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Funded Project |
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Funding Program:
Integrated Pest Management Competitive Grants Program |
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Project Title:
Enhanced Implementation of the Online Soil Solarization Forecasting Model |
Project Directors (PDs):
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Lead State: OR Lead Organization: Oregon State University |
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Cooperating State(s):
California, Washington |
| Undesignated Funding: $30,000 |
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Start Date: Mar-01-2017 End Date: Mar-01-2017 |
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Pests Involved: soilborne plant pathogens and weed species |
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Site/Commodity: nursery crops |
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Area of Emphasis: soil solarization |
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Summary:
Soilborne pathogens and weeds are some of the most costly pests affecting nursery crop production systems, a $1.53 billion industry in WA, OR and CA. In many nursery production systems soil fumigation and fungicides are illegal, or simply unfeasible for decontaminating soil of weeds and pathogens. Recently, we pioneered research into soil solarization using a new type of anti-condensation plastic film that has proven to be very effective even in the cooler, cloudier Pacific Northwest. Our research revealed that maximum suppression of weeds and pathogens is highly dependent on the timing and duration of the plastic film. To support the adoption of pesticide-free, soil solarization, we have developed a model predicting thermo-tolerance of common soilborne pathogens and weed species that will enable nursery growers to determine the feasibility and length of time necessary to disinfest soil with solarization. The model has been constructed and validated using temperature data from two years of field trials in CA, OR, and WA, and results of controlled experiments in the lab. We propose hosting usability studies and educational workshops to improve, support, and promote the use of the web-based version of this predictive model. The model will be updated with additional pest organisms and output options, and continue to be hosted at an existing W-IPM Centers-supported IPM decision support system, at http://uspest.org/soil/solarize. Model use will be tracked and end-user feedback solicited by a beta-test group to make successive improvements over time for maximum effectiveness.
Objectives: Our goal is to improve, expand, and increase adoption of the existing soil solarization model. Our specific objectives for this proposal are to: 1. Improve the model and its web interface for greater usability by growers in the Pacific Northwest. 2. Conduct training workshops and field demonstrations to show growers how to use the online tool and implement soil solarization on their farms. |
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