Progress 09/25/03 to 09/24/07
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) To evaluate the use of several different leguminous cover crops for their potential as a nitrogen source in Concord grape production. Approach (from AD-416) The work will be conducted on two vineyards, one commercial and one research vineyard. The commercial vineyard available for this project is currently certified organic and no synthetic fertilizers may be used. Synthetic fertilizer comparisons will be made in the research vineyard. Vineyards used will be irrigated with sprinklers and soil moisture monitored weekly throughout the growing season. Documents Grant with WSU. Formerly 5358-21000-025-10G (12/03). Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations This report serves to document research conducted under a grant agreement between ARS and Washington State University. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent project 5358-21000-034- 00D, Production Systems to Promote Yield and Quality of Grapes in the Pacific Northwest. Drs. Stevens and Davenport, and collaborators conducted the following research towards the agreements objectives: Leguminous cover crops are commonly used as green manures in organic cropping systems because they provide N to plants. Concord grape (Vitis labrusca L.) is well suited for organic production because of low detrimental plant pathogen and insect pest pressure. Field analysis of research and commercial sites was initiated in 2003. Treatments consisted of spring and fall planted cover crops, 112 kg N ha-1 conventional fertilizer and 112 kg N ha-1 blood meal. Cover crops were incorporated in the early spring. Cover crop biomass depended on time of planting and material planted. Large seed size and careful water management were advantageous for cover crop establishment and biomass production. Fall planted covers tended to establish better than those planted in the spring with hairy vetch being more consistent than yellow sweet clover. The yellow sweet clover did, however, show high biomass production potential. Plant Root Simulator (PRS) and soil test NO3-N peaked for legume and fertilizer treatments during the critical plant N demand period from bloom to veraison. Cumulative degree-days to peak NO3-N availability were similar for measured treatments, although peak magnitude varied. Grape yield and quality were different by site and year but not by treatments in the same site and year. Hence, yield was not influenced by treatment. Yield and quality data coupled with leaf tissue N data suggest that cover crops have the potential to provide sufficient plant available N for crop production. Due to industry interest and participation in this project, leguminous cover crops have been adopted as an N source for organic production by the grower cooperator from this project and several growers have expressed interest in using these cover crops as an alternative given the high price of nitrogen fertilizers and the currently low returns on juice grapes. In addition, due to these findings, blood meal has been adopted for use in organic grape production systems when there is need for a rapidly available nitrogen source. Bai, K. E. 2006. Effectively utilizing legume cover crops as an organic source of nitrogen in Concord grape. M.S. Thesis, Dept of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA. Bair, K. E., R. G. Stevens, and J. R. Davenport. 2006. Improved cover crop establishment and growth is related to planting date in organic Concord grape production. HortScience 41:1080. ADODR Statement: The ADODR met with the cooperating PI and project personnel at meetings during the year and discussed results through phone calls, e-mail, and in person.
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Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06
Outputs
Progress Report 4d Progress report. This report serves to document research conducted under a grant agreement between ARS and Washington State University. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent project 5358-21000-034- 00D, Production Systems to Promote Yield and Quality of Grapes in the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Robert Stevens and collaborators conducted the following research towards the agreements objectives: Project Summary: Due to relatively low insect and plant pathogen pressure, Concord grape (Vitis labrusca L.) appears to be well suited to organic production as demand for organic juice continues to grow. However, an organic management system requires ensuring an adequate supply of plant nutrients, especially N, that are available to the crop synchronously with plant needs. Cover crops, used as a green manure, have the advantage of supplying the crop N needs, increasing soil organic matter content, suppressing weeds and protecting
the soil from erosion. In general, leguminous plants are considered to be a good source for supplying N in these situations. Different legumes have different life cycles, thus would be candidates for incorporating into the soil at times, which may or may not coincide with periods of plant nutrient demand in grape. In addition, climatic factors (e.g., temperature, rainfall) which vary from year to year are likely to influence the availability of cover crop N when soil incorporated. Our objective is to evaluate different legumes and the time of their incorporation for their effectiveness in meeting N needs in Concord grape production systems. To evaluate the use of leguminous plants as potential green manures to provide N in grape production, this work has been initiated on two Concord vineyards, one commercial (O) and one research (R) vineyard. The commercial vineyard being used for this project is currently certified organic and no synthetic fertilizers may be used. Synthetic
fertilizer comparisons will be made in the research vineyard. Vineyards used are irrigated with overhead sprinklers and soil moisture monitored weekly throughout the growing season. Cover crops were established in the 2003 growing season and fully monitored in 2004 and 2005. Replicated plots (3 rows by 40 long) were seeded with either yellow sweet clover or common vetch (Vicia sativa subsp. sativa L.) in both the spring (June) or fall (late August) in the O vineyard. The fall seeded legume treatments were also established in the R vineyard. Control (no fertilizer or legume) and N fertilizer treatment plots (100 lbs/A N) were established in the R vineyard and bloodmeal (100 lbs/A N) was applied as a soluble control in the O vineyard. Control and soluble fertilizer plots were fall seeded with a small grain to be consistent with grower practices. Plant available N was monitored using a combination of soil sampling, plant tissue collection, and ion exchange resin [PRS (trademark)] probes.
Plots were harvested for yield and Brix. Overall the results showed that either cover crop (clover or vetch) could supply adequate N to maintain grape production. Fall seeded cover crops had a slightly higher success rate and less weed competition than spring seeded cover crops. In addition, in the O site, vetch had a seed size advantage over the small seeded clover, likely due to irrigation practices that were not favorable to emergence of plants from the small seeds. Data analysis is continuing to develop a soil temperature, time of N release model.
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Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05
Outputs
4d Progress report. This report serves to document research conducted under a grant agreement between ARS and Washington State University. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent project 5358-21000-034- 00D Production Systems to Promote Yield and Quality of Grapes in the Pacific Northwest. Due to relatively low insect and plant pathogen pressure, Concord grape (Vitis labrusca L.) appears to be well suited to organic production as demand for organic juice continues to grow. However, an organic management system requires ensuring an adequate supply of plant nutrients, especially N, that are available to the crop synchronously with plant needs. In general, leguminous plants are considered to be a good source for supplying N in these situations. Different legumes have different life cycles, thus would be candidates for incorporating into the soil at times that may or may not coincide with periods of plant nutrient demand in grape. Our
objective is to evaluate different legumes and the time of their incorporation for their effectiveness in meeting N needs in Concord grape production systems. Materials and Methods: To evaluate the use of leguminous plants as potential green manures to provide N in grape production, this work has been initiated on two Concord vineyards, one commercial (OB) and one research (R) vineyard. The OB vineyard is currently certified organic and no synthetic fertilizers may be used, thus synthetic fertilizer comparisons will be made in the R vineyard. Vineyards used are irrigated with overhead sprinklers, and soil moisture is monitored throughout the growing season. On both vineyards, 3 row by 40' long plots have been established in a latin square design with 4 or 6 replicates of each treatment. The 2003 growing season began establishment of plots which were followed through at the same locations in the 2004 and 2005 season. On the R vineyard, plots of vetch, yellow sweet clover, 0 and 100
lbs/A N were established. At the OB vineyard, blood meal, vetch or yellow sweet clover plots were established with two different planting times for the legumes. Soils were sampled weekly (0-12") from bud break to cover crop plot treatment establishment and will be analyzed for soluble (NO3-N and NH4-N) N. A temperature sensor was placed in one plot of each treatment to monitor both surface and 12" deep soil temperature (data not given). Soluble N release in the plots (organic and conventional fertilizers) was monitored with ion exchange membranes (Plant Root Simulators {PRS}). To monitor plant N status, leaves were collected at bloom and 1200 degree days (pre- veraison). Grapes were harvested and evaluated for yield and Brix.
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Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04
Outputs
4. What were the most significant accomplishments this past year? This report serves to document research conducted under a grant agreement between ARS and Washington State University. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent project 5358-21000-034- 00D Production Systems to Promote Yield and Quality of Grapes in the Pacific Northwest. R. Stevens and colleagues evaluated cover crop use in organic Concord grape production. Due to relatively low insect and plant pathogen pressure, Concord grape (Vitis labrusca L.) appears to be well suited to organic production as demand for organic juice continues to grow. However, an organic management system requires an adequate supply of plant nutrients, especially N, that are available to the crop synchronously with plant needs. Cover crops, used as a green manure, have the advantage of supplying the crop N needs, increasing soil organic matter content, suppressing weeds, and protecting the soil
from erosion. In general, leguminous plants are considered to be a good source for supplying N in these situations. Different legumes have different life cycles, and thus would be candidates for incorporation into the soil at times that may or may not coincide with periods of plant nutrient demand in grape. In addition, climatic factors (e.g., temperature, rainfall) which vary from year to year are likely to influence the availability of cover crop N when soil incorporated. Our objective is to evaluate different legumes and the time of their incorporation for their effectiveness in meeting N needs in Concord grape production systems. Results: Baseline yield and Brix data was collected from the spring sweet clover treatment at the commercial vineyard (the only treatment to have been through an entire season) and for all treatments at the research vineyard. Fall-planted legumes were planted on 27 August, and thus were not expected to influence this years yield. In season soil samples
had significant differences in NO3-N with sampling date, treatment (control, yellow sweet clover, or N fertilizer) and the interaction of date and treatment (P <0.0001), but soil NH4-N was only significantly related to sampling date (P <0.0001). [Note: Clover at OB vineyard, 0, 100 N plots at Roza vineyard.] Seasonal average soil NO3-N was highest with N fertilizer, lower in clover plots, and the lowest in the control. There was a steep decline in soil NO3-N in the N fertilizer treatment throughout the season and a very gradual decline in the control plots. In the yellow sweet clover treatment, soil NO3-N increased in mid- June, decreased in mid-July, and increased significantly in late August, which corresponds to incorporation. PRS data was only available later in the growing season. The PRS results show highest NO3-N with the yellow sweet clover treatment and lowest with the N fertilizer treatment for the six week period from 11 July - 21 August 2003. This corresponds well with the
soil NO3-N data where NO3-N was increasing in the yellow sweet clover treatment and decreasing in the N fertilizer treatment.
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