NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN ORGANIC HIGH TUNNEL RASPBERRY PRODUCTION

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0227090
• Project Start Date: Sep 1, 2011
• Project End Date: Aug 31, 2013
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
UNIV OF WISCONSIN
21 N PARK ST STE 6401
MADISON,WI 53715-1218

Performing Department
Horticulture

Non Technical Summary
A survey was sent out through collaboration with the Wisconsin Berry Growers Association and results showed 20% of producers had a high tunnel, but 63% of respondents were planning on building a high tunnel in the near future. Top three research priorities identified for high tunnels were: 1)Pest management, 2)cultivar selection, and 3)nutrient management. This project addresses two of the top three research priorities; nutrient management and cultivar selection. There is little information available to growers focused on organic nutrient management of raspberries, and even less is known about organic high tunnel raspberry production. The breakdown of organic matter and availability of nutrients are directly influenced by soil temperature and moisture, which can be very different in the high tunnel compared to the field. In addition to potentially different rates of release, the crop demand for nutrients is often much higher in the high tunnel due to increased growth. These two variables has made managing nutrients in organic high tunnel raspberry systems challenging. Current nutrient recommendations for high tunnel raspberries are for 100ppm N fertilizer applied through drip irrigation system once per week with adjustments based on tissue analysis. Due to the slower release of nutrients from organic sources, it is difficult to make corrections in a timely manner. Research in the Midwest focused on organic high tunnel production has primarily been focused on annual vegetable crops, which allows for incorporation of soil amendments prior to each production cycle. The production of a perennial crop presents an additional challenge as nutrients can not be incorporated into the soil after the plants have been established.

Animal Health Component

50%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

50%

Applied

50%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
401	0199	1060	80%
502	1123	1020	20%

Knowledge Area
401 - Structures, Facilities, and General Purpose Farm Supplies; 502 - New and Improved Food Products;

Subject Of Investigation
0199 - Soil and land, general; 1123 - Raspberry;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems); 1020 - Physiology;

Keywords

high tunnel

raspberry

organic

nutrient management

Goals / Objectives
Objective 1a: Determine the rate of nutrient release from organic and conventional nutrient sources in a high tunnel compared to a field planting Objective 1b: The impact of organic nutrient sources on soil characteristics Objective 1c: Evaluate relationship between soil characteristics and plant tissue nutrient content, yield and plant growth. Objective 2a: Determine cultivars best suited to high tunnel production in different regions of Wisconsin Objective 2b: Determine potential season extension provided by passively heated high tunnels at different latitudes in WI.

Project Methods
A 30' x 96' high tunnel will be constructed in the spring 2011. Soil amendments will be applied to adjust soil pH to 6-6.5. Treatments will be applied prior to planting to allow for incorporation of organic materials into the soil. Bare root raspberry plants will be planted in the first week of June 2011. Drip irrigation systems will be set up on both the tunnel and field experiments. Pest problems will be managed using approved organic pest control products. The experiment will be set up as a randomized complete plot design with 2 cultivars and 4 treatments Nutrient Availability - After initial soil amendments have been added, soil samples will be taken from each treatment at 3 depths; 1) 0-6" 2) 6-12" and 3) 12-18" to determine nutrient availability using the Mehlich-3 extraction (Mehlich, 1984), as well as % organic matter, CEC, electrical conductivity and pH. Plant Growth, Yield and Nutrient Content. Plant growth rate will be evaluated throughout the growing season, data collection will include cane height, node number and cane diameter every 2 weeks. Fruit will be harvested, weighed and counted.Fruit quality will be evaluated (TA, brix, anthocyanin and phenolic content). Tissue nutrient analysis will be conducted after harvest. At the end of the season, all canes will be pruned to the ground and cane number and fresh weights will be collected. Season Extension Potential. Data will be collected on temperature gains realized at three different locations and the potential extension of the growing season. Data collection will include, tunnel and field temperature, relative humidity and soil temperature.Cultivar Performance. Field and high tunnel production will be evaluated for all cultivars at the three locations to determine suitability for high tunnel production in a given region. Data will be collected on plant growth (cane height, diameter and total biomass), yield (berry number and weight), fruit quality (brix, TA, anthocyanin and phenolic content), harvest efficiency, time of ripening, and product price at time of harvest. Results will be statistically analyzed and shared with growers to allow them to better utilize nutrient applications to meet crop demand.

Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Target Audience: Academic Professionals Approach: The target audience reached includes academic professions that were reached by the presentation of information by the Graduate Research Assistant who presented findings in oral presentation format at The MOSES Organic Farming Conference. The graduate student was also a target in terms of developing research skills during the work of this project. Target Audience: Berry growers in WI. Approach: Growers were involved in all stages of the project. At the beginning of the project, they were invited to participate in the construction of the high tunnel. During the course of the project, growers were welcome to come visit the research station and observe the trial and the fruit while they were growing. The results of the study were also shared with growers during the WI Fresh Fruit and Vegetable conference, where they were provided with the results of the study and there was discussion facilitated around the results. Changes/Problems: Major changes to the project was that the original PI on the project, Rebecca Harbut, left her position at the Unviversity of Wicosnsin-Madison. The graduate student was able to continue the work and complete their degree and it is anticpated that the project will be completed with some minor revisions. Some of the extension workshops that were in the original proposal were not possible to complete. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Training - the graduate student on this project continued to develop their research skils through conducting the research and working with mentors. professional development - growers were able to come to the WI Fresh Fruit and vegetable conference and learn about the research and important aspects of nutrient management. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The preliminary results of the research were communicated to growers during the WI Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Conference which reached over 700 growers in Jan 2013. The presentation was given in the berries session and included a presentation followed by a question and discussion period. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? The research results will be published and shared with growers.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1a: Determine the rate of nutrient release from organic and conventional nutrient sources in a high tunnel compared to a field planting The rate of release of nutrients was not calculated due to the variability in the soil samples. In order to collect valuable release rate data significantly higher numbers of soil samples would have to be taken and was deemed cost prohibitive. The data that was collected primarily focuses on the impact of the various nutrient management approaches from a standpoint of nutrient status of the soil and plants Objective 1b: The impact of organic nutrient sources on soil characteristics The application of organic nutrient sources to the different production systems and the different cultivars had varied effects depending on cultivar and location. In general, the organic matter increased where solid organic nutrients were applied whereas liquid organic sources such as fish emulsion had lower impact on soil composition. Soils in the high tunnel had higher salt concentrations due to the exclusion of rainfall and demonstrated the importance of selecting nutrient sources with low salt index and monitoring salt accumulation Objective 1c: Evaluate relationship between soil characteristics and plant tissue nutrient content, yield and plant growth. Objective 2a: Determine cultivars best suited to high tunnel production in different regions of Wisconsin Objective 2b: Determine potential season extension provided by passively heated high tunnels at different latitudes in WI.

Publications

• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Submitted Year Published: 2013 Citation: Dahir-Kanehl, J. 2013 High Tunnel Effects on Organic Production and Nutrient Management of Raspberries (Rubus idaeus, L.), UW-Madison

Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Much of the effort involved the establishment of the raspberry plantings inside the high tunnel and in the field trail at West Madison ARS and the Peninsular ARS. Application of organic nutrient treatments began in the spring of 2012 and data was collected throughout the growing season (April-Oct). The data that was collected at both locations was yield, plant growth and berry quality. The trial at West Madison also included nutrient analysis of the soil at 2 week intervals and tissue analysis. PARTICIPANTS: Jesse Dahir-Kanehl, graduate student; Dr. Matt Ruark, Department of Soil Science, UW-Madison; NCR-SARE. Training opportunities were provided to the graduate student, Jesse, through the participation in field days and the presentation of the work to stakeholders. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for this project includes high tunnel producers. As high tunnels are utilized in many different production systems, the audience would include urban farmers, rural producers, small farms and larger commercial farms. Stakeholders were invited to participate in a high tunnel construction field day and summer field day. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
As this was the first year of data collection there are no completed outcomes. The PI and the graduate student involved in the project have evaluated the project in order to assess effective data collection techniques for next season. They have also consulted with collaborators to analyze the nutrient analysis data and determine the best approach to effectively collect data in the 2013 growing season.

Publications

• No publications reported this period