Progress 08/15/09 to 08/14/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This multi-state project was undertaken to assess the impact of cover crops on damage by soilborne pathogens of vegetables and soil health. In NY, 9 cover crop treatments (winter rye grain +hairy vetch, oat, sudex 'MS202 BMR', forage radish var. 'Groff', red clover 'Mammoth', Rangi rapeseed, Mancan' buckwheat, 'Jensen' wheat, and a fallow control) were planted in fall 2008 in a randomized design with 3 replications in 4 fields with previous management histories (108 total plots). Each replicate (strip) was 15 x 200 ft. In spring 2009, the cover crop biomass was recorded and soil samples were collected from all plots to assess root and soil health parameters. Plots were disked, fitted and planted to sweet corn cv. Bodacious . In early September 2009, all the cover crops were re-established. After cover crop biomass assessment and soil sample collection in May 2010, all plots were planted to snap bean cv. Caprice and maintained according to commercial production guidelines. After harvesting the snap bean crop, the cover crops were again reestablished and all the practices and measurements were similarly repeated in 2011 and 2012. Results obtained showed that highest marketable yield of snap bean was realized in the field that had the highest soil quality level and also the lowest root rot severity ratings (Future IPM Production System). In contrast, the lowest bean yield was obtained in the conventionally managed field (with the lowest soil quality and also the highest root rot ratings). In addition, marketable yield of bean varied among the cover crop treatments and was influenced by the previous management strategies and also years. However, the lowest bean yields were generally in the buckwheat and the check (fallow), whereas the highest yield was after rye/vetch, wheat, and oat. A cover crop of buckwheat, clover, and the fallow check appeared to increase root rot severity of snap beans. Results of the greenhouse bioassay also suggested that root rot severity was increased the most by the fallow check and rye/vetch, whereas the lowest increases were in the wheat, sudex, oat, and radish. Weed pressure was least in the rye/vetch, wheat, and rapeseed plots, whereas weeds were most severe in the fallow/check, buckwheat, and sudex plots. Soil indicators measured also varied by production fields, cover crop treatments and years. The highest active carbon values were found in the organic and future IPM system production fields. In the organic system, highest active carbon values were found in soils after rye/vetch, radish, and oats; whereas the lowest value was that in the fallow/check plots. Rye/vetch, wheat, oat, and clover appear to improve aggregate stability values as compared to the other cover crop treatments. In CT, the impact of cover crops on soilborne pathogens (Meloidogyne, Pratylenchus, Rhizoctonia and Pythium) was evaluated in field microplots. Growth parameters of snap bean were highest after forage radish, rapeseed and tifgrain. In PA, trials in commercial fields showed that root health of the indexing snap bean crop was improved after rye and rapeseed. PARTICIPANTS: George S. Abawi: PI, Dept. of Plant Pathology, Cornell University, NYSAES, 113 Barton Laboratory, 630 W. North St., Geneva, NY 14456; 315-787-2374; gsa1@cornell.edu. Curtis Petzoldt: Co-PI, NYS IPM Program, Cornell University, NYSAES, Geneva, NY 14456; 315-787-2206; cp13@cornell.edu. Beth K. Gugino: C0-PI, Dept. of Plant Pathology, The Penn. State Univ., 219 Buckhout Lab., University park, PA 16802, 814-865-7328; bkgugino@psu.edu. James laMondia: Co-PI, The CT Agric. Expt. Sta., dept. of Plant Pathology and Ecology, Valley laboratory, 153 Cook Hill Rd., Windsor, CT 06095; 860-683-4982; James.LaMondia@ct.gov. TARGET AUDIENCES: Extension Educators, Extension and Applied Researchers, Graduate Students, Growers, and other Agricultural Service Providers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Results obtained from this project has increased our knowledge on the impact of selected cover crops on specific root pathogens and various soil health parameters in soils that were under different management systems and exhibiting differences in root and soil health. We are unable to measure impacts at this time, as it will take a number of growing cycles to document the changes adopted. The conclusions reached above will be made available to northeast research colleagues, extension educators, private consultants, vegetable growers, and other agricultural service providers soon. Compatible results on the effects of cover have been obtained across the three collaborating states. Although cover crop ratings may change as more data is collected in the near future, it is clear that a pattern is emerging from the results obtained that will allow us to make specific recommendations for cover crops use that could be adopted by growers in the northeast for the management of root disease pathogens and soil health.
Publications
- Abawi, G.S., C.H. Petzoldt, B.K. Gugino, and J.A. LaMondia. 2011. Prioritizing cover crops for improving root health and yield of vegetables in the Northeast. Phytopathology 101:S1.
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Progress 08/15/10 to 08/14/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: In New York, the cover crop treatments of the project were reestablished in all plots (108 plots) during Aug. 31 to Sept. 2, 2010. In spring 2011, cover crop biomass in each plot was determined on May 25 - 26. Soil samples were collected from all plots for the bean bioassay, Cornell Soil Health tests, and assessing nematode populations on June 1. All plots were planted back to snap bean cv. Caprice, on June 16 and machine harvested on August 24. The 9 cover crop treatments were re-established in the same plots on September 26, 2011. Data collected in 2011 again showed that regardless of the cover crop treatments bean yield was the highest in the IPM Future production system (field), whereas it was lowest in the Conventional system. In the IPM Future production field, snap bean yield was highest in the Rye+vetch cover crop plots and lowest in the buckwheat cover crop plots. Root rot development was moderate to severe and there was little difference in root rot severity that developed on bean roots grown in the various plots. Rye+vetch, wheat, and rapeseed provided the highest biomass to incorporate in the spring before planting beans. The same cover crop plots also exhibited the least weed pressure in comparison to plots of the other cover crops. Root knot nematode populations were highest in soil after clover, radish, and rye/vetch; moderate after rapeseed; and lowest after sudex, buckwheat and oat. Root lesion nematode population data were highest after sudex, rye/vetch, wheat, and oats; and moderate after clover, radish, buckwheat and rapeseed. Data evaluation is continuing to assess if the physical and chemical soil health parameters are improved or made worse by particular cover crops. In Pennsylvania, the snap bean bioassay documented a reduction in soilborne pathogen pressure in the plots planted with either rye or rapeseed in a replicated trial in a commercial field. Compared to the soil samples collected when the cover crops were established, the root health rating of the snap beans grown in soil managed with the rye cover went from 7.4 to 4.1 and from 7.3 to 5.1 for the rapeseed cover on a scale of 1 = healthy to 9 = ≥ 75% of the hypocotyls and roots severely symptomatic and at advanced stages of decay. In Connecticut, the cover crops were planted in the same microplots infested with various combinations of root pathogens (a total of 168 plots) on 18 August, 2010. On 31 May, 2011, all microplots were mixed and fertilized with 60 lb. N per acre as 10:10:10 and Caprice beans were seeded in all plots on 1 June 2011 as described above. On 26 July (48 plots), 1 August (48 plots) and 8 August (72 plots) all plants in each microplot were destructively sampled and rated for root disease using a scale of 1-9. Root and shoot and bean weight measurements were also taken. Nematodes were extracted from 2 g root tissue from each microplot for 5 days using a wrist action shaker, and counted. In 2010, tillage radish and Rangi rapeseed had the highest shoot and root weights and radish, then rapeseed, sorghosudangrass and millet had the lowest root rot ratings. In 2011, radish again had the highest shoot, root and bean yield. PARTICIPANTS: PI and Co-PI's George S. Abawi: PI, Dept. of Plant Pathology, Cornell University, NYSAES, 113 arton Laboratory, 630 W. North St., Geneva, NY 14456; 315-787-2374; gsa1@cornell.edu. Curtis Petzoldt: Co-PI, NYS IPM Program, Cornell University, NYSAES, Geneva, NY 14456; 315-787-2206; cp13@cornell.edu. Beth K. Gugino: C0-PI, Dept. of Plant Pathology, The Penn. State Univ., 219 Buckhout Lab., University park, PA 16802, 814-865-7328; bkgugino@psu.edu. James laMondia: Co-PI, The CT Agric. Expt. Sta., dept. of Plant Pathology and Ecology, Valley laboratory, 153 Cook Hill Rd., Windsor, CT 06095; 860-683-4982; James.LaMondia@ct.gov. Collaborators: Carol R. MacNeil: Collaborating Extension Specialist, Cornell Coop. Ext., 480 Main St., Canandaigua, NY 14424; 585-394-3977x406; crm6@cornell.edu Bill Waltman: Collaborating Extension Educator, Penn State Coop. Ext., 24 Maple View Lane, Coudersport, PA 16915, 814-274-8540, ww15@psu.edu. Tianna DuPont: Collaborating Extension Educator, Penn State Coop. Ext., 14 Gracedale Avenue, Nazareth, PA 18064, 610-746-1970, std11@psu.edu. Scott Guiser: Collaborating Extension Educator, Penn State Coop. Ext., 1282 Almshouse Road, Doylestown, PA 18901, 215-345-3282, sxg6@psu.edu. Joel Roney: Collaborating grower, Trauger Farms, 370 Island Road, Kintnersville, PA 18930, 610-847-5702, traugersmarket@aol.com. TARGET AUDIENCES: Vegetable Growers in the NE region, Extension Educators in The NE region, Research Scientists, and Other Agricultural Service Providers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Results obtained from this project has increased our knowledge on the impact of selected cover crops on specific root pathogens and various soil health parameters in soils that were under different management systems and exhibiting differences in root and soil health. Since data collection will not be complete until later in the project, we are unable to measure impacts at this time. Once data collection is complete, the conclusions reached will be made available to northeast research colleagues, extension educators, private consultants, vegetable growers, and other agricultural service providers. Across the three states some patterns of results are emerging. Although these ratings may change as more data is collected in the project, it is clear that a pattern is emerging that will allow us to make recommendations for cover crops that will be useful for growers in the northeast with known field populations of root disease and nematodes.
Publications
- Abawi, G. S., C. H. Petzoldt, B. K. Gugino, and J. A. laMondia. 2011. Prioritizing cover crops for improving root health and yield of vegetables in the northeast region. Phytopathology 101:S1.
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Progress 08/15/09 to 08/14/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: In New York, strips (15 x 200 ft.) of 9 cover crop treatments (winter rye grain + hair vetch, oat, sudex, forage radish, red clover, rapeseed, buckwheat, wheat and a fallow control) were established in Fall 2008 in 4 experimental fields in a randomized design with 3 replications/treatment field (108 plots). The 4 fields had different management histories resulting in varied root health and soil quality levels. On May 6, 2009, cover crop biomass of each plot was determined and soil samples were collected for assessing root health (bean bioassay) and soil health parameters (Cornell Soil Health test protocol). The cover crops were then disked and the strips fitted and planted with sweet corn. On 5 August, sweet corn biomass was measured and the corn residue was removed from the field by harvesting as silage by a collaborating grower. In early September 2009, the cover crop treatments were re-established in the same plots. Biomass of the cover crops was assessed on 4-5 May and soil samples were collected on 10 May for the bean bioassays, the Cornell Soil Health tests, and also for nematode diversity and density. All plots were then fit and planted to snap bean, which was machine harvested on 2-3 August. The cover crops were then re-established in the same plots 31 August - 2 September for another cycle of evaluation. Preliminary results showed that bean yield was highest in the field with the highest soil health parameter and lowest root rot severity ratings (RRSR). The cover crop treatments also greatly affected root health and yield of beans, but varied among the 4 fields. However, yield of beans was lowest and root rot severity ratings were highest with buckwheat as the cover crop. RRSR was also high in plots planted to cover crops of red clover, forage radish and rapeseed in all fields. In Connecticut, two sets of 96 and 72 microplots at the CAES Valley Laboratory Research Farm were used to investigate the effects of the same cover crops on pathogen populations (Meloidogyne, Pratylnchus, Pythium and Rhizoctonia) and soil health parameters. Microplots were randomized in a complete block design with 10 replications and were planted on 24 June, 2009. In 2010, microplots were tilled and planted to beans Caprice on 2 June, 2010 (6 plants/plot). Two plants/microplot were destructively sampled, rated for RRSR (1-9 scale) and root and shoot weights recorded. Nematodes were extracted from 2g root tissue from each microplot for 5 days and counted. Remaining plants were harvested and beans and shoot weights measured. Rotation crops were re-planted in the same microplots on 18 August, 2010. In Pennsylvania, several commercial fields with a history of significant root disease pressure (RRSR ranging from 4.3 to 8.7) were identified in 2009 and 2010 on farms in Potter Co. and eastern PA in collaboration with extension educators and interested growers. In 2010, sets of paired plots were established in these fields to compare the effects of several crops (tillage radish, buckwheat, forage millet, sunn hemp, sorghum-sudangrass, Rapeseed, and/or Caliente mustards) on root health soil health and yield factors on the following main crops in 2011. PARTICIPANTS: PI and Co-PI's: George S. Abawi: PI, Dept. of Plant Pathology & Plant Microbe Biology, Cornell University, NYSAES, 113 Barton Laboratory, 630 W. North St., Geneva, NY 14456; 315-787-2374; gsa1@cornell.edu. Curtis Petzoldt: Co-PI, NYS IPM Program, Cornell University, NYSAES, Geneva, NY 14456; 315-787-2206; cp13@cornell.edu. Beth K. Gugino: C0-PI, Dept. of Plant Pathology, The Penn. State University, 219 Buckhout Lab., University Park, PA 16802, 814-865-7328; bkgugino@psu.edu. James LaMondia: Co-PI, The CT Agric. Expt. Sta., Dept. of Plant Pathology and Ecology, Valley laboratory, 153 Cook Hill Rd., Windsor, CT 06095; 860-683-4982; James.LaMondia@ct.gov. TARGET AUDIENCES: Vegetable growers in the NE Region; Extension educators in the NE Region; Other Agricultural Service Providers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Root diseases and soil health are major constraints to vegetable production and profitability through the Northeast region. It is known that the use of the appropriate cover crop(s) and in the right sequence is one of the few options available for the sustainable management of soil health. Cover crops can also have a major influence on the soil population and damage of numerous soilborne pathogens, depending n their host status to the prevailing pathogen(s) and other factors. Thus, results obtained from this project will aid growers and other agricultural service providers in selecting the appropriate cover crop(s) to address the root health and/or soil health production constraints. The latter will contribute to increasing farm profitability and environmental quality.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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