Project Number: WVA00403
CRIS Number: 0180503
SYSTEMS OF ORGANIC CROP/LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION
Investigators: Kotcon, J., Bryan, W., McDonald, L., Butler, L., Verlinden, S., Prigge, W.
Performing Department: Plant & Soil Sciences -- 1825
Start Date: 10/01/1998
Termination Date: 09/30/2003
Reporting period: 01/01/2001 to 12/31/2001
Progress Report:
In this project, we are comparing a low-input organic farming system that relies on green manure and rotation crops with a high input system that incorporates 10 tons per acre of dairy manure compost. A market garden trial was initiated in 2000 and continued during 2001. Rye, clover, and buckwheat crops were plowed down on the low input plots in 2000 and tomato, pepper, green bean, peas, pumpkin, zucchini, lettuce, and spinach were grown in 2001. These crops were produced on the high input plots in both years. A field crop study was also initiated using the low and high input treatments described for the market garden above, with potatoes, wheat, forage soybean, and brussel sprouts as production crops in the high input treatment during 2000, and in both treatments in 2001. In addition, the influence of integration of crops with livestock production is being evaluated in the field crop study by adding three years of pasture/forage production plots to the field crop rotation in one-half of the replicates. Yields of potatoes were low in high input plots in 2001, but were significantly greater than in low input plots. Wheat crops experienced significant weed pressure, and deer damage occurred on soybeans and brussel sprouts. Yields were significantly higher in high input plots than in low input plots for all crops except soybean, zucchini, peas and tomato. Most crops were relatively free of diseases and pests. Leafhoppers caused extensive burn to potatoes, and an outbreak of bacterial wilt damaged cucurbits. Powdery mildew and squash beetles damaged pumpkin foliage, but the effect on yield was difficult to estimate. Fusarium root rot and root knot nematode also caused some losses in leafy vegetables, especially spinach. A pest management trial in apples evaluated a kaolin clay particle film versus a garlic extract preparation for insect management. Pest damage was high in both treatments, but some suppression was observed with the kaolin material. Earthworm populations were higher in compost amended (high input) plots than in unamended, low input plots in 2001, but population densities and earthworm biomass were lower in 2001 than in 2000. Earthworm populations were greatest in pasture plots, suggesting that cultivation is a limiting factor. A weed suppression study compared different mulch levels with weed-free cultivation and an unweeded control in pepper plots. Treatments with straw mulch apparently resulted in some scavenging of nitrogen from soil compared to a plastic mulch. Plants were stunted and nitrogen deficiency symptoms were apparent. Yields were greatest with plastic mulch, and least in unweeded control plots. A compost rate trial compared yield and soil characteristics on a weekly basis after addition of six compost rates. Data analyses are continuing.
Publications: (No publications.)
Impact:
This project evaluates whole-farming systems useful for organic growers. It is one of the few projects nationally that integrates crop production and livestock production in replicated whole-farm systems and provides comparative data to allow organic growers to choose among production practices evaluated under organic farming conditions.