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Funded Project |
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Funding Program:
Regional IPM Competitive Grants - Northeastern |
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Project Title:
An Integrated Approach for Enhanced Soil Fertility, Improved Plant Health and Suppression of Plant Diseases and Pests |
Project Directors (PDs):
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Lead State: ME Lead Organization: University of Maine |
| Research Funding: $59,911 |
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Start Date: Jun-15-2007 End Date: Jun-14-2009 |
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No-Cost Extension Date: Jun-14-2010 |
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Pests Involved: diseases, insects |
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Site/Commodity: potatoes |
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Area of Emphasis: organic, soils, fertility, organic matter, biocontrol |
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Summary:
The overall goal of this project is to improve crop production through the integration of sustainable practices promoting soil regeneration, reduction of disease pressure, and enhancement of plant growth. The specific objectives of the proposed work are (1) to improve crop production through a combination of sustainable practices promoting soil regeneration, reduction of disease pressure, and enhancement of plant growth, (2) to better understand the ecological processes occurring as a result of these sustainable practices, to allow their further development, and (3) to evaluate the efficacy, sustainability, and economics of these systems. To accomplish these objectives, the following soil amendments will be used alone or as combinations: A) Organic matter in the form of mature conifer compost which would be a) capable of supporting ample microbial biomass, and b) rich in phenolics to suppress virulence of Rhizoctonia solani; B) Biocontrol agents, such as Bacillus subtilis, and Trichoderma spp., that suppress Rhizoctonia and other soilborne diseases; C) A hypovirulent strain of R. solani, which provides biocontrol against Rhizoctonia disease, and enhances plant growth, and; D) Biofumigation brought about by a Brassica cover crop. Effects on soil chemical, physical, and biological properties, soil microbial communities, plant diseases and insect pests, and crop yield and quality will be monitored and evaluated on a potato crop through two consecutive field seasons. A cost/benefit analysis will be conducted to determine the relative economic feasibility of the sustainable treatments included in this study. The proposed work will be conducted on an organic potato farm, owned by Jim and Megan Gerritsen, and on the University of Maine Aroostook Research Farm, to determine the ecological impacts of the above practices on an organic and a conventional agro-ecosystem, respectively. The work proposed here was formulated on the basis of priorities set by stakeholders in Maine, other Northeastern States, and the General IPM Priorities for the Northeast (http://northeastipm.org/priority/2005/generalpriorities.htm).
Objectives: (1) to improve crop production through a combination of sustainable practices promoting soil regeneration, reduction of disease pressure, and enhancement of plant growth; (2) to better understand the individual and collective contributions and ecological processes occurring as a result of these sustainable practices; and (3) to evaluate the profitability of these systems. Proposal USDA CRIS data |
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