Instructor: Stephen L. Love Aberdeen R & E Center 1693 S 2700 W Aberdeen, ID Phone: Fax:

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Vegetable Crops PLSC 451/551 Lesson 10, Organic Strategies Instructor: Stephen L. Love Aberdeen R & E Center 1693 S 2700 W Aberdeen, ID 83210 Phone: 397-4181 Fax: 397-4311 Email: slove@uidaho.

1 Vegetable Crops PLSC 451/551 Lesson 10, Organic Strategies Instructor: Stephen L. Love Aberdeen R & E Center 1693 S 2700 W Aberdeen, ID Phone: Fax: slove@uidaho.edu Choosing a Production Location Concepts and Objectives Minimize the need for unwanted inputs Avoid serious production barriers Choosing a Production Site Strategies Choose property that is located near the market delivery point yp Seek soil with high levels of natural fertility and good textural and structural characteristics Select a site that is free from serious chronic weed, insect, or disease problems 1

2 Choosing a Production Site Specifics market location Owner-operator marketing Best located near a major population center Access to farmer s market Vegetable stand on major travel route Local grocer, restaurant, specialty market Wholesale or cooperative marketing Best located near produce collection point Choosing a Production Site Specifics soil characteristics Naturally high in organic matter Naturally high in P, K, S Good water holding capacity in infiltration Loams, sandy loams, silt loams (Avoid heavy clay or very sandy soils) Choosing a Production Site Specifics chronic pest problems Low weed seed bank (historically good control) Free of perennial, deep-rooted weed problems Free of perennial, deep rooted weed problems (e.g. bindweed, quackgrass, nutsedge, etc.) Free of consistent, chronic insect or disease problems that affect the intended crops (e.g. nematodes, soil wilt diseases, cutworms, wireworms, etc.) 2

Plant and Seed Selection Concepts and Objectives Use crop and variety choices to enhance production capabilities and market options Utilize genetic resistance for controlling common problems Avoid

3 Plant and Seed Selection Concepts and Objectives Use crop and variety choices to enhance production capabilities and market options Utilize genetic resistance for controlling common problems Avoid importing problems Plant and Seed Selection Strategies Select crops and varieties that provide a market identity Choose crops and varieties that are adapted to local conditions and organic techniques Plant and Seed Selection Strategies Select varieties that are biologically competitive and resistant to locally common disease and insect problems Purchase organic seed and transplants from a reputable producer Inspect all seeds and transplants 3

soil Miti Maintain and/or increase organic matter Improve soil structure and tilth Supply nutrients with minimal added fertilizer Improve water holding capacity

4 Potato Variety Comparison Variety Vert Eblt Lblt PLRV PVY R. Burbank S MS S VS S Defender VR R R MR MR Important to have resistance to pathogens that require intense management inputs Soil Management Goals Create a healthy soil Miti Maintain and/or increase organic matter Improve soil structure and tilth Supply nutrients with minimal added fertilizer Improve water holding capacity and infiltration Soil Management Healthy Soils Biologically active Fl i hi i i l ti Flourishing micro-organism population Rapid breakdown of organic residues Natural nutrient availability Attractive to earthworms and other aerifiers Suppressive to soil diseases 4

5 Suppressive Soils Verticillium wilt incidence on potatoes Treatment % Vert Wilt Non-suppressive Suppressive (OM added) 16.5 No soil fumigant 36.6 Soil fumigant 42.5 From Davis et al. (unpublished) Soil Management Sources of organic matter Animal manures (cow, sheep, poultry, swine) Compost (manure or plant residue based) Green manures (grains, grasses, legumes, mustards, etc.) Cover crops (winter grains, grasses, hardy legumes) Crop residues (leftover or added) Soil testing Zone sampling E l Evaluate: N, P, K, S, micronutrients (Zn, Mn, Mo) ph Organic matter content Cation exchange capacity (CEC) 5

Organic matter as a nutrient source Nutrient release delayed 20-50% first year Nt Not effective as a short-term tt nutrient t source Required in large amounts Acts as a complete fertilizer, including

6 Organic matter as a nutrient source Nutrient release delayed 20-50% first year Nt Not effective as a short-term tt nutrient t source Required in large amounts Acts as a complete fertilizer, including micronutrients N requirement of selected crops Low requirement - <120 lb/a greens, beans, peas, squash Medium requirement lb/a carrots, corn, melons, onions, tomatoes High requirement - >200 lb/a cole crops, celery, potatoes Nutrient content of manures (lb/ton) Type N P2O5 K2O Beef Swine Horse Sheep Poultry Composts are generally lower but vary by source 6

Nutrient contribution of green manures (lb/a) Crop N P2O5 K2O Hairy vetch 141 18 133 Clover 115 16 143 Austrian pea 144 19 159 Rye 89 18 108 Sullivan, 2003 Other contributions of green manures and

7 Nutrient contribution of green manures (lb/a) Crop N P2O5 K2O Hairy vetch Clover Austrian pea Rye Sullivan, 2003 Other contributions of green manures and cover crops Suppresses weeds Minimizes soil erosion Serves to capture nutrients Improves soil structure Enhances the growth of beneficial soil flora Crop residues Important contributor to soil nutrition Sh ldb i td lft f Should be incorporated or left on surface Contribution varies widely by crop 7

8 Nutrient contribution organic fertilizers (%) Fertilizer N P2O5 K2O Bone meal Blood meal Fish emulsion Soybean meal Corn gluten Jett, 2004 Low nutrient content means high shipping and handling costs?! Fertility management approved products Algae Blood meal Bone meal Chilean nitrate Compost Cyanobacteria Dolomite Epsom salts Fish emulsions* Grape or apple pomades Guano Hoof and horn meal Humic acids(nonfort.) Kelp meal Fertility management approved products K-mag Peat moss Phosphate h rock Sodium nitrate (20%) Sugar beet lime Zinc or iron sulfate Worm castings Animal manure Chelates Enzymes Fish meal Gibberellic acid Greensand Gypsum 8

Fertility management approved products Humates Kieserite Mined material Perlite Ground shells Wood ashes Kelp extracts Limestone Mushroom compost Potassium sulfate

nitrate Muriate of potash Phosphoric acid Potassium nitrate Super phosphate Triple phosphate Urea Vitamin B-1 Weed Control Cultural weed control Rotate with competitive

9 Fertility management approved products Humates Kieserite Mined material Perlite Ground shells Wood ashes Kelp extracts Limestone Mushroom compost Potassium sulfate Elemental sulfur Fertility management prohibited products Ammonia products Calcium nitrate Sewage sludge Hydrated dlime Fortified humic acid Leather meal Magnesium nitrate Muriate of potash Phosphoric acid Potassium nitrate Super phosphate Triple phosphate Urea Vitamin B-1 Weed Control Cultural weed control Rotate with competitive crops Employ incorporation i of green manures Utilize drip irrigation Plastic or organic mulches and/or row covers Plant crops at high population levels Use competitive varieties 9

Weed Control Mechanical weed control Pre-irrigate and till prior to planting Practice frequent cultivation i Use flame-weeders Employ hand labor (hoe, hoe, hoe) Weed Control Herbicidal weed control

10 Weed Control Mechanical weed control Pre-irrigate and till prior to planting Practice frequent cultivation i Use flame-weeders Employ hand labor (hoe, hoe, hoe) Weed Control Herbicidal weed control These products have been shown to provide some control (finicky and not consistent) Herbicidal soaps Acetic acid Citric acid Corn gluten Weed Control Weed control prohibited products Carrot oil Carrot oil Synthetic growth regulators Herbicides (all synthetic classes) Weed oils 10

11 Insect Control Control techniques Plant resistant crops/varieties Utilize beneficial insects and parasites Plant borders with trap crops Schedule planting to avoid damaging stages Use approved insecticidal products as needed Practice sanitation/fall plowing Beneficial insects and the pests they control: Lacewings thrips, aphids, mites, eggs Ladybugs aphids, mites, eggs Minute pirate bug thrips, p, eggs Big-eyed bug thrips, aphids, eggs Damsel bug thrips, aphids, eggs, others Assassin bug thrips, eggs Syrphid fly thrips, aphids, eggs Parasitic wasps aphids, caterpillars, others Two-spotted stink bug Colorado potato beetle larvae Approved insecticides: Bacillus thuringiensis Cryolite Herbal preparations Pyrethrums (natural) Soaps Diatomaceous earth Pheremones Trapping substances Spinosyn A&D Boric acid Dormant oils Nematodes Ryania Garlic Insect extracts Rotenone Neem oil Spinosad 11

Prohibited insecticides: Chlorinated hydrocarbons Methyl bromide Moth balls Organophosphates Pyrethroids (synthetic) Carbamates Nicotine Methyl sulfoxide Dimethyl sulfoxide Plant protectants

12 Prohibited insecticides: Chlorinated hydrocarbons Methyl bromide Moth balls Organophosphates Pyrethroids (synthetic) Carbamates Nicotine Methyl sulfoxide Dimethyl sulfoxide Plant protectants Production methods Disease control Practice sanitation Rogue infected plants Control disease vectors Utilize extended rotations Maintain plant health/natural defenses Use approved fungicidal compounds Disease control approved products and practices Natural antibiotics Dormant oils Hydrogen peroxide Soil pasteurization Copper hydroxide Lime sulfur Tree waxes/seals Elemental sulfur 12

Disease control prohibited products and practices Soil fumigants Sterilants Synthetic fungicides Bactericides Postharvest Management Controlling postharvest rots/breakdown Minimize injury during

13 Disease control prohibited products and practices Soil fumigants Sterilants Synthetic fungicides Bactericides Postharvest Management Controlling postharvest rots/breakdown Minimize injury during harvest Harvest during cool temperatures t Employ proper cooling techniques Remove damaged/rotting produce Sanitize all handling equipment surfaces Postharvest Management Approved sanitizing or disinfecting products Acetic acid Acetic acid Organic ethyl alcohol Quaternary ammonium salts Bleach Hydrogen peroxide 13

14 Postharvest Management Prohibited products Synthetic fungicides B t i id Bactericides Non-organically produced waxes and alcohols 14

Fertilizers and nutrient management for hops. Diane Brown, Michigan State University Extension

Fertilizers and nutrient management for hops Diane Brown, Michigan State University Extension Pre plant nutrient management for hops Soil test! Correct major issues before planting ph 6.2 to 6.5 Lime season