Source: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS submitted to
WATER MANAGEMENT AND QUALITY FOR ORNAMENTAL CROP PRODUCTION AND HEALTH
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1009853
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
CA-D-PLS-2343-RR
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
NC-_old1186
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
May 25, 2016
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2020
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
Oki, LO, .
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
410 MRAK HALL
DAVIS,CA 95616-8671
Performing Department
Plant Sciences
Non Technical Summary
The nursery industry includes nursery plants, greenhouse crops, floriculture and sod. That production in California, based on 2014 USDA statistics, is ranked as the number 5 agricultural commodity in the state with a farm gate value of $3.22 billion exceeded only by (1) Milk and Cream, (2) Almonds (shelled), (3) Grapes (all), and (4) Cattle and Calves. This crop commodity is listed in the top 10 agricultural commodities in 31 of the 54 counties in the state and California produces the most nursery products of all states in the nation. To provide the crops at this level, nursery plant production is highly intensive and relies on large amounts of water for irrigation, nutrients to support growth, and a variety of pesticides to control weeds, diseases, and pests. California nursery crops are highly diverse and it is estimated that there are 10,000 or more different cultivars in production. Most of California is in a Mediterranean climate and receives little to no rainfall from April through October. So understanding and providing the cultivation needs of this diverse crop is challenging. In the past, irrigation issues tended to be addressed by adding more water. But in the current 5 year drought, there has been a lot of attention dedicated to increasing water use efficiency to maintain and increase productivity while using less water. Methods that are being implemented include improving irrigation systems and capturing runoff for reuse in irrigation. Capturing runoff for reuse requires knowledge of pollutants in that water and include salts, nutrients, pesticides, and pathogens. The presence of nutrients can be advantageous, but knowledge of their concentrations is needed to be able to adjust fertility programs to meet crop needs. Presence of all of the other constituents can be detrimental when concentrations are high. In California, this research group is particularly interested in the pathogens that might be present and are focusing on the Phytophthora water molds since there are many species of this pathogen that cause disease. These pathogens are capable of being moved in water and reusing infested water can spread disease.This project is taking three approaches to address these issues. As a partner in the NIFA Clean WateR2 project, an objective is to understand the hydrology in nurseries: Water use and transport/movement. We also need to know the sources of Phytophthora and the amounts (concentrations) of the pathogen present in the runoff water. We have employed different methods to measure water movement at two cooperating nurseries in the state, one in central/northern California and another in the southern part of the state to study this in different climates. We have installed flumes and channels to measure surface flows and recorded water meter and other data to measure irrigation uses. Samples of water are also collected at various strategic places at the nurseries to determine pathogen levels. This data will be shared with others working on the project to build models representing water use and the amounts of pathogens in the water.A goal of the Clean WateR3 group is the development of a tool to assist growers in the decision of the type of water treatment method that best fits their situation that consider characteristics of the site, water quality, crops grown, management methods and other parameters.Secondly, there are many methods that can be used to treat those pathogens and include chemical (e.g., chlorine), irradiation (e.g., UV), and biological methods. We are studying the use of slow sand filters (SSF) as a biological method to remove pathogens from the runoff. SSFs do not require chemical or large energy inputs and largely rely on gravity to move water. The sand serves as a substrate on which a community of microorganisms grows and it is these microorganisms that are responsible for the degradation of pollutants, both biological and chemical, in the water being treated. We have been conducting research on these systems in laboratory settings and are currently using facilities at the UC South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine, CA. Studies generate runoff in a greenhouse that includes Phytophthora capsici, a disease of peppers, and is provided to the SSFs to determine how the pathogen is removed.Thirdly is the measurement of the water use of plants. Using a field on the UC Davis campus in which different plant cultivars are grown and irrigated at fixed, measured amounts, we are able to determine the amount of water that they require for optimal growth in the landscape. This method allows about 17 months for the plants to become established in the soil before implementing the irrigation treatments. This provides results at a condition close to that in a "real" landscape. The irrigation treatments are provided based on weather measurements and reference evapotranspiration (ET0) so that the amount of water used by the plants can be estimated. Since the amounts of water that the plants use is determined relative to current weather conditions, that information allows more efficient irrigation practices over a large climate range.The information developed by these studies will be provided directly to growers using newsletters, workshops, and conferences. Articles in scientific journals will share the information among academics and other researchers. Web-based methods such as on-line posting of articles and videos may also be included. The information developed in California will be shared with the other members of the USDA NIFA Clean WateR3 project group to support the further development of tasks to achieve project objectives.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
20%
Applied
60%
Developmental
20%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1112199106020%
2052199106030%
2154099116030%
4030210205020%
Knowledge Area
403 - Waste Disposal, Recycling, and Reuse; 111 - Conservation and Efficient Use of Water; 205 - Plant Management Systems; 215 - Biological Control of Pests Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
4099 - Microorganisms, general/other; 2199 - Ornamentals and turf, general/other; 0210 - Water resources;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems); 2050 - Hydrology; 1160 - Pathology;
Goals / Objectives
Develop effective outreach programs which a) change behavior and implement best management practices, b) increase resource use-efficiency and minimize environmental impacts of practices, c) increase production efficiency and profitability and d) allow regulatory agency and public sectors to access baseline information which can be used for policy and other decision-making. Research results will be disseminated to the academic community through traditional means (e.g. peer reviewed journals, and extension programs) and also more novel web-based methods (knowledge centers, eXtension and social networks). Improved irrigation management: Determine the water requirements of a variety of ornamental plants and how these water requirements are affected by plant size and environmental conditions. Compare irrigation methods (e.g. overhead, spray stakes, drip irrigation, subirrigation) to determine how they affect total water use, plant growth and quality, and runoff water quality. Quantify reductions in water use, leaching, and runoff that result from more efficient irrigation techniques. Develop new and optimize existing methods to provide growers with real time information regarding the water requirements of their crops, including crop water use models and sensor networks that can be easily deployed in greenhouses and nurseries. Runoff and recycled water management: Continue to address research and extension needs related to improving runoff management by: (1) gathering comprehensive runoff-related information from the following sectors: a) growers, b) regulatory agencies, and c) university research and extension. Quantify the relative impacts of nursery runoff on surface water resources through detailed on-site investigations. Characterize critical control points within production systems and their influence on the presence and fate of pests, pesticides, and other agrichemicals (mineral salts) in production runoff, irrigation reservoirs, and other water sources. Develop chemical, physical, and biologically-based water treatment technologies to mitigate adverse effects of pesticides, salts, and pests in recycled irrigation water. Develop BMP guidelines for water recycling programs to minimize potential for negative effects on plant health by pests, pesticides, and mineral salts in recycled irrigation water.
Project Methods
USDA Clean WateR3 project participation- Nursery hydrology and pollutant loadsWater flow measurement devices will be installed at two California nurseries to generate data used to develop hydrologic models of water flow on nurseries. These devices include velocity and depth sensors, flumes, channels, flow meters, data loggers, and other equipment as deemed appropriate for the site. Water samples will be collected to be analyzed for plant pathogens (Phytophthora ssp.) to determine pathogen loads and sources of inoculum. The water samples may also be analyzed for pesticides and nutrients to examine sources, loading, use efficiency, and other parameters.Biological water treatment methodsSlow sand (SSF) and vegetated filters (VF) will be examined as biological water treatment methods to remove plant pathogens from nursery runoff to prepare for reuse in irrigation.SSFs and VFs will be constructed at a UC Agricultural and Natural Resources (ANR) research facility (South Coast Research and Extension Center, Irvine, CA) to examine their efficacy individually and in combination in removing Phytophthora ssp. from captured irrigation runoff.Runoff water will be generated in a greenhouse and Phytophthora capsici will be added to the captured runoff. The inoculated runoff water will be introduced to SSFs or to VFs paired with SSFs. Samples of the water along the treatment path will be collected and analyzed for the pathogen to determine treatment efficacy. Analyses may be by plating onto culture media for quantification and/or by bioassay to assess pathogen viability.These biological water treatment systems may be used to examine the removal of other pollutants and pathogens. Studies have been completed to examine the ability of SSFs to remove tobacco mosaic virus (Mathews, D., et al. In preparation) and constituents of emerging concern such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, lipid regulators, psychiatric drugs, cardiovascular drugs and beta-blockers, estrogens, personal care products (UV inhibitors), pesticides and herbicides, plasticizers, and detergents (Phu, N. 2016. M.S. Thesis. UC Riverside).Landscape plant water useThere is little information on the water use of landscape plants even though California State regulations require the calculation of anticipated water use in new and renovated landscapes. To develop information on plant water use, a project that was originally initiated to support research supporting a 2007 MS thesis (Reid, S.K. 2007. M.S. Thesis. UC Davis) has continued since then. Initially, plants from the UC Davis Arboretum All-Stars program were tested and now include new plant introductions from commercial plant developers.A field is set up to deliver up to four irrigation treatments to landscape plants on the UC Davis campus. Planting occurs in November in year 1 and irrigation in the dry season of the following year beginning in about April through October provides ample water to encourage root establishment in the native soil.Irrigation treatments are provided in the second dry season. Treatments are fractions of reference ET (ET0) that is determined at a CIMIS (California Irrigation Management Information System) weather station on campus. The irrigations in earlier studies were at 20, 40, 60, and 80%, but recently have been changed to 20%, 50%, and 80% to allow more replicates per treatment. Irrigation volume is fixed and was determined after a soil analysis to determine field water holding capacity. Treatments, then, are the intervals between irrigation applications. Typically, irrigations in the 80% treatment occur every 12-20 days, 60% every 15-25 days, 40% every 25-30 days, and 20% about every 60 days.Data is collected monthly following planting and includes dimensional measurements (W1, W2, H) to calculate growth index, GI= [(W1+W2)/2+H]/2, and quality assessments regarding appearance, flowering, and diseases and pests.The field includes a shade structure under which full sun intolerant plants are also tested for water use. To our knowledge, there is no other facility or program testing water use of landscape shade plants.A proposal has been submitted to the California Department for Food and Agriculture (CDFA) requesting funds to install another field at UC Davis to test landscape plants bred by Dr. Ryan Contreras of Oregon State University. Included in the proposal is the duplication of all of these full sun fields at the South Coast Research and Extension Center to be able to examine landscape plant water use in a southern California climate and a soil type different than that at UC Davis.Note: IRB Protocol No.: 758222-2 approved on 9/21/2015, PI: Karrie ReidExtension EffortsThe PI is Co-Director of the UC Nursery and Floriculture Alliance (UCNFA) an ANR program that provide technical training and educational programs to greenhouse and nursery growers in California. UCNFA has organized events at which information on studies related to greenhouse and nursery production has been presented. UCNFA produces an electronic newsletter three times each year that presents timely information on issues confronting the greenhouse and nursery industry. The PI is a member of the CDFA Nursery Advisory Board that provides recommendations to the Secretary on issues related to California production horticulture. Research results and opportunities are discussed when important information is available are available.The PI is also Chair of the UC ANR Floriculture and Nursery Workgroup which is a consortium of Cooperative Extension Specialists and Advisors, campus faculty, and other interested researchers in production horticulture. Meetings of this group include discussions of any topic related to production horticulture including water management, invasive pests and diseases, plant culture, production management, academic issues, and research results.Extension efforts also include conventional methods such as articles in research journals and trade magazines and presentations at meetings of professional and academic organizations.EvaluationThe SCRI WateR3 project includes a sociological aspect to examine effective delivery of information and the barriers to the implemention of new management and cultural methods by nursery growers. The measurements of the water samples are sued to determine treatment efficacy. Previous work with slow sand filters has shown that they are effective in removing Phytphthora from captured irrigation runoff. The current studies evaluate the combining of SSFs with vegetated filters to evaluate improvement in treatment efficacy and filter performance. Current studies not only assess quantitative treatment measurements (plating) but also examine the transfer of disease occurrence through bioassays as the filters develop the microorganism communities responsible for treatment.The landscape plant water use project includes evaluations of plant performance by public horticulturists twice each year. Professional and advanced horticulturists, including retail and wholesale nursery owners and managers, landscape designers and architects, UC Master Gardeners, landscape contractors are invited to examine the plants being trialed and provide their evaluations of the plants under the irrigation treatments. This data, along with the monthly assessment collected by project staff are combined and used to develop species coefficients for irrigation management.

Progress 05/25/16 to 09/30/20

Outputs
Target Audience:The audience targeted for these efforts include all producers, users, and consumers of horticultural products,the trades that are associated with these activities, and regulators who develop and enforce rules for the safe conduct of the activities associated with the production and use of these plants. Examples of members of these audiences include growers of horticultural plants who operate nurseries and greenhouses and other specialized growing systems developed for plant production; vendors, brokers, resellers and retailers who sell these products to users;landscape architects and designers who specifyplants in their urban designs and restoration projects;landscape contractors and maintenance personnel who install and care for the plants; the general public who participates in home gardening activities; industries that develop products in which to grow, support, ship, and maintain these plant products; andregulators and enforcers who may utilize the information developed to inform better policies for the safe production, handling, and use of horticultural plants. Changes/Problems:The most major challenge in the latest reporting period was COVID-19. Other challenges present are due to the vastness of the State of California. Producers of horticultural products are concentrated in three main areas: Watsonville/Salinas on the Central Coast, Ventura/Santa Barbara, and San Diego. The most effective outreach events are in-person workshops at which attendees can communicate directly with presenters and other attendees andparticipate in on-site field demonstrations. However, travelling to these three regions is costly and time-consuming. Although online videos and "Zoom" type events can reach more viewers, the only partially mitigate these challenges since the videos are usually very focused and brief and do not allow for effective feedback and question/answer activities. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Outreach A set of five videos were produced for greenhouse and nursery growers in English and Spanish (tentotal on the general title of "Fertilizers and Plant Nutrition"(http://ucnfa.ucanr.edu/Fertilizers_and_Plant_Nutrition_Videos). The titles of the video are: Essential Plant Nutrients and Fertilization in Nursery Production Nitrogen in Plant Nutrition in Nursery Production Nitrogen Deficiency and Toxicity Issues in Nursery Production Phosphorus in Plant Nutrition in Nursery Production Potassium in Plant Nutrition in Nursery Production Nutrientes Esenciales de las Plantas y Fertilización en la Producción de Viveros Nitrógeno en la Nutrición de las Plantas en la Producción de Viveros Problemas de Deficienciay Toxicidad de Nitrógeno en la Producción de Viveros Fósforo en la Nutrición de las Plantas en la Producción de Viveros El Potasio en la Nutrición Vegetal en la Producción de Viveros Just prior to the Shutdown of activities caused by COVID-19, aworkshop on nitrogen management for nurseries was providedat a local nursery and presented topics on: regulatory updates, fate of applied N, nitrogen nutrition in nursery crops, managing runoff, and nitrogen tracking growers tools. The workshop was intended to be a pilot for future workshops and the 24 invited participants consisted of growers, consultants, fertilizer producers, academics, and regulators. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Information was disseminated via the University of California Nursery and FloricultureAlliance (UCNFA) website (http://ucnfa.ucanr.edu/). UCNFA is an extension andout reach program that provide technical and educational programs to nursery and greenhouse growers of horticultural products. UCNFA also distributes announcements of activities through its two email listsof 1,453and 1,809 contacts. In addition, announcements of specific activities are distributed by targeted messages to the Plant California Alliance (resulting from the mergerofthe California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers and the Nursery Growers Association), and local Farm Bureau and UC Cooperative Extension offices. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Treating captured runoff using slow sand filters to remove paclobutrazol Research using slow sand filters (SSF) continues at UC Davis. Previous work examined the efficacy of SSFs in treating captured runoff water to remove plant pathogens. Coupling the SSFs with vegetated filters enhances the removal of plant pathogens from runoff. The project is shifting from pathogens to the removal of plant growth regulators that may be present in captured irrigation runoff from treated crops. The SSF system that was previously used at the UC South Coast Research and Extension Center is being reconstructed at UC Davis and will be used to determine their efficacy in removing paclobutrazol from captured runoff. Funding from the Plant California Alliance (formerly California Association of Nurseries & Garden Centers) supports this project. Funds from the Horticultural Research Institute have been requested. Nitrogen balance in containerized growing systems California requires annual reporting of nitrogen budget for all crops. However, the form used was designed for annually harvested agronomic and tree crops and is not appropriate for nursery crops grown in containersthat harvest the entire plant and media continuously throughout the year. There is also little information on the pathways of N use and loss and none on the gaseous losses of applied N in this production system; both critical for completing the form. This project measures leaching losses, plant uptake, gaseous emissions, and the amount of N remaining in the media at harvest of a woody plant nursery crop. A paper is in preparation (Pitton et al., Greenhouse gas emissions and global warming potential from a woody ornamental production system using soilless growing substrate. 33 pp.) that presents information of the greenhouse gas emissions from a fir bark-based substrate during the growth of a #5 woody plant nursery crop. It explains that addressing N2O emissions should be a priority in nursery crop production. Landscape Plant Irrigation Trials The UC Landscape Plant Irrigation Trials (UCLPITTM) Trials project continues at UC Davis and the UC South Coast Research and Extension Center assessing plant performance under three different irrigation treatments in the sun and shade. The UCLPITTM website has been set up that provides background information, trials results, and irrigation recommendations (https://ucanr.edu/sites/UCLPIT/). Trials at UC Riverside are assessing the effects of four different irrigation treatments on eleven groundcover species, measuring plant growth, stomatal conductance and canopy temperature. The landscape plant irrigation recommendations developed are used to comply with CA regulations in the Model Water Efficient Ladnsacpe Ordinance (MWELO)that require water budgets for new and renovated landscapes. These recommendations are apporved by the California Department of Water Resources for use in calculating the landsscape water budgets and are added to the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS) document that is named in the ordinance. Climate Ready Landscape Plants project A USDA Specialty Crop Multistate award (administered by California Department of Food and Agriculture Agreement #19-1044-001-SF) was received for the Climate Ready Landscape Plants project (https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/2019SCMPDescriptionofFundedProjects.pdf). This project replicates the two experimental fields currently in California (see Landscape Plant Irrigation Trials above) at the University of Washington, Oregon State University, Utah State University, and the University of Arizona. Together, these six sites provide the ability to test landscape plant performance using standardized methods under three irrigation treatments across a wide latitude and climate range in the western region of the U.S. The locations of the sites also provide opportunities to study the effects of climate change on landscape plant performance. The project also aims to study the factors that influence plant resilience as climate change continues so as to inform the future sustainability of current urban landscapes and their design and development for thefuture. Outreach Workshops on Fertilizer and Plant Nutrition supported by the CDFA Fertilizer Research and Education Program were provided and 4 sets of videos were produced for greenhouse and nursery growers in English and Spanish (http://ucnfa.ucanr.edu/Fertilizers_and_Plant_Nutrition_Videos). A workshop on nitrogen management for nurseries was provided presenting topics on: regulatory updates, fate of applied N, nitrogen nutrition in nursery crops, managing runoff, and nitrogen tracking growers tools. A zoom workshop will be conducted for UC Master Gardeners on groundcover performance (growth and aesthetic quality) under deficit irrigation.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Nackley, L. L., E. Fernandes de Sousa, B.L. Pitton, J. Sisneroz, & L. R. Oki. 2020. Developing a water-stress index for potted poinsettia production, HortScience, 55(8):1295-1302. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI14914-20
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Redekar, N., T. Bourret, B. J. L. Pitton, G. Johnson, J. Eberhart, L. R. Oki, J. Parke. 2020. The population of oomycetes in a recycled irrigation water system at a horticultural nursery in southern California. Water Research. 183:116050. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2020.116050
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: White, S.A., J.S. Owen, J.C. Majsztrik, L.R. Oki, P.R. Fisher, C.R. Hall, J.D. Lea-Cox, and R.T. Fernandez. 2019. Greenhouse and Nursery Water Management Characterization and Research Priorities in the USA. Water. 11(11):2338. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11112338.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Owen, J.S., A.V. LeBude, A. Fulcher, J. Stanley, and L.R. Oki. 2019. Leaching fraction: A tool to schedule irrigation for container-grown nursery crops. Virginia/North Carolina Coop. Ext. Publ. SPES-128/AG-855. https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/spes/spes-128/SPES-128.pdf


Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19

Outputs
Target Audience:The targeted audience for this effort are growers of nursery crops including ornamentals, plants for site restoration, young fruit and nut trees, seedlings for transplanting, and other plants grown in high densities and high intensity. In California, many growers are of Spanish ethnicity and immigrants from southeast Asia. Methods used to reach these clientele include organized and implemented conferences, presentations at conferences, workshops, articles in trade magazines and newsletters, and publications in academic journals. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Several presentations have been made at state, national, and international venues sharing the results of the research conducted under this project and an extension publication on water conservation practices for nursery growers has been published and are listed herein: An extension publication led by Jim Owen of Virginia Tech and coauthored by Anthony V. LeBude of North Carolina State University, Amy Fulcher of the University of Tennessee, Jane Stanley of Saunders Brothers, inc. and Lorence R. Oki of the University of California, Davis,published by Virginia and North Carolina Cooperative Extension: Owen, J.S., A.V. LeBude, A. Fulcher, J. Stanley, and L.R. Oki. 2019. Leaching fraction: A tool to schedule irrigation for container-grown nursery crops. Virginia/North Carolina Coop. Ext. Publ. SPES-128/AG-855. https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/spes/spes-128/SPES-128.pdf. Presentions made during the reporting period discussing the project and project results include: Oki, L.R. 2019. Research and Outreach Project Summary. University of California Environmental Horticulture Program Team. University of California, Merced. Merced California. January 24, 2019. Pitton, B.J.L. 2019.A System Nitrogen Approach For Container Nursery Production. California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers Research Committee. University of California, Davis. Davis, CA. February 13, 2019. Pitton, B.J.L., G.E Johnson, D.L. Haver and L.R. Oki. Submitted. Water Use and Estimated Evapotranspiration at a California Container Plant Nursery. ISHS IX International Symposium on Irrigation in Horticultural Crops. Matera, Italy. June 17-20, 2019. Pitton, B.J.L., J.A. Sisneroz, X. Zhu-Barker, R.Y Evans, W. R. Horwath and L.R. Oki. Submitted. Gas flux from a fir bark substrate at an ornamental production nursery. Acta. Hort. ISHS III International Symposium on Growing Media, Composting and Substrate Analysis. Milan, Italy. June 24-28, 2019. Oki, L.R. 2019. Measuring Leachate To manage Irrigation. Cultivate '19. Columbus, OH. July 15, 2019. Pitton, B.J.L. and L.R. Oki. 2019. Nitrogen Management Plans In Nursery Production. Cultivate '19. Columbus, OH. July 15, 2019. Oki, L.R. 2019. Removal of Pathogens and Viruses From Captured Runoff. SCRI WateR3 Conference. University of Maryland, College Park, MD. August 6, 2019. Oki, L.R. 2019. Slow Sand Filters: Biological Treatment Methods to Remove Plant Pathogens From Captured Runoff Water. University of Connecticut Grower Conference. New Haven, CT. Two workshops in both English and Spanish sponsored by the University of California Nursery and Floriculture Alliance were also provided to nursery and greenhouse growers: 1. English presenter Dr. Don Merhaut of the University of California, Riverside, and in Spanish, by Dr. Maria de la Fuente of the University of California Monterey County Cooperative Extension, on Fertilizers and Plant Nutrition: Part 1 Plant Nutrition and the Nursery Infrastructure in San Marcos, California on August 21, 2019. 2. English presenter Dr. Don Merhaut of the University of California, Riverside, and in Spanish, by Dr. Maria de la Fuente of the University of California Monterey County Cooperative Extension, on Fertilizers and Plant Nutrition: Part 2 Types, Use, and Methods of Monitoring Fertilizer Status in a Nursery Operation in San Marcos, California on September 18, 2019. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Two workshops in both English and Spanish sponsored by the University of California Nursery and Floriculture Alliance were also provided to nursery and greenhouse growers: 1. English presenter Dr. Don Merhaut of the University of California, Riverside, and in Spanish, by Dr. Maria de la Fuente of the University of California Monterey County Cooperative Extension, on Fertilizers and Plant Nutrition: Part 1 Plant Nutrition and the Nursery Infrastructure in San Marcos, California on August 21, 2019. 2. English presenter Dr. Don Merhaut of the University of California, Riverside, and in Spanish, by Dr. Maria de la Fuente of the University of California Monterey County Cooperative Extension, on Fertilizers and Plant Nutrition: Part 2 Types, Use, and Methods of Monitoring Fertilizer Status in a Nursery Operation in San Marcos, California on September 18, 2019. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The studies on the fate of applied nitrogen fertilizers in the production of nursery crops grown in containers will progress to the second phase of experiments. Experiments testing the efficacy of slow sand filters in the removal of plant growth regulators from aptured runoff will be initiated in 2020. Data analyses on these study topics will continue through the completion of the studies. We will continue to plan workshops in nursery water management to extend information developed by this project.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? University of California researchers initiated a study to determine the fate of applied nitrogen fertilizers in container nursery production. Growers in the Central Valley of California must submit annually a nitrogen budget to attempt to determine where applied N is distributed in the plant, harvested product and the environment. However, the required reporting forms are not compatible with container nursery production systems and omit gaseous N emissions. Information gained from this project will provide a better understanding of the fate of applied N and may contribute to improved nutrient management methods. Initial studies for this project were initiated and one has been completed. The results obtained quantified the distribution of nitrogen from fertilizers into water runoff, plant uptake, gaseous emissions, and other sinks. In order to develop best management practices to reduce the potential impact of diseases caused by water-borne pathogens, a pathogen risk assessment of a large wholesale nursery was conducted in partnership with Oregon State University plant pathologists. Experiments were completed that evaluated the effectiveness of pairing slow sand filtration with vegetative filters to reduce Phytophthora capsici in captured greenhouse irrigation runoff; allowing nurseries to reuse water safely and conserve this limited resource. Data analysis continues and will result in a journal publication. Several presentations have been made at state, national, and international venues sharing the results of the research conducted under this project and an extension publication on water conservation practices for nursery growers has been published and are discussed in detail in the following section of this report.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: White, S.A., J.S. Owen, J.C. Majsztrik, L.R. Oki, P.R. Fisher, C.R. Hall, J.D. Lea-Cox, and R.T. Fernandez. 2019. Greenhouse and Nursery Water Management Characterization and Research Priorities in the USA. Water.11(11):2338. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11112338.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Owen, J.S., A.V. LeBude, A. Fulcher, J. Stanley, and L.R. Oki. 2019. Leaching fraction: A tool to schedule irrigation for container-grown nursery crops. Virginia/North Carolina Coop. Ext. Publ. SPES-128/AG-855. https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/spes/spes-128/SPES-128.pdf.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2019 Citation: Oki, L.R. 2019. Research and Outreach Project Summary. University of California Environmental Horticulture Program Team. University of California, Merced. Merced California. January 24, 2019
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2019 Citation: Pitton, B.J.L.. 2019.A System Nitrogen Approach For Container Nursery Production. California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers Research Committee. University of California, Davis. Davis, CA. February 13, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Submitted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Pitton, B.J.L., G.E Johnson, D.L. Haver and L.R. Oki. Submitted. Water Use and Estimated Evapotranspiration at a California Container Plant Nursery. ISHS IX International Symposium on Irrigation in Horticultural Crops. Matera, Italy. June 17-20, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Submitted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Pitton, B.J.L., J.A. Sisneroz, X. Zhu-Barker, R.Y Evans, W. R. Horwath and L.R. Oki. Submitted. Gas flux from a fir bark substrate at an ornamental production nursery. Acta. Hort. ISHS III International Symposium on Growing Media, Composting and Substrate Analysis. Milan, Italy. June 24-28, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2019 Citation: Oki, L.R. 2019. Measuring Leachate To manage Irrigation. Cultivate '19. Columbus, OH. July 15, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2019 Citation: Pitton, B.J.L. and L.R. Oki. 2019. Nitrogen Management Plans In Nursery Production. Cultivate '19. Columbus, OH. July 15, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2019 Citation: Oki, L.R. 2019. Removal of Pathogens and Viruses From Captured Runoff. SCRI WateR3 Conference. University of Maryland, College Park, MD. August 6, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2019 Citation: Oki, L.R. 2019. Slow Sand Filters: Biological Treatment Methods to Remove Plant Pathogens From Captured Runoff Water. University of Connecticut Grower Conference. New Haven, CT.


Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:The targeted audience for this effort are growers of nursery crops including ornamentals, plants for site restoration, young fruit and nut trees, seedlings for transplanting, and other plants grown in high densities and high intensity. In California, many growers are of Spanish ethnicity and immigrants from southeast Asia. Methods used to reach these clientele include organized and implemented conferences, presentations at conferences, workshops, articles in trade magazines and newsletters, and publications in academic journals. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? he PI provided presentations to nursery growers in Steel Valley, CA at a workshop on June 28, 2018 on water management. There were approximately 80 growers in attendance. Oki,L. 2018. Distribution uniformity. Grower workshop. TreeTown USA. Steele Valley, CA. June 28, 2018 Oki, L. 2018. Understanding water potential for nursery irrigation managers. Grower workshop. TreeTown USA. Steele Valley, CA. June 28, 2018. The University of California group organized the California Nursery Conference and Grower Tour on June 19-20, 2018 to highlight water-related research results from NC-1186 group members to an audience of 97 growers. This conference format has proven to be very popular with California growers as it provides an opportunity to learn about water issues impacting nurseries across the nation and how these issues are being addressed in USDA sponsored collaborations. California Nursery Conference June 19, 2018, Watsonville, CA Session I Moderator: Darren Haver, Director and CE Advisor, South Coast Research and Extension Center and CE Orange County, Univ California, ANR Closed-Loop Irrigation: Benefits & Risks Rosa Raudales, Assistant Professor & Ext Specialist Dept. of Plant Sciences and Landscape Architecture Univ Connecticut Salt Management in Recycled Water Affects Perennial Ornamental Species Lloyd Nackley, Assistant Professor Department of Horticulture Oregon State Univ Considerations on the Quality and Management of Alternative Irrigation Water Sources Raul Cabrera, Associate Professor & Ext Specialist Department of Plant Biology Rutgers Univ Consumer Perceptions of Recycled and Remediated Water Bridget Behe, Professor Department of Horticulture Michigan State Univ Session II Moderator: Leticia Macias, Program Representative, Department of Plant Sciences, Univ California Davis An In-Depth Look at Controlled Release Fertilizers with an Emphasis on Phosphorus Jim Owen, Assistant Professor Virgina Agricultural Res & Ext Center, Hapmton Roads Virginia Tech Water and Pesticide Movement in Container Production as Affected by Irrigation Practices Tom Fernandez, Professor Department of Horticulture Michigan State Univ Using Sensors for Better Irrigation Management Decisions... and More. John Lea-Cox, Professor Department of Plant Sciences & Landscape Architecture Univ Maryland Session III Moderator: Loren Oki, CE Specialist, Department of Plant Sciences, Univ California, Davis Does Irrigating with High pH, Low Alkalinity Pond Water Affect Plant Growth? Anthony LeBude, Ext Specialist & Assoc Professor NC State Extension North Carolina State Univ Session IV Moderator: Rosa Raudales, Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist, Dept of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture Univ Connecticut Nitrogen Stabilizers: What are they and what can they do for Nursery Production? Bert Cregg, Associate Professor Department of Horticulture Michigan State Univ Polyacrylamide as a Potting Mix Amendment Improves Water Quality in Runoff Steve Tjosvold, CE Advisor UCCE Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties Univ California CE Clean Water with Plants and Wood Chips Sarah White, Associate Professor Plant and Environmental Sciences Department Clemson Univ Session V Moderator: Hayk Khachatryan, Assistant Professor Food Resource and Economics Department Univ Florida Interpret Your Water Quality Test Report Paul Fisher, Professor and Extension Specialist Environmental Horticulture Univ Florida Examining the Footprint of your Production System Components Dewayne Ingram, Professor Department of Horticulture Univ Kentucky Retooling: Adding some more tools to your water management toolbox John Majsztrik Research Assistant Professor Plant and Environmental Sciences Department Clemson Univ Grower Tour June 20, 2018, Watsonville, CA Tour Stop and Host Pacific Plug & Liner, Marlon Carrera Four Winds Growers, Aaron Dillon Suncrest Nurseries, Delmar McComb Monterey Bay Nursery, Manuel Morales Kitayama Bros, Stuart Kitayama How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?As reported in the previous sections, articles were published in both academic journals and trade magazines, workshop presentations were made, and a major conference was organized. All of these outreach activities were targeted to greenhouse and nursery growers, the intended clientele of this project. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The next reporting period is the final period for this project. Activities will continue in the studies on nursery hydrology and the distribution and impact of water-borne pathogens. The studies on the fate of applied nitrogen fertilizers in the production of nursery crops grown in containers will progress to the second phase of experiments. Data analyses on these study topics will continue through the end of the project period. We will continue to plan workshops in nursery water management during the summer of 2019 to extend information developed by this project.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Hydrology data was collected at critical points within a wholesale nursery in order to quantify overall water use, determine water use efficiency, and examine the benefits of capturing and reusing surface runoff. A popular article was published in the American Nurseryman in partnership with the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension focusing on assisting growers with improving irrigation efficiency reducing water use and runoff. In collaboration with Clemson University and Texas A & M, researchers from the University of California Davis and Cooperative Extension published the results of a cost analysis for using recycled water in a Southern California container nursery in a refereed journal. In order to develop best management practices to reduce the potential impact of diseases caused by water-borne pathogens, a pathogen risk assessment of a large wholesale nursery was conducted in partnership with Oregon State University plant pathologists. Experiments continued to evaluate the effectiveness of pairing slow sand filtration with vegetative filters to reduce Phytophthora capsici in captured greenhouse irrigation runoff; allowing nurseries to reuse water safely and conserve this limited resource. University of California researchers initiated a study to determine the fate of applied nitrogen fertilizers in container nursery production. Growers in the Central Valley of California must submit annually a nitrogen budget to attempt to determine where applied N is distributed in the plant, harvested product and the environment. However, the required reporting forms are not compatible with container nursery production systems and omit gaseous N emissions. Information gained from this project will provide a better understanding of the fate of applied N and may contribute to improved nutrient management methods. The University of California group organized the California Nursery Conference and Grower Tour in June 2018 to highlight water-related research results from NC-1186 group members to an audience of 97 growers. This conference format has proven to be very popular with California growers as it provides an opportunity to learn about water issues impacting nurseries across the nation and how these issues are being addressed in USDA sponsored collaborations.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Pitton, B.J.L., C.R. Hall, D.L. Haver, S.A. White, L.R. Oki. 2018. A cost analysis for using recycled irrigation water in container nursery production: A southern California nursery case study. Irrigation Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-018-0578-8.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Pitton, B.J.L., L.R. Oki, and S.A White. 2018. Slow Sand Filters. American Nurseryman, January 2018: 24-27. http://www.amerinursery-digital.com/January2018#&pageSet=13&page=0.


Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:The targeted audience for this effort are growers of nursery crops including ornamentals, plants for site restoration, young fruit and nut trees, seedlings for transplanting, and other plants grown in high densities and high intensity. In California, many growers are of Spanish ethnicity and also include immigrants from southeast Asia. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We organized and held the UC Nursery and Floriculture Alliance California Nursery Conference in Irvine, CA on July 25, 2017. The event featured 15 presentations and two posters from speakers from 9 universities who are all involved with the NIFA Clean WateR3 project. There were about 100 folks attending and the post conference survey comments were all very positive. The program follows: Session I Analyzing Production Systems and Marketing Environmental Features of Landscape Plants Moderator: Darren Haver, SCREC & UCCE Orange County Understanding water footprint of nursery production Josh Knight, Extension Associate Department of Horticulture, Univ Kentucky Analyzing nursery production systems for environmental impact potential and cost Dewayne Ingram, Professor Department of Horticulture, Univ Kentucky Defining and marketing ecosystem services provided by landscape plants Dewayne Ingram, Professor Department of Horticulture, Univ Kentucky Session II Marketing Environmental Features and Decision Management Moderator: Loren Oki, Plant Sciences Department, UC Davis Marketing water use To consumers Bridget Behe, Professor Department of Horticulture, Michigan State Univ How growers make decisions Alexa Lamm, Asst Professor & Assoc Director Center for Public Issues Education, Univ Florida Container CRF management Jim Owen, Assistant Professor Virginia Agricultural Res & Ext Center, Hampton Roads, Virgina Tech Session III Irrigation and Nutrient Management Moderator : Sarah White, Plant and Environmental Sciences Department, Clemson University Irrigation management using soil moisture sensors John Lea-Cox, Professor Department of Plant Sciences & Landscape Architecture, Univ Maryland Where do nutrients go when you irrigate? Managing irrigation to enhance nutrient retention in container production Tom Fernandez, Professor Department of Horticulture, Michigan State Univ Nitrogen management plans Bruno Pitton, Staff Research Associate Department of Plant Sciences, Univ California, Davis Session IV Managing and Using Recycled Water Moderator: Paul Fisher, Environmental Horticulture Department, University of Florida Adding tools in the water management toolbox John Majzstrik, Research Assistant Professor Plant and Environmental Sciences Department, Clemson Univ Impacts of recycled water on plant growth Bert Cregg, Associate Professor Department of Horticulture, Michigan State Univ Managing biofilms and clogging Paul Fisher, Professor and Extension Specialist Environmental Horticulture, Univ Florida Session V Treating Captured Runoff For Reuse and Economics of Recycling Water Moderator : John Kabashima, UCCE Orange County Biological treatment Of runoff Sarah White, Associate Professor Plant and Environmental Sciences Department, Clemson Univ Slow sand filters remove pathogens from captured runoff Loren Oki, CE Specialist Department of Plant Sciences, Univ California, Davis Water recycling economics case study Darren Haver, Director and Advisor South Coast Res & Ext Center and UCCE Orange County, Univ California ANR Posters Online grower decision making tools Saurav Kumar, Research Assistant Professor Civil Engineering, Univ Texas, El Paso Clean WateR3 project website Paul Fisher, Professor and Extension Specialist Environmental Horticulture, Univ Florida How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?In addition to the California Nursery Conference itself, presentations of the conference were posted at the University of California Nursery and Floriculture Alliance (UCNFA.ucanr.edu) and the Clean WateR3 (http://www.watereducationalliance.org) websites. In addition, articles were published in trade magazines and newsletters on - Slow sand filtration systems Oki, L.R., L. Nackley, and B. Pitton. 2016. Slow sand filters remove tobacco mosaic virus. University of California Nursery and Floriculture Alliance News. 20(2): 12-14. http://ucnfanews.ucanr.edu/files/247323.pdf. - The economics of using captured runoff water for irrigation Pitton, B.J.L., L.R. Oki, D.L. Haver and G.E. Johnson. 2017. The payoff of recycling nursery water. American Nurseryman. September 2017: 21-23. http://www.amerinursery-digital.com/September2017#&pageSet=11 - Improving water use efficiency during irrigation: Ristvey, A., L.R. Oki, D.L. Haver, and B.J.L. Pitton. 2017. Improving irrigation efficiency reduces water use. American Nurseryman. November 2017: 18-21. http://www.amerinursery-digital.com/November2017#&pageSet=10 Articles were submitted to or published in scientific journals: - A review of water use and water treatment methods in nurseries: Majsztrik, J.C., R.T. Fernandez, J.S. Owen, P.R. Fisher, D.R. Hitchcock, J.D. Lea-Cox, L.R. Oki, and S.A. White. 2017. Water use and treatment in containerized specialty crop production: A review. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution. 228:151. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-017-3272-1. - The ability of slow sand filters to remove TMV from captured runoff water: Oki, L.R., S. Bodaghi, E. Lee, D. Haver, B. Pitton, L. Nackley, and Mathews, D.M. 2017. Elimination of tobacco mosaic virus from irrigation runoff using slow sand filtration. Scientia Horticulturae. 217(2017):107-113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2017.01.036. - The economics of the development, installation, and use of a system capturing and treating surface runoff and reusing it for irrigation was submitted: Pitton, B.J.L., C.R. Hall, D.L. Haver, S.A. White, L.R. Oki. In Review. The economic benefit of using recycled irrigation water in container nursery production: A southern California nursery case study. Irrigation Science What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?I am planning the annual meetings for the USDA NC1186 and S1065 workgroups in the Monterey Bay area on about June 18-21, 2018 and will include a grower conference and nursery tour. Most participants of the Clean WateR3 project are also members of one or both of these workgroups and I will utilize their attendance to participate in the grower activities. This will provide a great opportunity for California growers to meet and interact with researchers and the researchers to interact with California growers. Other outreach and extension efforts will continue. Since I am a Co-Director of the UC Nursery and Floriculture Alliance (UCNFA) which provides educational and technical programs to California growers, programs on water use will continue to be included. Research activities coordinated with the Clean WateR project group will continue and includes nursery water monitoring, slow sand filter treatment efficacy, and monitoring pathogens in runoff. Additional research will be initiated studying nitrogen budgets in nursery production since reporting nitrogen use and fate is required by irrigated agricultural operations in the Central Valley of California. Little information exists on the fate of applied nitrogen in nursery systems and the template to be completed, as it currently exists, to comply with regulation doesn't accommodate this production system.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We organized and held the UC Nursery and Floriculture Alliance California Nursery Conference in Irvine, CA on July 25, 2017. The event featured 15 presentations and two posters from speakers from 9 universities who are all involved with the NIFA Clean WateR3 project. There were about 100 folks attending and post conference survey comments were all very positive. The program follows: Session I Analyzing Production Systems and Marketing Environmental Features of Landscape Plants Moderator: Darren Haver, SCREC & UCCE Orange County Understanding water footprint of nursery production Josh Knight, Extension Associate Department of Horticulture, Univ Kentucky Analyzing nursery production systems for environmental impact potential and cost Dewayne Ingram, Professor Department of Horticulture, Univ Kentucky Defining and marketing ecosystem services provided by landscape plants Dewayne Ingram, Professor Department of Horticulture, Univ Kentucky Session II Marketing Environmental Features and Decision Management Moderator: Loren Oki, Plant Sciences Department, UC Davis Marketing water use To consumers Bridget Behe, Professor Department of Horticulture, Michigan State Univ How growers make decisions Alexa Lamm, Asst Professor & Assoc Director Center for Public Issues Education, Univ Florida Container CRF management Jim Owen, Assistant Professor Virginia Agricultural Res & Ext Center, Hampton Roads, Virgina Tech Session III Irrigation and Nutrient Management Moderator : Sarah White, Plant and Environmental Sciences Department, Clemson University Irrigation management using soil moisture sensors John Lea-Cox, Professor Department of Plant Sciences & Landscape Architecture, Univ Maryland Where do nutrients go when you irrigate? Managing irrigation to enhance nutrient retention in container production Tom Fernandez, Professor Department of Horticulture, Michigan State Univ Nitrogen management plans Bruno Pitton, Staff Research Associate Department of Plant Sciences, Univ California, Davis Session IV Managing and Using Recycled Water Moderator: Paul Fisher, Environmental Horticulture Department, University of Florida Adding tools in the water management toolbox John Majzstrik, Research Assistant Professor Plant and Environmental Sciences Department, Clemson Univ Impacts of recycled water on plant growth Bert Cregg, Associate Professor Department of Horticulture, Michigan State Univ Managing biofilms and clogging Paul Fisher, Professor and Extension Specialist Environmental Horticulture, Univ Florida Session V Treating Captured Runoff For Reuse and Economics of Recycling Water Moderator : John Kabashima, UCCE Orange County Biological treatment Of runoff Sarah White, Associate Professor Plant and Environmental Sciences Department, Clemson Univ Slow sand filters remove pathogens from captured runoff Loren Oki, CE Specialist Department of Plant Sciences, Univ California, Davis Water recycling economics case study Darren Haver, Director and Advisor South Coast Res & Ext Center and UCCE Orange County, Univ California ANR Posters Online grower decision making tools Saurav Kumar, Research Assistant Professor Civil Engineering, Univ Texas, El Paso Clean WateR3 project website Paul Fisher, Professor and Extension Specialist Environmental Horticulture, Univ Florida We continue to address runoff and recycled water management by collecting comprehensive water use and runoff data from two cooperating nurseries in the state. Water pumps and/or supply pipes are metered to measure flows and runoff drainage is measured through flumes or engineered channels. Flow data collected is used to determine water use for irrigation, runoff volumes, runoff coefficients and irrigation efficiencies. · Quantify the relative impacts of nursery runoff on surface water resources through detailed on-site investigations. At one of the cooperating nurseries, sufficient data had been collected and appropriate economic information had been gathered to conduct an economic analysis. As a result, we have produced a magazine article and submitted a journal article describing the economics of developing and utilizing a system that captures surface runoff, treats it, and reuses the water for irrigation. · Characterize critical control points within production systems and their influence on the presence and fate of pests, pesticides, and other agrichemicals (mineral salts) in production runoff, irrigation reservoirs, and other water sources. At both cooperating nurseries, water samples have been collected to be analyzed for fertilizers. Samples from one of the nurseries will be analyzed for plant pathogens, specifically pythiaceous organisms. These samples include irrigation and surface runoff. The information is to be used in informing the determination of critical control points. · Develop chemical, physical, and biologically-based water treatment technologies to mitigate adverse effects of pesticides, salts, and pests in recycled irrigation water. Activities include research on the effectiveness of slow sand filtration (SSF) systems as a biological water treatment method to remove plant pathogens from captured runoff water to prepare it for reuse in irrigation. Removing plant pathogens from this water will reduce the spread of disease and the need for chemical controls. We have shown that this method is effective in removing TMV and Phytophthora ssp. Work continues to determine if coupling SSFs wit vegetated filters can improve treatment efficacy. · Develop BMP guidelines for water recycling programs to minimize potential for negative effects on plant health by pests, pesticides, and mineral salts in recycled irrigation water. Almost all of the data collected is to inform the development of management guidelines to minimize negative impacts on plant health.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Majsztrik, J.C., R.T. Fernandez, J.S. Owen, P.R. Fisher, D.R. Hitchcock, J.D. Lea-Cox, L.R. Oki, and S.A. White. 2017. Water use and treatment in containerized specialty crop production: A review. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution. 228:151. DOI:10.1007/s11270-017-3272-1.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Oki, L.R., S. Bodaghi, E. Lee, D. Haver, B. Pitton, L. Nackley, and Mathews, D.M. 2017. Elimination of tobacco mosaic virus from irrigation runoff using slow sand filtration. Scientia Horticulturae. 217(2017):107-113. DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2017.01.036.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2018 Citation: Pitton, B.J.L., C.R. Hall, D.L. Haver, S.A. White, L.R. Oki. In Review. The economic benefit of using recycled irrigation water in container nursery production: A southern California nursery case study. Irrigation Science.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Ristvey, A., L.R. Oki, D.L. Haver, and B.J.L. Pitton. 2017. Improving irrigation efficiency reduces water use. American Nurseryman. November 2017: 18-21. http://www.amerinursery-digital.com/November2017#&pageSet=10. https://www.amerinursery.com/water-management/improving-irrigation-efficiency-reduces-water-use/.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Pitton, B.J.L., L.R. Oki, D.L. Haver and G.E. Johnson. 2017. The payoff of recycling nursery water. American Nurseryman. September 2017: 21-23. http://www.amerinursery-digital.com/September2017#&pageSet=11&page=0.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Nackley, L., E. Lee, B.J.L. Pitton, and L.R. Oki. Slow sand filters. Digger Magazine. April 3, 2017. http://www.diggermagazine.com/slow-sand-filters/.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Oki, L. 2017. Slow sand filters remove TMV and other pathogens. UC Nursery and Floriculture Alliance California Nursery Conference. July 27, 2017, Irvine, CA. http://cleanwater3.org/downloads_process.asp?sID=12345&cID=4,3&fID=1213&dID=461
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Oki, L.R. 2017. Slow sand filters. TMV and other pathogens meet their match. Cultivate '17. July 17, 2017. Columbus, OH.


Progress 05/25/16 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Growers of greenhouse and nursery crops were reached through distributed newsletters. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Attended the annual meeting in Long Island, NY. This provided the opportunity to meet that other NC1186 group members. Since this was a joint meeting with NE1335, I met others involved with greenhouse production as well. Toured the Cornell Cooperative Extension and other production facilities on Long Island. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Electronic newsletters will be developed and distributed that include topics on water quality, a conference that includes a session on water quality is planned in Watsonville, CA on October 25, 2016.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? To address all three major goals of this project, a conference targeted to greenhouse and nursery growers is being organized to take place in Watsonville, CA on October 25, 2016. A session focusing on water management is included. Speakers and topics include: Sarah White, Clemson University, Biological water treatment systems, Steve Tjosvold, University of California Cooperative Extension, Santa Cruz County, sediment control using polyacrylamides, Loren Oki, University of California Davis, removal of plant pathogens using slow sand filters, and Kean Goh, California Department of Pesticide Regulation, agricultural and nursery pesticides and surface water quality. The PIs of this project are also members of a USDA funded research project, SC-2014-07875 Clean WateR3, and are developing data on nursery water use and hydrology and pathogen content. Information is reported to the group quarterly. As I am new to this project and was a member for only four months during the reporting period, there are no other accomplishments to include in this report.

Publications