Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: In the final year of study, irrigation treatments were applied as planned and data on soil moisture, weather, biomass yield and quality, and pest and disease interactions collected as previously reported. Results show that stinging nettle can grow in most years without supplemental irrigation in South central Virginia because the two phases of active growth (spring and fall) coincide with the humid months of April and May, and September and October. Owing to excellent overwintering and vigorous re-growth in spring, nettle planted at 50cmx50cm (within and inter-row spacing)achieves full ground cover by the 2nd year. No significant pest and disease infestation was observed. However, when grown for forage, cutting height and timing of fertilization must be managed to prevent excessive competition from summer weed growth. Data from the study was processed and presented at the American Society for Horticultural Science Conferencein Miami, FL, and at the American Society of Agronomy Meeting in Cincinnati, OH. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Stinging nettle is one of a number of herbs that make up a US herbal supplement industry projected at $2.7 billion in 2005. It is an important ingredient in the manufacture of hair care products and other high-end cosmetics. Stinging nettle also holds potential as a source of forage, medicine, and fiber, and as a soil conditioner. In terms of forage quality, preliminary results show that nettle can provide dietary protein to ruminants at levels comparable to alfalfa. Acceptance and digestibility of nettle forage fed to small ruminants is being evaluated in a separate study in order to position nettle as an alternative protein supplement for inclusion in ruminant diets. Three manuscripts have been prepared from this work and the first one was published in the December issue of HortTechnology, a Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science.
Publications
- Laban K. Rutto, Myong-Sook Ansari, and Michael Brandt. 2012. Biomass yield and dry matter partitioning in greenhouse-grown stinging nettle under different fertilization regimes. HortTechnology 22(6): 751-756.
|
Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: In the second year of study, irrigation treatments were imposed with the help of timed drip irrigation. Soil moisture during the growing season was recorded at hourly intervals in irrigated and rain-fed plots at depths of 15, 30 and 60cm using datalogger-integrated soil moisture sensors. We also sampled spring and fall growth forage from two 1.0m2 locations per plot and determined dry matter yield by measuring forage dry weight after drying to constant weight. At the end of the growing season, nettle woody biomass was sampled from every plot for fiber extraction and analysis. Forage samples were submitted for mineral analysis and data has been received and is being processed. Preliminary results show that stinging nettle is not significantly responsive to irrigation under Virginia conditions because the two phases of active growth (Spring and fall) coincide with the humid months of April and May, and September and October. Owing to excellent overwintering and vigorous re-growth in spring, nettle planted at 50cmx50cm is nearing 100% plot cover. Data processing and analysis will be completed in the next two months and findings will be presented in the next meeting of the American Society of Agronomy. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Stinging nettle is one of a number of herbs that make up a US herbal supplement industry projected at $2.7 billion in 2005. It is an important ingredient in the manufacture of hair care products and other high-end cosmetics. Stinging nettle also holds potential as a source of forage, medicine, and fiber, and as a soil conditioner. In terms of forage quality, preliminary results show that nettle can provide dietary protein to ruminants at levels comparable to alfalfa. Acceptance and digestibility of nettle forage fed to small ruminants is being evaluated in a separate study in order to position nettle as an alternative source of high protein supplement for inclusion in ruminant diets.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Within this period, the field experiment was established as proposed. Seedlings were started in the greenhouse from commercial seed (Richters, Ontario, Canada) in March and transplanted into field plots in May. At implementation, the experimental design was modified by introducing an extra spacing treatment (50cmX100cm). Spacing treatments each replicated twice were randomly assigned to six 300m2 blocks. Seedlings were mechanically transplanted into plots and a drip irrigation system laid out to supply water to all rows. During the first season, (2010) all treatments were irrigated to ensure uniform development. A weather station was installed in close proximity to the experimental field and soil moisture sensors were installed in the fall in preparation for the start of irrigation treatments and data taking in 2011. In the process of establishing the field experiment, we successfully developed a biodegradable peat-pot based system for mass production of nettle seedlings for field transplanting with MT 33-6000 transplanters (Mechanical Transplanter Co., Holland, MI). Other observations made during the 2010 season include identification of fall transplanting as beneficial to nettle establishment and growth, and the importance of weed control and irrigation during the plant establishment phase. Such husbandry and technical information on stinging nettle will facilitate adoption of the species as a high value crop in Virginia and the greater US. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Stinging nettle is one of a number of herbs that make up a US herbal supplement industry projected at $2.7 billion in 2005. It is an important ingredient in the manufacture of hair care products and other high-end cosmetics. Clairol, a division of Proctor & Gamble uses more than 40 tons of stinging nettle per year in hair conditioning products, and Fulser (German Company) makes a nettle based shampoo (Tresan) that they recommend for damaged and dull hair. Stinging nettle also holds potential as a source of forage, medicine, fiber, and as a soil conditioner.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
|