Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audiences for this project were scientists, agronomists, students, and citizens who wish improve their knowledge in organic agriculture. The audiences were reached through presentations in professional scientific organizations, demonstrations in research field experiments, and informal instruction through oral presentations that were uploaded in the Internet. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? A graduate student has completed its master degree with this project and at least two graduate students have received informal training in the field. In addition more than four thousand views have been reported from uploaded videos in internet. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The target audiences for this project were scientists, agronomists, students, and citizens who wish to improve their knowledge in organic agriculture. The audiences were reached through presentations in professional scientific organizations and informal instruction through oral presentations that were uploaded in the Internet (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBLVTwTzZE4 ; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYhkbiHjESA ; http://agriculturapr.blogspot.com What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Unsuitable agricultural practices have exacerbated worldwide soil degradation, thus limiting food production. Loss of soil organic matter is a major reason associated to soil degradation. The incorporation of cover crops, compost amendment and application of compost tea increased total soil organic matter, and recalcitrant organic matter in tropical soils. The physical, chemical and biological properties of soils were significantly increased by the above-mentioned amendment treatments. The main goal of this project was improvement of soil quality under organic agricultural practices, and deliver results and findings to local farmers, students and general public. The results of this study were shared and continue to be shared through a Web page named compostapr.com. The sharing information process allows farmers and general public to prepare individual management plans after a small amount of training through the Web page presentations.
Publications
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Pagan, Ian. 2013. Restorative Effects of Combined Sustainable Practices on the Biologica, Physical and Chemical Properties of a Soil and Crop Productivity. Master Thesis
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Pag�n-�Roig, I.C., J. A. Chong, J.A. Dumas and C. Estevez. 2014. Soil physical and biological properties affected by organic amendments applied in 60 day cycles. Submitted to the Journal of Agriculture of the UPR.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Pag�n-�Roig, I.C., J. A. Chong, J.A. Dumas and C. Estevez. 2014. Soil fertility, humic acids quality and eggplant (Solanum melongena) yield affected by a combination of sustainable practices. Submitted to the Journal of Agriculture of the UPR.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Chong, J.A. and J.A. Dumas. 2012. Coffee Pulp Compost: Chemical Properties and Distribution of Humic Substances. J. Agric. Univ. P.R. 96(1-2): 77-87.
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Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Results and findings of this research has been shared with stakeholders through field trips, seminars, conferences and web pages to engage stakeholders with the benefits in soil quality and crop production of organic amendment. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Two graduate students were trained. One of the students completed his master degree on November, 2013, and the other one will finish the master degree during next year. People also are going to be trained through videos that have been posted in the web (project impact could be measured through the number of persons that visit the web pages). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Four scientific presentations were made to disseminate results and findings of this project. The presentations were on the following dates and scientific forums: 1. November 2011-Puerto Rican Agricultural Science Society; Atermisa-International Agroecological symposium-celebrated in Cuba. 2. November 2011-Center of Capacitation Niceto Perez, en Guira de Melena. 3. November 2012-Puerto Rican Agricultural Science Society. 4. May 2012-6th symposium of Agroecology celebrated at the University of Puerto Rico at Utuado. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Complete a study to understand the effects on crop yield of different organic matter amendments and other organic practices such as cover crops and compost tea in Toa soil series. This experiment will aid in modeling the effects of organic practices on tropical soils, which allows a smooth transition path to sustainable agriculture. Works will continue in organic field plots prepared in Adjuntas Experiment Station. Cover crops and organic amendments will be continuing, and plantains will be grown to evaluate the cumulative effect of compost amendments nutrient balance, compost tea and other organic practices in soil quality and crop production. Samples of soils were collected and will be analyzed to evaluate nutritional needs for plantain production in a tropical soil (Toa series) amended with compost, after cover crop incorporation and other organic practices.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The first goal seeks to understand the effects of different proportions of organic amendments on different agriculturally important clays and their influence on crop yield and quality. Under this goal mineralization processes in four clay soils were evaluated. The rates of humic substances accumulation were characterized and its effects on yield and quality of open pollinated tomatoes and eggplants. The second goal is to quantify the effects of twice-a- year organic amendments on crop yield and quality over a period of two years. The improvement on soil quality and crop yield in tropical acid soils was achieved by using organic amendments and other organic agricultural practices such cover crops, compost tea and humus application. The third and final goal develops the description, dissemination and publication of the results to aid farmers to implementing these technologies. The importance of organic practices, specifically those practices which increasing soil organic matter or conserve it have been shared with growers through two open houses, one field trip, web pages and videos.
Publications
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Pagan, I. 2013. Restorative effects of combined sustainable practices on the biological, physical and chemical properties of soil and crop productivity (Master's thesis).
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Pagan, I. J. Chong, J. Dumas, C. Esteves. 2013. Soil physical and biological properties affected by organic amendments applied in 60-day cycles (submitted to the J. of Agric. of UPR).
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Pagan, I. J. Chong, J. Dumas, C. Esteves. 2013. Soil fertility, humic acids quality and eggplant (Solanum melongena) yield affected by a combination of sustainable practices (submitted to the J. of Agric. of UPR).
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Chong, J. and J. Dumas. 2013. Chemical and physical property changes of compost amended tropical soils (submitted to the J. of Agric. of UPR).
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Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This project provides valuable information about agricultural organic practices. The project has shown soil quality improvement with the use of mature organic matter and cover crops, demonstrating increases in vegetable production in tropical soils. This study developed information regarding the effect of organic practices (compost, soil fertility, and cover crop) on soil quality, buildup of humic substances, crop yield and quality in tropical soils. The research findings have been shared with partners, graduate students and citizens through oral presentations that were posted in Internet. Also the findings have been spread by means of conferences and at an experimental site in Adjuntas Agricultural Experiment Station that was used as the demonstration site. Two graduate students are working on their masters' degrees with this project. PARTICIPANTS: Principal investigator(s): Jose A. Dumas (PI)- The person in charge of canalizing all the documentation related to the project. He is in charge of analyzing the chemical and biological data of soil samples. Joaquin A. Chong (Co-PI)- The person in charge of the field experiments. Also, he is in charge of the graduate students who are working on this project, and helping in the processing of the physical and biological data that is collected in the project. Consuelo Esteves de Jensen (Co-PI) - The person in charge of identifying pests and diseases that are affecting the crops in field and greenhouse experiments. Julia O'Hallorans (Co-PI) - The person who helps in identification of nutrient deficiencies that may occur during the organic management of soil for a particular crop. Training or professional development: Graduate Students: Ian Carlo Pagan (graduate student)- He is a graduate student who was in charge of field experiments for the improvement of soil quality with organic practices in Juana Diaz Agricultural Experiment Station. Warys Zayas (graduate student)- He is a graduate student who will be in charge of field experiments for the improvement of soil quality with biostimulants. The experiments will be performed at Finca Alzamora in Mayaguez. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences for this project were scientists, agronomists, students, and citizens who wish to improve their knowledge of organic agriculture. The audiences were reached through presentations in professional scientific organizations, demonstrations in research field experiments, and via informal instruction through oral presentations that were uploaded on Internet. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Transition to a sustainable agriculture could be a long-term process that starts with the soil, its health, and health of the environment. This transition could lead to the reduction of inorganic fertilization and to the increase in sustainability. Experimental trials using four tropical soils (Oxisol-Coto, Ultisol-Alonso, Vertisol-Fraternidad, and Mollisol-San Anton) have demonstrated that application of mature compost enhanced physical, chemical and biological properties of these soils. The yield and quality of Floradel tomato plants grown in the four above-mentioned amended soils were significantly higher than in non-amended soils. From a quality point of view, the protein content and brix in tomato fruits of the organic experimental trials shoored a greater amount of metabolomics in the fruits from the soils amended with compost than in fruits from the control plots. Effects of application of compost and cover crop cycles in the Mollisol-San Anton significantly improved physical and chemical properties such as soil aggregate stability, infiltration, bulk density, soil organic matter, humic substances content and nutrients. The plant biomass and yield of eggplants in the Mollisoll-San Anton were significantly higher in the plots with greater amounts of cover crop-compost cycles. In field and laboratory assays, the organic practices have improved all the minimum chemical indicators (soil organic matter, pH, electrical conductivity, Ca, Mg, K, Na, TKN and TKP). Humic substances significantly increased with the number of organic practices that were used in all these soils, and the size and quality (spectrometric) of humic substances are currently under analysis. At the demonstration site on Adjuntas on a field day the participants learned how organic practices can improve soils, and then also became aware of the importance of organic matter for soil quality. Also, participants in two scientific conferences offered during the year (scientists and graduate students), who had access two oral presentations uploaded on Internet (citizens) became aware of benefits in agro-ecological practices performed in this project.
Publications
- Chong, J.A. and J.A. Dumas, 2012. Coffee Pulp Compost: Chemical Properties and Distribution of Humic Substances. J. Agric. Univ. P.R. Accepted for publication.
- Pagan, I.C., Chong, J.A. and Dumas, J.A., 2012. Organic practices short-term restorative effects on soil physical and biological properties (SOPCA), San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This project provides valuable information about agricultural organic practices. Soil quality improvement was observed with the use of mature organic matter and cover crops, resulting in increases in vegetable production in tropical soils. This study developed information on the effect of organic practices (use of compost, and cover crops) on soil quality, buildup of humic substances, and crop yield and quality in tropical soils. The research findings have been shared with partners, graduate students and citizens through oral presentations posted on Internet. Also, the findings have been spread through conferences and demonstrations at the experimental site in the Agricultural Experiment Station in Adjuntas. One graduate student is working on his master's degree with this project; some of his research project results were posted on Internet. PARTICIPANTS: Principal investigator(s): 1. Jose A. Dumas (PI)- The person in charge of canalizing all the documentation related to the project. He is in charge of analyzing the chemical and biological data of soil samples. 2. Joaquin A. Chong (Co-PI)- The person in charge of the field experiments. He is in charge of the graduate students working in this project, and he is helping in the processing of the physical and biological data that is collected on the project. 3. Consuelo Esteves de Jensen (Co-PI) - The person in charge of identifing pests and diseases affecting the crops in field and greenhouse experiments. 4. Julia O'Hallorans (Co-PI) - The person who helps in identifying of nutrient deficiencies that may occur during the organic management of soil for a particular crop. Training or professional development Graduate Student: 1. Ian Carlo Pagan (graduate student)- Graduate student in charge of field experiments on the improvement of soil quality with organic practices at the Juana Diaz Agricultural Experiment Station. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences for this project were scientists, agronomists, students, and citizens who wish to improve their knowledge about organic agriculture. The audiences were reached through presentations in professional scientific organizations, demonstrations in research field experiments and informal instruction through oral presentations that were posted on Internet. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Transition to a sustainable agriculture could be a long-term process that starts with the soil, its health and environment. This transition could lead to the reduction of inorganic fertilization and the increase in sustainability. Experimental trials using four tropical soils (Oxisol-Coto, Ultisol-Alonso, Vertisol-Fraternidad and Mollisol-San Anton) have demonstrated that application of mature compost enhanced physical, chemical and biological properties of these soils. The yield and quality of Floradel tomato plants grown in the four above-mentioned amended soils were significantly higher than in non-amended soils. From a quality point, the protein content and brix in tomato fruits of the organic experimental trials suggested a greater amount of metabolomics in the fruits from the soils amended with compost than in the fruits from the control plots. Effects of application of compost and cover crop cycles in the Mollisol-San Anton soil significantly improved physical and chemical properties such as soil aggregate stability, infiltration, bulk density, soil organic matter, humic substance content and nutrients. The plant biomass and yield of eggplant in the Mollisoll-San Anton soil were significantly higher in the plots with greater amounts of cover crop-compost cycles. In field and laboratory assays, the organic practices have increased all the minimum chemical indicators (soil organic matter, pH, electrical conductivity, Ca, Mg, K, Na, TKN and TKP). Humic substances significantly increased with the organic practices in all these soils; the size and quality (spectrometric) of humic substances are currently under analysis. On a field day at the demonstration site in Adjuntas, the participants learned how organic practices can improve soils; they also became aware of the importance of organic matter on soil quality. Also, participants (scientists and graduate students) in two scientific conferences offered during the year as well as citizens who had accessed the two oral presentations uploaded on Internet became aware of the benefits of the agro-ecological practices performed in this project.
Publications
- ABSTRACT: Pagan, I.C., Chong, J.A. and Dumas, J.A. 2011. Effect of ecological agricultural practices in soil quality of a Mollisol. Proceedings of Puerto Rican Society of Agricultural Sciences (SOPCA), Ponce, Puerto Rico. INTERNET: Chong, J.A. 2011. http://www.youtube.com/watchfeature=player_profilepage&v=bYhkbiHjESA Pagan, I.C. 2011. http://www.youtube.com/watchfeature=player_profilepage&v=nBLVTwTzZE4
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This project provided valuable information about organic agricultural practices. The study has shown that the use of mature compost improves soil quality properties and tomato crop yields in four tropical soils. Pests and diseases were controlled by the use of organic practices such as compost tea. The study gathered information on the development and the use of compost in the tropics and its effect on organic matter buildup, mineralization and crop yield. This information is important for understanding the effect of organic matter on the improvement of soil quality (minimum chemical indicators and special chemical indicators). Results and findings of this research were shared with stakeholders in an open house in Adjuntas, at a demostrative greenhouse and with a scientific poster. PARTICIPANTS: 1) Principal investigator(s) Jose A. Dumas Joaquin A. Chong Consuelo Esteves de Jensen Julia O'Hallorans 2) Personnel Jennifer Pagan (cooperator)- In charge of monitoring greenhouse experiments in Adjuntas Enid Lizardi (cooperator)- Helps in the extraction, fractionization and analysis of soil organic matter. Training or professional development Graduate Student Ian Carlo Pagan - Graduate student in charge of conducting field experiments for improvement of soil quality with cover crops at the Juana Diaz Experiment Station. TARGET AUDIENCES: Place of the activity and date: Open House Adjuntas Agricultural Experiment Station, February 12, 2010: general public, extensionists, scientific personnel. Place of the activity and date: Annual Meeting of the Puerto Rican Society of Agricultural Sciences, Colegio de Agronomos de Puerto Rico, November 12, 2010. Extensionists, researchers and students of agriculture. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Transition to a sustainable agriculture could be a long-term process that starts with the soil, its health and environment. This transition could lead to the reduction of inorganic fertilization and increased sustainability. The study of this transition and the rate at which it can occur are the factors studied in this project. Four important agricultural clays (Alonso, Coto, Fraternidad, and San Anton) were supplemented with mature organic amendments in order to quantify and simulate the long-term effects of amendments on crop yield and quality. The frequency and quantity of compost applied to the soil was studied in the first year of the project; a tomato crop was used to observe the reduction of inorganic fertilizer needs based on soil analysis of minimum chemical indicators (MCI). In this study all MCI (SOM, pH, electrical conductivity, Ca, Mg, K, Na, and TKN and TKP) were affected in a significant manner by addition of mature compost. SOM significantly increased when mature compost was added. We estimated the rate of N mineralization assuming that a low rate of N loss by volatilization occurred. In Alonso soil, the apparent rates of mineralization were 3.18, 4.69 and 6.96 mg N/100g soil/ day for 5, 10 and 15% compost levels, respectively; the mineralization rate increased with added compost, suggesting an improvement in conditions for soil microflora. The rate of mineralization was not significantly different from the control for the 5% compost treatment. The same trends in mineralization rate were observed for Coto, Fraternidad and San Anton soils. These findings indicated that 10 and 15% compost treatments may affect the rate of descomposition of soil organic matter. Tomatoes were grown in the above mentioned treatments. The increase in addition of OM to the mineral soils, Alonso, Coto and San Anton, significantly increased dry plant biomass and the number of tomato plant branches. However, dry biomass of tomato plants that were grown in Fraternidad was lower at the 15% compost treatment than at the 5 and 10% treatments. Crop yield (tomato number and tomato weight) was significantly improved with compost addition. Symptoms of Alternaria leaf spot (ALS) occurred in all experimental plots during the second month. In the fourth evaluation, leaf mold caused by Cladosporium fulvum was predominant on the lower leaf surface. The presence of whitefly and leaf miners occurred 47 days after planting. Use of compost tea seems useful in the control of pest and diseases in organic vegetable production such as in tomato plants. In addition, a field experiment of cover crops (Canavalia, Crotalaria, Cowpea and Mucuna), compost and compost tea rotation is conducted at the Juana Diaz Experiment Station. Rotation of mature compost, cover crops and compost tea is carried out to evaluate the number of rotations for significantly improving chemical, biological and physical properties of the soils. This study will allow preparation of an instructional manual for soil improvement with compost and cover crops for organic and traditional vegetable crops.
Publications
- PAPERS IN PROCEEDINGS Dumas, J.A. and J.A. Chong. 2010. Improvement of Mature Organic Matter in Minimum Soil Quality Chemical Indicators. Abstract in Proc. Sociedad Puertorriquena de Ciencias Agricolas. San Juan PR.
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