Progress 09/09/13 to 09/08/18
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): 1: Develop crop and cultural management practices to improve crop productivity and economic viability, and reduce diseases for conventional and organic food production systems in the Northeast. 1.1. Develop management practices and cropping systems that maintain or improve productivity and market quality, reduce soilborne and foliar diseases, reduce income variability and economic risk, and improve profitability and competitiveness for potato-based production systems. 1.2. Develop crop, biological, and cultural management practices to improve crop productivity, reduce diseases, and improve economic viability for conventional and organic vegetable production systems. 1.3. Determine activity, mechanisms of action, and improved means of implementation of selected biological and cultural practices for enhanced efficacy, utilization, and sustainability. Approach (from AD-416): Our approach to improving crop productivity and enhancing economic viability for food production systems in the Northeast is through the development of improved biological and cultural management practices and cropping systems. There are many practices and amendments that have been previously identified, in ours and others research, as providing beneficial responses for these production systems. However, much research is still needed to determine the best ways to utilize and implement these practices in production agriculture. In our own previous research, through long-term cropping systems studies, we determined the areas that are the most crucial constraints to productivity in potato production systems, as well as some factors that were less important. Critical constraints were water availability, soil quality, and disease pressure, whereas previously studied criteria such as fertility and soil physical properties (which has already been well-worked out) were not critical factors. This proposed research is building directly on this previous research, further developing and refining management practices that have shown the greatest potential for reducing soilborne diseases, enhancing soil quality, and improving crop yields in a sustainable manner. Management practices of particular importance include the use of disease- suppressive rotation crops, cover crops, green manures, and biological control organisms. Special emphasis will be placed on the biological processes involved and the role of soil microbial communities in developing disease-suppressive, yield-enhancing cropping systems. This is the final report for 8030-62660-003-00D, which terminated in September 2018. This project consisted of a series of research studies with the goal of developing crop and cultural management practices to improve crop productivity and economic viability, and reduce diseases for conventional and organic food production systems in the Northeast. In the potato cropping systems portion of the project, previously demonstrated successful principles and practices were incorporated into functional rotation systems that could be utilized by growers for improved productivity and disease control. In these trials, 3-yr rotations focusing on the management goals of soil conservation (through reduced tillage, cover crops), soil improvement (through compost amendment in addition to cover crops and reduced tillage), and disease suppression (through use of disease-suppressive rotations, cover crops, and biological control) were evaluated for effects on soil health, crop productivity, soilborne diseases, soil microbial community characteristics, and economic viability. The soil improvement system resulted in increased potato yield, higher organic matter and other nutrient contents, and higher microbial activity, relative to a standard 2-yr rotation. The disease suppressive system also increased yield and increased microbial activity relative to the standard, and reduced soilborne diseases (black scurf and common scab). Soil microbial community characteristics, as represented by fatty acid profiles and DNA sequencing, were also distinctly different among the cropping systems and may be associated with productivity. Overall, enhanced systems provided comparable or increased net income relative to other 3-yr rotations. These results indicate that soil health management practices can be incorporated into economically viable cropping systems that may enhance sustainability, productivity, and ecosystem function. In addition, organic vegetable trials evaluated different cover crops, biological controls, and other practices on green bean, summer squash, and pepper crops. The benefit of prior cover crops (including mustard green manure, rye/vetch, and a mixed-multi-species cover crop) was demonstrated through increased emergence and yield for all vegetable crops relative to the absence of a cover crop. Biological control amendments, although did not affect yield, reduced leaf necrosis and powdery mildew by 10-30%. Beans were also observed to yield better following squash vs. pepper, and squash yielded better following beans vs. pepper, whereas rotation had no effect on pepper yield. Also, woven plastic fabric used as a ground cover was more reliable and economical than biodegradable paper mulch for control of weeds, and various effects of different soil amendments were also evaluated. These results help define management practices to improve organic vegetable production and provide useful information and options for growers. Overall, this research provides information needed to improve crop production and sustainability for potato and organic vegetable production, which can lead to improved agricultural viability and rural economic vitality in the Northeast. Accomplishments 01 Incorporating soil health management practices into viable potato cropping systems. Use of longer rotations, disease-suppressive green manures, cover crops, and organic amendments have been shown to increase tuber yield, reduce disease, and improve soil health in previous potato cropping studies. However, such practices need to be implemented in integrated cropping systems that maintain economic viability for growers. ARS researchers in Orono, Maine, examined ways to incorporate effective soil health management practices into practical potato cropping systems through the establishment of enhanced 3-yr rotations addressing the management goals of soil conservation, soil improvement, and disease suppression, in relation to a standard (2- yr) rotation and no rotation. Previously established systems were modified to better fit into grower production systems, and evaluated for their effects on soil properties, tuber yield, soilborne diseases, and economic viability. Overall, the soil improvement system (including compost amendment, reduced tillage, and cover crops) resulted in increased potato yield, higher organic matter and other nutrient contents, and higher microbial activity, relative to the standard rotation. The disease suppressive system also increased yield and microbial activity, and reduced soilborne diseases. Enhanced cropping systems also provided comparable or increased net income relative to other 3-yr rotations. These results demonstrate that soil health management practices can be incorporated into economically viable cropping systems that can enhance sustainability, productivity, and ecosystem function, and lead to improved agricultural viability and vitality for potato production systems. 02 Practical utilization of cover crops, biocontrol organisms, and other management practices in organic vegetable production. Organic vegetable growers have many production management options available, but how to choose and incorporate specific practices into organic cropping systems that will provide greater sustainability, productivity, and viability, has not been well-established. ARS researchers in Orono, Maine, examined the potential benefits of different cover crops, biological control amendments, crop rotations, and other management practices on organic vegetable production, as represented by legume (green bean), cucurbit (yellow squash), and solanaceous (pepper) crops. Results demonstrated the benefits of prior cover crops (mustard green manure, rye/vetch, or a multi-species mixture of 8 different crops), relative to a fallow control, with all cover crops increasing crop emergence, and yield of bean, squash, and pepper by 5-20%. Biological control amendments, which included commercial formulations of Streptomyces, Trichoderma, and Bacillus sp., in general, did not affect yield, but reduced leaf necrosis and powdery mildew by 10-30%. Rotation order also mattered, with beans yielding 8% higher following squash vs. pepper, and squash yielding 15% higher following beans vs. pepper, whereas rotation had no effect on pepper yield. Additional trials demonstrated some advantages of fabric mulch over paper mulch for weed control, and various benefits of different soil amendments. These results help define management practices to improve organic vegetable production and provide useful information and options for growers. 03 Advancing the technologies in detecting, diagnosing, and controlling black leg disease in the U.S through survey, genetic and molecular investigation. Black leg disease of potato, caused by the bacteria Dickeya spp. and Pectobacterium spp., is an emerging disease problem in the U.S. Following a serious outbreak in 2015, blackleg quickly spread throughout the Northeast causing severe economic losses. Little is known about the strains causing these outbreaks in the U.S., their distribution, epidemiology, and effective control measures. As part of a national project, ARS researchers in Orono, Maine, in conjunction with a team of researchers from seven potato-producing states, conducted surveys assessing the extent of the problem, identification of the pathogens involved, improved detection and diagnostic assays, and assessed potential control options. Dickeya spp. were found associated with blackleg affected potatoes in at least 21 states, with D. dianthicola shown to be predominant in the east, and with other species spreading in the west. Several species of Pectobacterium were also responsible for disease, with P. parmentieri, in particular, associated with storage rots in eastern states. Development, refinement and standardization of isolation, detection, and characterization methods resulted in more consistent and reliable detection and identification of these pathogens. Some tolerance to blackleg was observed in potato clones and screening trials clarified chemical control options with activity against these pathogens. In field trials, Dickeya was observed to spread from inocoulated seed potatoes to 13-33% of the progeny tubers, but was not spread during cutting and handling of seed potatoes. These findings make clear the range of pathogens associated with outbreaks of blackleg and provides a foundation for understanding the epidemiology and spread of the disease as well as potential control options.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
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Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): 1: Develop crop and cultural management practices to improve crop productivity and economic viability, and reduce diseases for conventional and organic food production systems in the Northeast. 1.1. Develop management practices and cropping systems that maintain or improve productivity and market quality, reduce soilborne and foliar diseases, reduce income variability and economic risk, and improve profitability and competitiveness for potato-based production systems. 1.2. Develop crop, biological, and cultural management practices to improve crop productivity, reduce diseases, and improve economic viability for conventional and organic vegetable production systems. 1.3. Determine activity, mechanisms of action, and improved means of implementation of selected biological and cultural practices for enhanced efficacy, utilization, and sustainability. Approach (from AD-416): Our approach to improving crop productivity and enhancing economic viability for food production systems in the Northeast is through the development of improved biological and cultural management practices and cropping systems. There are many practices and amendments that have been previously identified, in ours and others research, as providing beneficial responses for these production systems. However, much research is still needed to determine the best ways to utilize and implement these practices in production agriculture. In our own previous research, through long-term cropping systems studies, we determined the areas that are the most crucial constraints to productivity in potato production systems, as well as some factors that were less important. Critical constraints were water availability, soil quality, and disease pressure, whereas previously studied criteria such as fertility and soil physical properties (which has already been well-worked out) were not critical factors. This proposed research is building directly on this previous research, further developing and refining management practices that have shown the greatest potential for reducing soilborne diseases, enhancing soil quality, and improving crop yields in a sustainable manner. Management practices of particular importance include the use of disease- suppressive rotation crops, cover crops, green manures, and biological control organisms. Special emphasis will be placed on the biological processes involved and the role of soil microbial communities in developing disease-suppressive, yield-enhancing cropping systems. Work continues on a series of research studies with the goal of developing crop and cultural management practices to improve crop productivity and economic viability, and reduce diseases for conventional and organic food production systems in the Northeast. Specifically, in Fiscal Year (FY) 2017, the fourth year of a cropping systems study for potato production was conducted in Presque Isle, Maine that builds on our previous cropping systems research through incorporating proven successful principles and practices into functional rotation systems that can be utilized by growers for improved productivity and disease control. In these trials, 3-yr rotations focusing on the management goals of soil conservation (through reduced tillage, cover crops), soil improvement (through compost amendment), and disease suppression (through use of disease-suppressive rotations, cover crops, and biological control) are being evaluated for effects on soil health, crop productivity, tuber diseases, soilborne and foliar diseases, soil microbial community characteristics, and economic viability. In addition, a three-year organic vegetable management field trial in Newport, Maine was recently completed, with effects of different cover crops and biological control treatments evaluated on green bean, summer squash, and pepper crops for improvements in crop management and disease suppression in organic vegetable production. A new organic vegetable trial has also been started in St. Albans, Maine. Other component studies assessing biological control and the mechanisms of action for control of soilborne diseases are also continuing this FY. Currently, the field season is ongoing and results will be available soon. Thus, studies are progressing that will provide the information needed to improve crop production and sustainability for potato and organic vegetable production, which can lead to improved agricultural viability and rural economic vitality in the Northeast. Accomplishments 01 Improved cropping systems enhance potato crop nutrient, growth, and yield characteristics. Potato crop productivity in the northeast has remained stagnant for years despite increasing inputs. In a follow-up to previous research examining cropping system effects on soil health and soilborne diseases, ARS researchers at Orono, Maine incorporated sustainable management practices, such as increased rotation length, use of cover crops, green manures, organic amendments, disease- suppressive rotation crops, and reduced tillage, into improved cropping systems and evaluated their effects on potato crop growth and yield characteristics. They found that soil-improving (SI) and disease- suppressive (DS) cropping systems improved potato growth and yield. Under non-irrigated conditions, SI (containing compost amendments) system, in particular, increased total and marketable yields by 30-40% and increased the proportion of large-sized tubers by 60% over standard rotations. In addition, SI increased potato plant leaf area density and chlorophyll content (photosynthetic capacity), root and shoot biomass, and plant nutrient contents relative to all other systems. Under irrigated conditions, DS resulted in the highest yields overall. This research demonstrated that improved cropping systems could substantially enhance potato crop growth and yield, and provided viable and readily implementable options for cropping systems that address the crop productivity constraints to potato production in the Northeast, thus enhancing productivity, sustainability, and economic viability. 02 Effective biological control of soilborne diseases in organic potato production. Soilborne diseases are persistent problems in potato production and alternative management practices are needed, particularly in organic production, where control options are limited. In this research, ARS scientists at Orono, Maine evaluated biological control treatments using selected fungal and bacterial anatagonists, alone and in combination, as alternative or supplemental disease management practices in organic potato production. Varying summer rainfall over the multiple field seasons resulted in substantial effects on crop growth, tuber yield, and disease development. However, multiple biocontrol treatments significantly reduced multiple common soilborne tuber diseases (such as black scurf, common scab, and silver scurf) under all environmental conditions, reducing the incidence and severity of each disease by 15-50%. Combination treatments of multiple biocontrol agents generally improved overall disease control, and were the most effective treatments. Some biocontrol treatments also promoted plant growth and resulted in increases in tuber yield of 11-37%. This research demonstrated the usefulness and vale of biocontrol isolates and combinations of biocontrol treatments for reducing soilborne diseases and increasing yield in organic potato production. This research is useful for scientists, extension personnel, and growers, providing practical information on the use of supplemental management practices for enhanced sustainability and productivity in organic potato production systems.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Larkin, R.P., Halloran, J.M. 2016. Impacts of biocontrol products on Rhizoctonia disease of potato and soil microbial communities, and their persistence in soil. Crop Protection. 90:96-105.
- Larkin, R.P., Halloran, J.M., Honeycutt, C.W., Griffin, T.S., Olanya, O.M., He, Z. 2016. Cumulative and residual effects of different potato cropping system management strategies on soilborne diseases and soil microbial communities over time. Plant Pathology. doi: 10.1111/ppa.12584.
- He, Z., Zhang, M., Zhao, A., Olanya, O.M., Larkin, R.P., Honeycutt, C.W. 2016. Quantity and nature of water-extractable organic matter from sandy loam soils with potato cropping managements. Agricultural and Environmental Letters. 1:160023-160029.
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Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): 1: Develop crop and cultural management practices to improve crop productivity and economic viability, and reduce diseases for conventional and organic food production systems in the Northeast. 1.1. Develop management practices and cropping systems that maintain or improve productivity and market quality, reduce soilborne and foliar diseases, reduce income variability and economic risk, and improve profitability and competitiveness for potato-based production systems. 1.2. Develop crop, biological, and cultural management practices to improve crop productivity, reduce diseases, and improve economic viability for conventional and organic vegetable production systems. 1.3. Determine activity, mechanisms of action, and improved means of implementation of selected biological and cultural practices for enhanced efficacy, utilization, and sustainability. Approach (from AD-416): Our approach to improving crop productivity and enhancing economic viability for food production systems in the Northeast is through the development of improved biological and cultural management practices and cropping systems. There are many practices and amendments that have been previously identified, in ours and others research, as providing beneficial responses for these production systems. However, much research is still needed to determine the best ways to utilize and implement these practices in production agriculture. In our own previous research, through long-term cropping systems studies, we determined the areas that are the most crucial constraints to productivity in potato production systems, as well as some factors that were less important. Critical constraints were water availability, soil quality, and disease pressure, whereas previously studied criteria such as fertility and soil physical properties (which has already been well-worked out) were not critical factors. This proposed research is building directly on this previous research, further developing and refining management practices that have shown the greatest potential for reducing soilborne diseases, enhancing soil quality, and improving crop yields in a sustainable manner. Management practices of particular importance include the use of disease- suppressive rotation crops, cover crops, green manures, and biological control organisms. Special emphasis will be placed on the biological processes involved and the role of soil microbial communities in developing disease-suppressive, yield-enhancing cropping systems. Work continues on a series of research studies with the goal of developing crop and cultural management practices to improve crop productivity and economic viability, and reduce diseases for conventional and organic food production systems in the Northeast. Specifically, in fiscal year 2016, the third year of a cropping systems study for potato production was conducted in Presque Isle, Maine that builds on our previous cropping systems research through incorporating proven successful principles and practices into functional rotation systems that can be utilized by growers for improved productivity and disease control. In these trials, 3-year rotations focusing on the management goals of soil conservation (through reduced tillage, cover crops), soil improvement (through compost amendment), and disease suppression (through use of disease-suppressive rotations, cover crops, and biological control) are being evaluated for all aspects of plant growth and crop productivity, tuber diseases, soilborne and foliar diseases, soil microbial community characteristics, and economic viability. In addition, a new organic vegetable management study has been implemented, with bean, summer squash, and pepper plants planted into different cover crop and biological control treatments in trials at Newport, Maine, to evaluate potential improvements in crop management and disease suppression in organic vegetable production. Other component studies assessing biological control and the mechanisms of action for control of soilborne diseases are also continuing this fiscal year. Currently, the field season is ongoing and results will be available soon. Thus, studies are now in place to provide the information needed to improve crop production and sustainability for potato and organic vegetable production, which can lead to improved agricultural viability and rural economic vitality in the Northeast. Accomplishments 01 Improved cropping systems enhance soil health, reduce disease, and increase productivity in potato production. Potato production in the northeast has numerous constraints to productivity, including high potential for soilborne diseases, high pesticide and fertilizer requirements, soil erosion, degrading soil quality, and variable rainfall during the growing season. In the culmination of a decade-long research project evaluating sustainable management practices and cropping systems addressing goals of soil conservation, soil improvement, and disease suppression over time, ARS researchers at Orono, Maine found that incorporating management practices such as increased rotation length, use of cover crops, green manures, organic amendments, disease-suppressive rotation crops, and reduced tillage, into improved cropping systems can effectively enhance potato production and sustainability. Cropping systems had significant and lasting effects on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties, as well as soil microbial communities. Compost amendments were most effective at improving soil properties related to soil health, and disease-suppressive rotations were most effective at reducing soilborne diseases. Effective cropping systems increased yield by 20 to 50% over traditional rotations. This research provided viable and readily implementable options for cropping systems that address the major constraints to potato production in the Northeast, enhancing productivity, sustainability, and economic viability.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Olanya, O.M., Anwar, M., He, Z., Larkin, R.P., Honeycutt, C.W. 2016. Survival potential of Phytophthora infestans in relation to environmental factors and late blight occurrence. Journal of Plant Protection Research. 56:73-81.
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Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): 1: Develop crop and cultural management practices to improve crop productivity and economic viability, and reduce diseases for conventional and organic food production systems in the Northeast. 1.1. Develop management practices and cropping systems that maintain or improve productivity and market quality, reduce soilborne and foliar diseases, reduce income variability and economic risk, and improve profitability and competitiveness for potato-based production systems. 1.2. Develop crop, biological, and cultural management practices to improve crop productivity, reduce diseases, and improve economic viability for conventional and organic vegetable production systems. 1.3. Determine activity, mechanisms of action, and improved means of implementation of selected biological and cultural practices for enhanced efficacy, utilization, and sustainability. Approach (from AD-416): Our approach to improving crop productivity and enhancing economic viability for food production systems in the Northeast is through the development of improved biological and cultural management practices and cropping systems. There are many practices and amendments that have been previously identified, in ours and others research, as providing beneficial responses for these production systems. However, much research is still needed to determine the best ways to utilize and implement these practices in production agriculture. In our own previous research, through long-term cropping systems studies, we determined the areas that are the most crucial constraints to productivity in potato production systems, as well as some factors that were less important. Critical constraints were water availability, soil quality, and disease pressure, whereas previously studied criteria such as fertility and soil physical properties (which has already been well-worked out) were not critical factors. This proposed research is building directly on this previous research, further developing and refining management practices that have shown the greatest potential for reducing soilborne diseases, enhancing soil quality, and improving crop yields in a sustainable manner. Management practices of particular importance include the use of disease- suppressive rotation crops, cover crops, green manures, and biological control organisms. Special emphasis will be placed on the biological processes involved and the role of soil microbial communities in developing disease-suppressive, yield-enhancing cropping systems. A series of research studies with the goal of developing crop and cultural management practices to improve crop productivity and economic viability, and reduce diseases for conventional and organic food production systems in the Northeast have been established. Specifically, in FY15, the second year of a cropping systems study for potato production was conducted in Presque Isle, ME that builds on our previous cropping systems research by incorporating the principles and practices that have been proven successful previously, and putting them into functional rotation systems that can be utilized by growers for improved productivity and disease control. In these trials, 3-yr rotations focusing on the management goals of soil conservation (through reduced tillage, cover crops), soil improvement (through compost amendment), and disease suppression (through use of disease-suppressive rotations, cover crops, and biological control) are being evaluated in conjunction with a standard 2-yr rotation and a non-rotation control for all aspects of plant growth and crop productivity, tuber diseases, soilborne and foliar diseases, soil microbial community characteristics, and economic viability. A new organic vegetables study was implemented, with bean, summer squash, and pepper plants planted into different cover crop and biological control treatments in trials at Newport, Maine, to evaluate potential improvements in crop management and disease suppression in organic vegetable production. Other component studies assessing biological control and the mechanisms of action for control of soilborne diseases are continuing or have been established this FY. Currently, the field season is ongoing and second year results will be available soon. Thus, studies are now in place that will provide the information needed to improve crop production and sustainability for potato and organic vegetable production, which can lead to improved agricultural viability and rural economic vitality in the Northeast.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Olanya, O.M., Larkin, R.P., Honeycutt, C.W. 2015. Incidence of Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary on potato and tomato in Maine, 2006- 2010. Journal of Plant Protection Research. 55:58-68.
- Larkin, R.P. 2015. Soil Health Paradigms and Implications for Disease Management. Annual Review of Phytopathology. 53:199-221 DOI: 10.1146/ annurev-phyto-080614-120357.
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): 1: Develop crop and cultural management practices to improve crop productivity and economic viability, and reduce diseases for conventional and organic food production systems in the Northeast. 1.1. Develop management practices and cropping systems that maintain or improve productivity and market quality, reduce soilborne and foliar diseases, reduce income variability and economic risk, and improve profitability and competitiveness for potato-based production systems. 1.2. Develop crop, biological, and cultural management practices to improve crop productivity, reduce diseases, and improve economic viability for conventional and organic vegetable production systems. 1.3. Determine activity, mechanisms of action, and improved means of implementation of selected biological and cultural practices for enhanced efficacy, utilization, and sustainability. Approach (from AD-416): Our approach to improving crop productivity and enhancing economic viability for food production systems in the Northeast is through the development of improved biological and cultural management practices and cropping systems. There are many practices and amendments that have been previously identified, in ours and others research, as providing beneficial responses for these production systems. However, much research is still needed to determine the best ways to utilize and implement these practices in production agriculture. In our own previous research, through long-term cropping systems studies, we determined the areas that are the most crucial constraints to productivity in potato production systems, as well as some factors that were less important. Critical constraints were water availability, soil quality, and disease pressure, whereas previously studied criteria such as fertility and soil physical properties (which has already been well-worked out) were not critical factors. This proposed research is building directly on this previous research, further developing and refining management practices that have shown the greatest potential for reducing soilborne diseases, enhancing soil quality, and improving crop yields in a sustainable manner. Management practices of particular importance include the use of disease- suppressive rotation crops, cover crops, green manures, and biological control organisms. Special emphasis will be placed on the biological processes involved and the role of soil microbial communities in developing disease-suppressive, yield-enhancing cropping systems. A series of research studies are being established with the goal of developing crop and cultural management practices to improve crop productivity and economic viability, and reduce diseases for conventional and organic food production systems in the Northeast. Specifically, in FY14, a new cropping systems study for potato production was established in Presque Isle, ME that builds on our previous cropping systems research by incorporating the principles and practices that have been proven successful previously, and putting them into functional rotation systems that can be utilized by growers for improved productivity and disease control. In these trials, new 3-yr rotations focusing on the management goals of soil conservation (through reduced tillage, cover crops), soil improvement (through compost amendment), and disease suppression (through use of disease-suppressive rotations, cover crops, and biological control) are being evaluated in conjunction with a standard 2-yr rotation and a non-rotation control for all aspects of plant growth and crop productivity, tuber diseases, soilborne and foliar diseases, soil microbial community characteristics, and economic viability. Additional studies that address the implementation of improved crop management and disease suppression in organic vegetable production are being established in trials at Newport, ME, in which different cover crop and disease- suppressive rotations are being evaluated in conjunction with organic legume, cucurbit, and solanaceous vegetable crops. Other component studies assessing biological control and the mechanisms of action for control of soilborne diseases are ongoing or have been established this FY. Currently, the field season is ongoing and first year results will be available soon. Thus, studies are now in place that will provide the information needed to improve crop production and sustainability for potato and organic vegetable production, which can lead to improved agricultural viability and rural economic vitality in the Northeast. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations: Research from this project will benefit small farms, because approximately 26,560 farms in the New England Region (94%) are classified as small farms (2002 Census of Agriculture).
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Larkin, R.P., Halloran, J.M. 2014. Management effects of disease- suppressive rotation crops on potato yield and soilborne disease and their economic implications in potato production. American Journal of Potato Research.
- Bernard, E., Larkin, R.P., Tavantzis, S., Erich, M.S., Alyokhin, A., Gross, S. 2013. Rapeseed rotation, compost and biocontrol amendments reduce soilborne diseases and increase tuber yield in conventional and organic potato production systems. Plant and Soil. 374:611-627.
- Olanya, O.M., Larkin, R.P., Halloran, J.M., He, Z. 2014. Relationships of crop and soil management systems to meteorological variables and potato diseases on a Russet burbank cultivar. Journal of Agricultural Meteorology of Japan. 70(2):91-104.
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