Organic Vegetable ProductionOrganic Vegetable Production

Warren Roberts, Jim Shrefler, & Merritt TaylorWarren Roberts, Jim Shrefler, & Merritt TaylorLane Agricultural CenterLane Agricultural Center

Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma State University

Certified Organic GrowingCertified Organic Growing U.S. Federal Guidelines - NOP U.S. Federal Guidelines - NOP

A USDA Marketing ProgramA USDA Marketing Program- Approved in 2002 -- Approved in 2002 -

Is OrganicIs Organic Production a New Production a New Opportunity for Growers?Opportunity for Growers?

Where Do We Begin?Where Do We Begin?

What Can We Grow ?What Can We Grow ?

What Problems Will We Encounter?What Problems Will We Encounter?

How Will We Control Problems?How Will We Control Problems?

Is Organic Production Possible?Is Organic Production Possible?

Lane Center Organic Study Site - 2003

Previously Christmas Trees

Lime

Poultry LitterPoultry Litter

Approximately 2-2-2 AnalysisApproximately 2-2-2 Analysis40-50 lbs of N per Acre40-50 lbs of N per Acre

40-50 lbs of P40-50 lbs of P2005 per Acre per Acre

40-50 lbs of K40-50 lbs of K2O per AcreO per Acre

Fertilizer

CropsCrops

Four Year RotationFour Year Rotation– TomatoesTomatoes– Sweet CornSweet Corn– WatermelonWatermelon– Southern PeasSouthern Peas

Other Organic Support ProjectsOther Organic Support Projects

Four Years, Four CropsFour Years, Four Crops

Use cover crops during winterUse cover crops during winterPlant crops in the springPlant crops in the spring

Turnips Crimson Clover

Sweet CornSweet Corn

Drip irrigationDrip irrigation

Good yields most yearsGood yields most years

ProblemsProblems– Corn Earworm – Corn Earworm –

Organic insecticides helpfulOrganic insecticides helpful

– Raccoons Raccoons

Sweet CornSweet Corn

No significant numbers of foliar feeding No significant numbers of foliar feeding insect pests found throughout the insect pests found throughout the season season

Treatments: Dipel + Pyrethrum at 3 day Treatments: Dipel + Pyrethrum at 3 day intervals during silking stageintervals during silking stage

Southern Peas

Southern PeasSouthern Peas

Drip irrigationDrip irrigation

Good yieldsGood yields

Few insect or disease Few insect or disease problemsproblems

Deer the main problemDeer the main problem

Southern Peas on June 14

WatermelonWatermelon

Drip, plastic mulch, Drip, plastic mulch, transplantstransplants

Variable yield resultsVariable yield results

Insects & diseases Insects & diseases critical with melonscritical with melons– Trap cropTrap crop– Organic insecticidesOrganic insecticides– Fungicides?Fungicides?

Tomato Varieties

Determinant Tomatoes

Trellising Determinant TomatoesTrellising Determinant Tomatoes

Trellising Determinant Tomatoes

Determinant Tomatoes

Vegetable Weevil

Vegetable Weevil

Southern United StatesSouthern United States– Over-winters in soilOver-winters in soil

3/8 inch long3/8 inch long

Turnip, cabbage, tomatoTurnip, cabbage, tomato

Damage on leaves, stems, and roots Damage on leaves, stems, and roots

Aphids

Aphids and Lady Bugs

Aphids on TomatoesAphids on Tomatoes

DateDate # aphids/leaf# aphids/leaf

May 27May 27 3.933.93

June 11June 11 6.936.93

June 17June 17 1.001.00

June 25June 25 0.130.13

July 9July 9 0.000.00

July 14July 14 0.570.57

Plants treated with azadirect Plants treated with azadirect (neem extract)(neem extract) on on 6/11 and 6/146/11 and 6/14

Striped Blister Beetles

Foliar Diseases

Disease Control – Copper Sulfate

Beet Curly Top Virus

Beet Leaf HopperBeet Leaf Hopper

What Have We Learned?What Have We Learned?

Some vegetables can be Grown Some vegetables can be Grown Organically in OklahomaOrganically in Oklahoma– Peas & Sweet Corn - easiestPeas & Sweet Corn - easiest– Tomato and Watermelon Tomato and Watermelon

Considerable riskConsiderable risk

Some critical needsSome critical needs

General Organic Vegetable General Organic Vegetable RecommendationsRecommendations

Organic MatterOrganic Matter

WonderfulWonderful

Holds WaterHolds Water

Improves Improves DrainageDrainage

Holds NutrientsHolds Nutrients

Improves TilthImproves Tilth

Ideal SoilIdeal Soil

Raised Bed Gardening – Noble FoundationRaised Bed Gardening – Noble Foundation

Soil Fertility and Crop NutrientsSoil Fertility and Crop Nutrients

Managed throughManaged through– Tillage and cultivation practicesTillage and cultivation practices– Crop rotationsCrop rotations– Cover cropsCover crops– Animal and crop waste materialsAnimal and crop waste materials– Certain allowed synthetic materials Certain allowed synthetic materials

FertilizersFertilizers

Animal Manure as FertilizerAnimal Manure as Fertilizer

Composted or IncorporatedComposted or Incorporated

Animal Manure IncorporatedAnimal Manure Incorporated

Incorporated 120 Days Prior to Harvest if Soil Incorporated 120 Days Prior to Harvest if Soil Contact with Edible Portion of CropContact with Edible Portion of Crop

Incorporated 90 days Prior to Harvest if No Incorporated 90 days Prior to Harvest if No Soil Contact with Edible Portion of CropSoil Contact with Edible Portion of Crop

CompostCompost

Temperature 131 - 170 FTemperature 131 - 170 F

3 days3 days

CompostCompostTemperature of 131 – 170 FTemperature of 131 – 170 F

15 Days15 Days

Turned a Minimum of Five TimesTurned a Minimum of Five Times

OMRIOMRI

Organic Materials Review InstituteOrganic Materials Review Institute

National Non-Profit OrganizationNational Non-Profit Organization

http://www.omri.orghttp://www.omri.org

Fertilizers @ OMRIFertilizers @ OMRI

Aquatic PlantsAquatic Plants

Ash ProductsAsh Products

Bone MealBone Meal

Blood MealBlood Meal

Calcium CarbonateCalcium Carbonate

ChitinChitin

CompostCompost

Compost TeaCompost Tea

Copper SulfateCopper Sulfate

DolomiteDolomite

Feather MealFeather Meal

Corn GlutenCorn Gluten

Sodium NitrateSodium Nitrate

Fish ProductsFish Products

Fertilizers @ OMRIFertilizers @ OMRI

GuanoGuano

GypsumGypsum

Green-SandGreen-Sand

Humic AcidsHumic Acids

ManureManure

Meat By-ProductsMeat By-Products

Microbial ProductsMicrobial Products

MolassesMolasses

Neem ProductsNeem Products

Peat MossPeat Moss

Phosphate RockPhosphate Rock

Potassium SulfatePotassium Sulfate

SugarSugar

PestPest ControlControl

Primarily Management Practices Primarily Management Practices – Physical, Mechanical, and Biological Physical, Mechanical, and Biological – Crop RotationCrop Rotation– Soil and Crop Nutrient Management PracticesSoil and Crop Nutrient Management Practices

PestPest ManagementManagement

Sanitation MeasuresSanitation Measures– Remove Disease Vectors, Weed Seeds, and Remove Disease Vectors, Weed Seeds, and

Habitat for Pest OrganismsHabitat for Pest Organisms

Selection of Plant Species and VarietiesSelection of Plant Species and Varieties– Resistance to Pests, Weeds, and DiseasesResistance to Pests, Weeds, and Diseases

When these practices are not sufficient, a When these practices are not sufficient, a biological, botanical, or synthetic substance biological, botanical, or synthetic substance approved for use may be used. approved for use may be used.

Materials for Pest ControlMaterials for Pest Control

Mulches Mulches

Newspaper or other recycled paper, Newspaper or other recycled paper, without glossy or colored inks.without glossy or colored inks.

Elemental sulfurElemental sulfur

Soaps, insecticidalSoaps, insecticidal

Sticky traps/barriersSticky traps/barriers

OMRI Listed Insect ControlOMRI Listed Insect Control

Bacillus Bacillus thuringiensisthuringiensisBoric AcidBoric AcidCalcium PolysulfideCalcium PolysulfideCitronellaCitronellaCopper SulfateCopper SulfateDiatomaceous EarthDiatomaceous EarthGarlicGarlicLimoneneLimonene

Lime SulfurLime SulfurNeem ProductsNeem ProductsOil ProductsOil ProductsPyrethrumPyrethrumSoapSoapSpinosadSpinosadSticky TrapsSticky TrapsSulfurSulfur

OMRI Listed DiseaseOMRI Listed Disease ControlControl

Beauveria fungusBeauveria fungus

Boric AcidBoric Acid

Calcium PolysulfideCalcium Polysulfide

Copper SulfateCopper Sulfate

Ferric PhosphateFerric Phosphate

Diatomaceous EarthDiatomaceous Earth

Garlic Garlic

Limonene (citrus oil)Limonene (citrus oil)

Hydrogen PeroxideHydrogen Peroxide

Microbial ProductsMicrobial Products

NeemNeem

Plastic MulchPlastic Mulch

Potassium Potassium BicarbonateBicarbonate

PseudomonasPseudomonas

SulfurSulfur

Weed ControlWeed Control

Mulching with Fully Biodegradable MaterialsMulching with Fully Biodegradable Materials

MowingMowing

Livestock GrazingLivestock Grazing

Hand Weeding and Mechanical CultivationHand Weeding and Mechanical Cultivation

Flame, Heat, or Electrical Means Flame, Heat, or Electrical Means

Plastic or other Synthetic Mulches: Plastic or other Synthetic Mulches: Provided,Provided, That, they are Removed from the Field at the That, they are Removed from the Field at the End of the Growing or Harvest seasonEnd of the Growing or Harvest season

No PVCNo PVC

WeedWeed ControlControl

Best for Home GardenBest for Home Garden

Weed control by hoeing

Seeds @ OMRISeeds @ OMRI

TomatoesTomatoes– 205 Cultivars205 Cultivars

PepperPepper– 89 Cultivars89 Cultivars

CornCorn– 61 Cultivars61 Cultivars

BeanBean– 78 Cultivars78 Cultivars

BroccoliBroccoli– 33 Cultivars33 Cultivars

CucumberCucumber– 50 Cultivars50 Cultivars

WatermelonWatermelon– 21 Cultivars21 Cultivars

PotatoPotato– 39 Cultivars39 Cultivars

PumpkinPumpkin– 27 Cultivars27 Cultivars

SquashSquash– 82 cultivars82 cultivars

??www.lane-ag.orgwww.lane-ag.org

Unidentified Crawling Object

Is an invader from Germany and is indeed a beetle belonging to the family Volkswagonidae.

This biotype A was once numerous but was basically eradicated by other foreign pests such as Toyotus and Hondasippius.

Last known large remnant populations were in Mexico but are dying out. Biotype B is occasionally seen.

Unidentified Crawling Object