility and Weed Control in No-till Organic Production. NCSU Organic Grain Project Newsletter, December 2009. http://www.organicgrains.ncsu.edu/Newsletters/Dec2009.htm#wheatscab.
- Reberg-Horton, C. 2010. Rolled Rye Mulches for Weed Control in Organic No-till Soybeans. NCSU Organic Grain Project Newsletter, December 2010. http://www.organicgrains.ncsu.edu/Newsletters/December2010.htm#cig.
- Ryan, M. (ed.). 2010. The ROSE Review. Project Newsletter, Fall 2010. http://agsci.psu.edu/organic/research-and-extension/Rotational%20No-t ill/publications-1/organic-reduced-tillage-times/Fall2010.pdf/view.
- Smith, R. G. A., M. Barbercheck, D. Mortensen, J. Hyde, and A. Hulting. 2011. Effects of cover crop and tillage system on crop yields, weed abundance and net returns during the transition to organic feed grain production. Agronomy Journal 103:51-59.
- Smith, A. N., S. C. Reberg-Horton, G. T. Place, A. D. Meijer, C. Arellano and J. P. Mueller. 2011. Rolled rye mulch for weed suppression in organic no-tillage soybeans. Weed Science 59:224-231.
- Trauger, A., C. Sachs, M. Barbercheck, N. E. Kiernan, and K. Brasier. 2010. 'The Object of Extension': Agricultural Education and Authentic Farmers in Pennsylvania, USA. Sociologia Ruralis 50:85-103.
- Ward, M. J., M. R. Ryan, W. S. Curran, M. E. Barbercheck, and D. A. Mortensen. 2011. Cover crops and disturbance influence activity-density of weed seed predators Amara aenea and Harpalus pensylvanicus (Coleoptera: Carabidae). Weed Science 59:76-81.
- White, C., and M. Barbercheck. 2010. UF024-Agroecology in Practice: Introduction to Organic Farming: A Growing Opportunity for Pennsylvania Farmers. http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/uf024.pdf.
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Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Project activities since notification of the award address all project seven goals. These activities have focused on project planning and staffing, site preparation and preliminary trials at participating research facilities, extension programs and publications, scientific presentations, and on-farm research planning. Since notification of funding in July 2009, the project team has participated in regular planning activities. These activities include: 1)Establishment of a public project website hosted by Penn State University, http://agsci.psu.edu/organic/research-and-extension/Rotational%20No-t ill; 2) Establishment of a collaborative workspace at eOrganic.info, 3)Regular teleconferences to discuss and fine tune experimental design, project management, and to plan face-to-face project meetings. Minutes are available at eOrganic.info, and 4) Two face-to-face meetings. One project investigator meeting in State College, PA, and an investigator/farmer advisory board meeting in Beltsville, MD. Minutes available at eOrganic.info. PARTICIPANTS: Christy Mullen (Research Technician, PSU Entomology) is conducting the preliminary trials of the entomology methods, created and maintains the project website, maintains the Organic Systems Plan for the PSU research site, and has served as the project historian. A second technician, to be supervised by PI Curran will be hired with a start date of Sept. 1, 2010. At USDA BARC, PIs are in the process of hiring a full time technician, who will have a start date of Fall, 2010. At UD-REC, Barbara Scott has been assigned to the project. Two graduate students have been recruited and will join the project in August 2010. Project funds support one student directly. Claire Keene (PSU Crop and Soil Science), whose research will focus on agronomic aspects of the systems experiment, will be supervised by PI Curran. We leveraged the OREI grant to obtain PSU support for an additional student. Tom Huff (PSU Entomology), who will focus on entomological aspects of the research, will be supervised by PI Barbercheck. Both of these PhD students will participate in project extension activities. We have identified a post-doctoral researcher, Matt Ryan. Matt will join the project upon completion of his PhD (July 1, 2010). Matt is currently a student at PSU, helped in the preparation of the proposal, and has participated in all project activities to date. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Field work to address to address Objectives 1 - 4 in the original proposal has been initiated. The Reduced-Tillage Organic Systems Experiment will be implemented in late summer 2010 at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center (RELARC) near Rock Springs, PA, and at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) in Beltsville, MD as described in the original proposal. Preliminary trials to refine methods are being conducted at PSU and BARC. These preliminary tests include: black cutworm and armyworm pheromone trapping, soil baiting for wireworms and other soil insects, seedcorn maggot monitoring, and a predation assay using sentinel black cutworm and greater wax moth larva. In early summer 2010, a corn variety test was established on certified organic land at the PSU. The variety test is also being conducted at three other sites: in Center Co. and Lancaster Co., PA, and at the University of Delaware Research and Education Center (UD-REC) on land that is not certified organic. The performance of eleven organic corn varieties, ranging from 80 to 95 days in maturity, will inform our choice for the systems experiment and on-farm tests in PA, MD, and DE.
Publications
- Carvalho, C., T.P. Gareau, M.E. Barbercheck. 2010. Ground and Tiger Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Carabidae). Entomology Fact Sheet. http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/ground-beetles.
- Curran, W, M. Ryan, and S. Mirsky. 2010. Cover crop rollers for northeastern grain production. Color bulletin. Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences. http://www.weeds.psu.edu/pdf/roller.pdf.
- Nord, E., R. Smith, W. Curran, and M. Ryan. 2010. Suppressing weeds using cover crops in PA. Agroecology in Practice Series. http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/PDFs/uc210.pdf.
- White, C., and M. Barbercheck. 2010. Introduction to Organic Farming: A Growing Opportunity for Pennsylvania Farmers. Penn State University college of Agricultural Sciences UF024-Agroecology in Practice series. 8 pgs.
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