Progress 08/01/14 to 07/31/18
Outputs
Target Audience:Farmers students and professionals of agriculture such as agronomist from the Department of Agriculture and Extension Agents. Changes/Problems:The hit of a major hurricane greatly affected infrastructure, communications, and utilities throughout the island. Achaichairu orchard was destroyed by the hurricane strong winds and pouring rain. Several days after the entrance of the hurricane, a group of students, support personnel and project leaders took the task of raising fallen trees, pruning them and applying fungicides to ensure trees recovering. All these efforts were not enough and most of the trees in the orchard did not survive. Trees were in the juvenile stage, therefore no yield data was collected. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Graduate and undergraduate students and agronomist and extension agents learned about this innovative crop for Puerto Rico. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Muñoz no se si algunos de tus estudantes hizo algun poster o presentacion What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The goal of this research is to promote Garcinia gardneriana planting and to develop atechnological package of agricultural practices for the conditions observed at Puerto Rico. This fruit is native to the humid regions of South America where the soil conditions are similar to those of Puerto Rico.This fruit tree has great economic potential thus resulting that farmers has stablished some orchads at Puerto Rico. Rainfall in places where this tree has been planted is less than that rainfall registered in its region of origin. Determining the appropriate response to fertilization and supplemental irrigation is an important information required by farmers. Although it was not possible to complete all the proposed objectives due to the damage caused by a hurricane to the experiments, it was shown that this crop adapts quite well, basic information was taken and students and other people had some experience managing this new crop.
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Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Farmers and other agricultural professionals. Changes/Problems:A two month student strike and the hit of a major hurricane greatly affected infrastructure, communications, and utilities destroyed field experiments . We are planing to reestablish the orchard with a new set o micro-irrigation and fertilizers treatments. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The result and trees seedlings has been disseminated to farmers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Replant Achaichairu orchard.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The main goal of this research is to promote sowing and to develop a technological package of agricultural practices for the conditions observed in Puerto Rico. This fruit has great economic potential for farmers. Farmers has began planting at several locations in Puerto Rico.
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Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16
Outputs
Target Audience:Farmers and other agricultural professionals. Researchers and students in plant biology and applied plant biology of Garcinias. Technical staff and policy-making individuals in the Department of Agriculture of Puerto Rico as well as the US Department of Agriculture dealing with new highly profitable production alternatives. Nonprofit organizations interested in developing sustainable economic alternatives in the poorest regions of Puerto Rico (rural areas, particularly those in the mountains). Changes/Problems:Dr. Barragan is currently in a one year leave of absence. The project leadership was transferred during the last semester to Dr. Elvin Román Paoli, who has been the project's co-PD since its inception and is thoroughly familiar with all aspects of the field experiments in place. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?While experiments are still ongoing, preliminary results have been shared and tree seedlings have been distributed to farmers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We are planning to finish at least two publications and offer several workshops to farmers and agriculture professionals on the implementation of best practices for using microirrigation, especially on the use of subsurface drip irrigation in this crop.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
There is currently no commercial orchard of Achachairu in the Northern Hemisphere. The main goal of this research is to promote sowing and to develop a technological package of agricultural practices for the conditions observed in Puerto Rico. This fruit has great economic potential for farmers. Farmers have begun planting at several locations in Puerto Rico. Achachairu trees were established at the Isabela Substation. The orchard was divided into two sections. One was used to establish the fertilization experiments and the other to establish a drip irrigation levels experiment. For both experiments, variables measured are stem diameter, tree canopy height and width. In addition, soil and leaves samples were taken for nutrient analysis. Protocols for in vitro propagation from seed were also successfully completed. Achachairu trees were propagated at the RUM Alzamora estate. Some of these trees were delivered to farmers who have interest in this type of fruit.
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Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:At a broader level: Researchers and students in plant biology and applied plant biology of Garcinias. At a more local or institutional level: Faculty members, researchers and students of the Departments of Biology and Agricultural Sciences of the Universty of Puerto Rico with an interest in Garcinias and exotic fruit plants Technical staff and policy-making individuals in the Department of Agriculture of Puerto Rico as well as the US Department of Agriculture dealing with new highly profitable production alternatives. Nonprofit organizations interested in developing sustainable economic alternatives in the poorest regions of Puerto Rico (rural areas, particularly those in the mountains). Farmers and entrepreneurs interested in new highly profitable production alternatives. Changes/Problems:Electricity connections for the control of the irrigation system were delayed during the first year of the project. This had an impact in the irrigation experiment. We decided to postpone irrigation treatments until the first semester of 2016. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Mentoring. Mr. José Victor Prado, a graduate students majoring in agricultural economics, was hired as an RA and is being mentored by the project´s PI and co-PI. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Along with Project H094Z, a couple of innovative young new farmers were identified to plant an achachairú orchard in 2015. Their seedlings were sown with project H94Z funding in 2014 and were transplanted in 2015 in a private orchard under the sponsorship of Project H455. In return, the farmers have agreed to show their orchard and share their experiences with other potential interested parties. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?* We will continue to gather data. * We will finish setting up the environmental and physiological sensors and will build prototypes that will be tested in the field. * We will continue to disseminate project results by participating in scientific meetings (the annual meeting of the International Society forEcological Modelling to be held in Baltimore, Maryland on May 2016) and other more venues (website).
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
***Outputs. **Activities. *Research conducted. * Related to objective 1: In vitro propagules were acclimatized and acclimatization protocols are being developed. * Related to objective 2: Electricity connections were installed at the field level. * Related to objective 3: Fertilization treatments were initiated and plant measurements were made. * Related to objective 4: Young seedlings were planted in a private orchard. This orchard will later be used for outreach purposes. *** Changes in knowledge. * Micropropagated plants responded well to acclimatization. * Plants transplanted in the field at Isabella showed initial stress probably due to sun light, but eventually acclimatized.
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Progress 08/01/14 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: At a broader level: Researchers and students in plant biology and applied plant biology of Garcinias. At a more local or institutional level: Faculty members, researchers and students of the Departments of Biology and Agricultural Sciences of the Universty of Puerto Rico with an interest in Garcinias and exotic fruit plants. Technical staff and policy-making individuals in the Department of Agriculture of Puerto Rico as well as the US Department of Agriculture dealing with new highly profitable production alternatives. Nonprofit organizations interested in developing sustainable economic alternatives in the poorest regions of Puerto Rico (rural areas, particularly those in the mountains). Farmers and entrepreneurs interested in new highly profitable production alternatives. Changes/Problems: The plot in Isabela required additional investments in order to make water and electricity available at the plot level. A special request to modify the budget of complementary project H94Z was made and approved in order to make this investment possible. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Mentoring-2014. José Victor, a graduate student majoring in agricultural economics was hired and co-mentored by the project PI. He will work on a thesis/dissertation dealing with achachairú. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Along with Project H094Z, a couple of innovative young new farmers were identified to plant an achachairú orchard in 2015. Their seedlings were sown with project H94Z funding in 2014 and will be ready for transplanting in 2015. In return, the farmers have agreed to show their orchard and share their experiences with other potential interested parties. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Major activities completed: * Two sets successive groups of seeds were obtained, cleaned and their micropropagation initiated. * Plot in Isabela was cleared, wholes were excavated, and seedlings were transplanted infield. * The irrigation system was designed and the main irrigation infield installations were made. * In coordination with project H94Z, arrangements were made to secure water and electricity access to the plot. * A couple of young new farmers was identified that is interested in adopting achachairú production in 2015. * In coordination with project H94Z, seedlings were grown for this couple of farmers. Specific objectives met: * Related to objective 1 (In vitro propagation protocols. Optimize tissue culture propagation and develop protocols for the commercial production of in vitro propagated plants.): ** Seed was obtained and in vitro propagation initiated.* Related to objectives 2 (In-Field Pre-Production Nutrient Management. Determine the fertilization rates that best promote growth during the pre-production in-field stage in different regions of Puerto Rico.) and 3 (In-Field Pre-Production Irrigation Management Determine the irrigation rates that best promote growth during the pre-production in-field stage in different regions of Puerto Rico.): Land was cleared and prepared, irrigation system was acquired and its installation initiated, seedlings were transplanted. * Related to objective 5 (Outreach Increase the number of strategically selected beginning, socially disadvantaged, and limited resource first-time achachairú farmers, as well as increase the use of improved pre-production fertilizer and irrigation management technologies by first-time achachairú farmers.): A couple of young new farmers were identified that are willing to plant an achachairú orchard in 2015. Material was sown in 2014 for these young innovators. Change in knowledge-2014: * Seedlings suffer considerable sun stress during immediate two months after transplanting. Their growth is stunted and their existing leaves damaged. However, after a couple of months new leaves started to grow and the plants seem to be recovering. * USDA-APHIS-Washington approved achachairú imports from PR. This is a very important change in knowledge that will undoubtedly have a positive effect on the development of an achachairú industry in PR. Changes in actions-2014: * We would like to explore the use of new sensors for the measurement and control of irrigation. These efforts could improve the present research project and open new research venues. * We would like to secure official recognition of the efforts made by Drs. Felipe Shea, David Jenkins, and Julio Barragán in order to facilitate USDA-APHIS approval of achachairú imports from PR.
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