sustainable strawberry production in the absence of soil fumigation
DESCRIPTION
2014 National Sustainable Strawberry Initiative Project Leader MeetingTRANSCRIPT
Funding provided by the National Strawberry Sustainability Initiative
Evalua&on of Compost on Strawberry Root Health and Plant Growth
Four commercial composts Five field sites
Disease suppression Root health
Plant produc7vity
Dr. Tom Gordon and Margaret Lloyd
Flat fumigation Bed fumigation
1. Change in fumigation materials: methyl bromide phaseout
2. Change in fumigation methods from flat to bed fumigation
1. Compost Characterization
2. Plant Productivity
3. Root Development
4. Disease Suppression
Introduction Compost characterization Plant productivity Root Development Disease suppression Conclusion
Evalua&on of Compost on Strawberry Root Health and Plant Growth
Material Name Descrip7on of source material
1 Yard Trimmings Compost
100% Yard trimmings
2 Manure Compost
20% steer manure 30-‐40% green waste fines 35-‐45% mix of: Waste + straw bedding from stalls <5% vegetable waste
3 Vermicompost 100% Composted dairy manure + rice hull bedding, fed to worms
4 Mushroom Compost
Spent mushroom compost from buPon mushrooms composted horse manure + straw Amended with gypsum and peat post-‐decomposi7on
The Composts
Yard trimming Manure Vermicompost Mushroom
Introduction Compost characterization Plant productivity Root Development Disease suppression Conclusion
PHYSIOCHEMICAL Mushroom Compost Manure Compost Yard Trimmings Compost Vermicompost
Nitrate-‐N* (ppm) 120 234 6.6 502
pH 7.3 8.1 7.6 7
EC (dS/m) 4.8 28 4.5 7.1
C:N 14:01 12:01 17:01 13:01
Cost $3-‐5/T $5/T $21/T $500/yd
Applica7on method Broadcast Broadcast Broadcast Apply to rootzone
OMRI Approved ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Compost Characteriza&on: Composi&on
Introduction Compost characterization Plant productivity Root Development Disease suppression Conclusion
Compost Characteriza&on
Introduction Compost characterization Plant productivity Root Development Disease suppression Conclusion
Microbial Activity
Total fungal and bacterial populations
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
Yard trimmings Mushroom Vermcompost Manure
FDA hydrolysis (ugFDA/gDw*m
in)
Microbial activity of each compost
Central Coast, CA (Santa Cruz & Monterey Coun7es) 4. Methyl bromide (MB)-‐ Fumigated, conven7onal field 5. Organic Commercial Field
North Coast, CA (San Mateo County) 3. Organic Commercial Field
Central Valley (Sacramento County) 1. Fumigated (non-‐MB), conven7onal field 2. Fumigated (non-‐MB), conven7onal field
Field Sites
1 2 3 4 5
Introduction Compost characterization Plant productivity Root Development Disease suppression Conclusion
Central Valley Central Coast ∨ ∨
North Coast
-‐0.05
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
Yard Trimmings Mushroom Manure Vermicompost Control
FDA hydrolysis (ug FD
A/gDw*m
in)
MB, Central Coast Conv, Central Valley Org, Central Coast Org, North Coast Conv, Central Valley
Compost Characteriza&on
Introduction Compost characterization Plant productivity Root Development Disease suppression Conclusion
High
Intermediate
Low
Microbial ac&vity of field soil 2 weeks aSer compost incorpora&on
1. Compost significantly increases microbial activity in field soil
2. Regardless of the native soil, the effect each compost bestows on microbial activity is similar
Compost Characteriza&on
Introduction Compost characterization Plant productivity Root Development Disease suppression Conclusion
Microbial ac&vity of field soil 10 weeks aSer compost incorpora&on
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.1
Yard Trimmings Spent Mushroom Manure Vermicompost Control
FDA hydrolysis (ug FD
A/gDw*m
in)
Conv, Central Valley MB, Central Coast Org, North Coast
1. Overall microbial activity is lower
2. Differences between composts is less
Day neutral Short day Cul7var name Albion Chandler
Seasonal growth curve Slow, steady produc1on for 6+ months
Peaks and troughs in produc1vity
Total fruit produc7on (per season)
Significantly higher Significantly lower
Root development and canopy growth
Slower, less vigorous ini1ally Strong early growth, large canopy
Introduction Compost characterization Plant productivity Root Development Disease suppression Conclusion
Strawberry Type and Cultivar
Plant Produc&vity
1. Plants grown in methyl bromide fumigated field are significantly larger than those in organic fields.
2. In organic fields, general trend shows greater growth in mushroom and vermicomposts.
Introduction Compost characterization Plant productivity Root Development Disease suppression Conclusion
Plant Produc&vity
1.
Introduction Compost characterization Plant productivity Root Development Disease suppression Conclusion
1. Plant growth on the coast is significantly greater than inland in the central valley.
Plant Produc&vity
1.
Introduction Compost characterization Plant productivity Root Development Disease suppression Conclusion
1. Plant growth on the coast is significantly more than inland in the central valley. 2. Yard trimming and manure compost result is slightly less growth, whereas
vermicompost and mushroom tend to have slightly greater growth, along with control +N
ORGANIC FIELD, Central Coast
Effect of compost on strawberry yield
Plant Produc&vity
Introduction Compost characterization Plant productivity Root Development Disease suppression Conclusion
ORGANIC FIELD, Central Coast
Effect of compost on strawberry yield
Plant Produc&vity
Introduction Compost characterization Plant productivity Root Development Disease suppression Conclusion
YIELD CURVE
Weekly yield of two strawberry cul7vars grown in different composts
Introduction Compost characterization Plant productivity Root Development Disease suppression Conclusion
Effect of compost on strawberry yield
Plant Produc&vity ORGANIC FIELD, North Coast
Effect of compost on strawberry yield
Plant Produc&vity
Root development
Introduction Compost characterization Plant productivity Root Development Disease suppression Conclusion
Strawberry crown and canopy
Drip line
Root development
Introduction Compost characterization Plant productivity Root Development Disease suppression Conclusion
METHODS
• Albion
• Grown in 10% compost
• 3 weeks
• Greenhouse
• Ver1cillium dahliae microsclero7a infested sand inoculum
What is the effect of compost on root infec&ons by Ver$cillium dahliae?
Total root length analysis
3 week growth period
V. dahliae root assay
Compost Amendment Field Soil V. dahliae inoculum
0% 100% ✔
10% Steer manure 90% ✔
10% Mushroom 90% ✔
10% Vermicompost 90% ✔
10% Yard trimming 90% ✔
Effect of compost on suppression of plant pathogens
with strawberries
Treatment pots planted with strawberries
Introduction Compost characterization Plant productivity Root Development Disease suppression Conclusion
3 weeks
V. dahliae root assays Total root length is analyzed
Treatment pots planted with strawberries
Effect of compost on suppression of plant pathogens
Introduction Compost characterization Plant productivity Root Development Disease suppression Conclusion
Control (-) P.ultimum
Control (+) P.ultimum
Mushroom compost
(+) P.ultimum
Vermicompost (+) P.ultimum
Manure compost
(+) P.ultimum
Yard trimmings compost
(+) P.ultimum
Pythium ultimum surrogate assay for disease suppression
• 10% compost + Sunshine potting mix • Soil mix is inoculated with P. ultimum. • After 5 days, 7 cucumber seeds are sown per pot
Introduction Compost characterization Plant productivity Root Development Disease suppression Conclusion
Summary
Root Development: • Vermicompost led to significantly more root development in field and potted trials
Yield • Control + Nitrogen has the highest yield at this point • Vermicompost and mushroom compost are also showing greater productivity early in the season
Root infection • Manure compost is showing suppression of both Pythium ultimum and Verticillium dahliae • Vermicompost led to reduced frequency of infection from V. dahliae
All composts significantly increased microbial activity All composts led to greater root development in the field All composts reduce infection by Pythium ultimum
WEBSITE AND BLOG
Introduction Compost characterization Plant productivity Root Development Disease suppression Conclusion
Introduction Compost characterization Plant productivity Root Development Disease suppression Conclusion
This could not have been possible with out the following support
Introduction Compost characterization Plant productivity Root Development Disease suppression Conclusion
Funding provided by
UC Davis Dr. Tom Gordon, advisor
Dr. Dan Kluepfel, USDA, thesis committee Dr. Mike Davis, thesis committee
Sharon Kirkpatrick, Gordon lab manager
Team Green: Emmi Koivunen, lab technician Lola Quasebarth, lab technician Peter Henry, lab technician Ana Maria Pastrana Leon, visiting scholar Athina Ruangkanit, lab intern
North Coast Field Trial Matt Quinn, North Coast field harvester Tim Campion , grower collaborator Jim Cochrane, grower collaborator
Central Coast Don Yoshimura, grower collaborator Gina Colfer, Earthbound Asso. collaborator Ian Greene, grower collaborator Jack Anderson, field support
Sacramento Field Trials Chuck Ingels, UCCE farm advisor Sacramento Co. Kyle Garrett, UCCE field assistant Luke, UCCE field assistant Anthony and Sidney Saetern, grower collaborator Lo Saetern, grower collaborator
Compost Collaborators Tom Ford, Central Coast Compost Alex Sharpe, Z Best Jack Chambers, Sonoma Valley Worm Farm Greg Tuttle, Monterey Mushroom
Margaret Lloyd [email protected]
Funding provided by the National Strawberry Sustainability Initiative
Group 1 (smallest)
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4 (largest)
How does each compost influence strawberry root growth?
How does strawberry root growth differ in each compost?
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
1 2 3 4
Total Roo
t Len
gth (cm)
Group #
ALBION CROWNS AT PLANTING
WHEN? 1.Crown size at planting 2. Roots at harvest –March 3. Roots mid-harvest (July) 4. Roots at end (Sept)
HOW? Destructive sampling 3 plants per rep Hydropneumatic root elutriator + root scanner
CHANDLER CROWNS
AT PLANTING
DEL REY CROWNS at PLANTING
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
Tota
l roo
t len
gth
Compost type
Effect of Compost on Root Growth Total Root Length
Root Infection Trial 1 (Rep1, 2, 3)
M. LLOYD AND THE QUESTIONNAIRES
The industry-‐wide shij in strawberry produc7on from tradi7onal fumiga7on methods generates a tremendous need for knowledge transfer and grower support. Accordingly, as a complement to the biological research, we are conduc7ng a social network analysis and grower-‐iden7fied needs assessment, to iden7fy pathways of knowledge transfer among strawberry growers and to bePer understand grower percep7ons of their goals, needs and management styles to best develop MB-‐alterna7ve outreach.
Approach 1. Establish # of growers in region (community profile) 2. Reach growers (determine # that’s good enough)
1. Phone 2. Mail 3. Meetings 4. Individuals
QUESTIONNAIRES
Microbial Community Analysis
Soil samples from each field site are taken for DNA extrac7on four 7mes: (1) Plan7ng, (2) Harvest (March), (3) Midharvest (July) (4) End of harvest (Sept)
Does field soil amended with compost suppress Ver$cillium dahliae microsclero&a viability?
In the absence of a plant host, biological control by compost could be affec7ng microsclero7a viability through mechanisms of fungistasis. To elucidate the role of the amendment on microsclero7a viability, field soil is amended with 50% compost, spiked with V. dahliae microsclero7a and put in 4” pots in a greenhouse for 9 months. Every three months, soil is assayed for V. dahliae viability.
50% compost 50% field soil Sand inoculum (104 million/g sand) Assay every 3 months Greenhouse
Pythium ul$mum Surrogate Assay
In this trial, field soil is taken from the field trial, sieved to homogenize par7cle size and spiked with P. ul1mum. For five days, this mixture is maintained in the growth chamber with moisture before 20 Cherry Belle radish seeds (P.ul1mum-‐suscep7ble) are sown per pot. Ajer 14 days, the number of surviving seedlings is counted and used as a proxy to compare disease suppression by each treatment.
Does field soil amended with compost suppress pathogens?
METHODS
1. Field soil from trials 2. Sieve 3. Mix with P. ul1mum 4. Wait 5 days 5. Sow with radish or cucumber
seeds 6. Wait 14 days 7. Count surviving seeds
4. Effect of compost on suppression of plant pathogens