using academic databases to vet gardening information
DESCRIPTION
Learn how to search academic databases for science-based gardening advice. Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott, Extension Urban Horticulturist at Washington State University, will take you step by step through the process she uses to bust hortricultural myths.TRANSCRIPT
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Fact or fantasy?Finding the science behind
garden practices and products
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Seminar roadmap
Evaluating informationSearching academic
databasesCase studiesNow what?
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Types of information
Scientific - peer reviewed, academic audienceExample - Journal of Environmental Horticulture
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Types of information
Gray - not peer reviewed, professional audienceExample – American Nurseryman
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Types of information
Popular – not peer reviewed, general audienceExample – Organic Gardening
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
What about anecdotes?
One person’s observations
Useful for identifying new areas of research
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Moving past anecdotes
Control variabilityReplicate treatmentsRepeat experimentRequest confirmation
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Assess gray and popular literature with the CRAP test!
*
(And if you still have questions, consult with Extension specialists)
*Adapted from Meriam Library, CSU @ Chico State www.csuchico.edu/lins/handouts/evalsites.html
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
CredibilityRelevancy and
currency of author’s qualifications?
Publisher: academic, specialty, self-published?
URL: .edu or .gov? Or .com?
RelevanceSubject and scope
of research? Intended
audience?Geographic or
other constraints on usability?
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
AccuracyScience-based?Objective?Current?Well-written?
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
PurposeEducational or
commercial?Political,
ideological, cultural, religious, or personal biases?
Academic databases
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
AGRICOLA - agriculturalCAB – agricultural, forestryBIOSIS – biologicalGREENfile - environmentalWeb of Science (ISI) –
science citation index
Choose a topicWirewormsHydrogen peroxideMowing leaves into
lawns
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
“Fill a nylon sock with sprouted wheat,
bury it in the area you intend to sow to corn, then dig up the sock (now infested
with wireworms) and dispose of it.”
Advice to gardeners?
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Wireworm bait traps
Used to assess
infestations and
determine means of control
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
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Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
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Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
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Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
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Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
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Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
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Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
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Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
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Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
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Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
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Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
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Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
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Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
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Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
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Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
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Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
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Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
A bait trap can detect the presence of wireworms, but it is not itself a demonstrated means
of control
Advice to gardeners
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Consider setting up and running an
experiment to test whether traps can reduce wireworm
damage in a controlled setting
Advice to you
http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/icm/2003/4-21-2003/trapwire.html
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Damping off“One tablespoon of
3% hydrogen peroxide per quart of water [applied to soil] is
sufficient.” (Source:
davesgarden.com)
Advice to gardeners?
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Thousands of web sites
recommend H2O2 for prevention of damping off of
seedlings.
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
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Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
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Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
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Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
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Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
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Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
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Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
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Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
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Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Use of H2O2 in soil science
Rehabilitate soils contaminated with heavy metals and oil
Used to remove OM from soils during analysis
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Pathogenic seedborne Fusarium oxysporum from Douglas-fir.Graham, J. H.; Linderman, R. G.; Plant Disease, 1983, 67, 3, 323-325. The fungus was isolated from 1-5% of the seed from 2 of 6 Pseudotsuga menziesii sources examined. Isolates were recovered from both washed and H2O2-treated seed.
Seed microorganisms in three species of pine and techniques of disinfection.Vázquez Collazo, I.; Ciencia Forestal en Mexico, 1996, 21, 79, 61-85.Hydrogen peroxide was not a good pine seed disinfectant, although treating seeds for 40 and 60 minutes reduced microorganism presence on the three pine species by 8 and 15% respectively.
Articles relevant to pathogens
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Hydrogen peroxide is part of a plant’s cellular response to stress
Soil-applied hydrogen peroxide has no value as a fungal inhibitor
Advice to gardeners
Photo credit: TAMU
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
“Is there any benefit or harm from
mowing fallen leaves into the lawn, rather
than bagging and disposing of them?”
Question from gardeners
Photo credit: OSU
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Several recent articles in both peer-reviewed and professional publications
Multi-year field studies in geographically diverse regions, including Michigan and Missouri
Initial research appears to be on whether practice is harmful; results encourage further work on benefits
Relevant research
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
No negative effects found in any study, even when “excessive” mulch applied
Better turf color through winterImproved weed controlIncreased OM content of soil“Research clearly indicates that the
practice of mulching leaf litter into existing turfgrass canopies provides benefits for the soil and the turfgrass plant.”
Research findings
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Use your lawn mower or other
shredding device to create a fine-
textured leaf mulch for your lawn
Advice for gardeners
Photo credit: UMinn
Write up your resultsBlog or other online postingNewspaper or magazine
articleExtension fact sheetScientific journal article
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott WSU Extension Urban
Horticulturist