Multi-state youth education pilot results in 85% of 4-H participants improving their understanding of recycling and intention to help others recycle more, increasing civic engagement and contributing to UC ANR's public value of developing a qualified workforce.

The Issue

The generation of plastics has grown to over 381 million metric tons annually, nearly a 200-fold increase since 1950. Most of the plastic waste is disposed of in landfills (75%). Only 8% of plastic waste is recycled, and much plastic waste ends up in the world's oceans. Detrimental environmental effects from the production and disposal of plastics has been well-documented. While there have been large-scale campaigns to engage youth in recycling, different strategies are needed to help young people explore viable alternative options to mitigate the “plastic crisis.”

How UC Delivers

Through a multi-state collaboration with the NSF Center for Sustainable Polymers and Minnesota, California, and New York 4-H, Cooperative Extension educators worked to develop and pilot youth-focused curricula to introduce youth to the prevalence and impacts of plastics in everyday life. Experiential activities were designed to help youth learn that plastics are versatile materials that come with advantages and disadvantages. For example, plastic beverage containers are lightweight and durable, reducing energy needed for transportation. However, extraction and manufacturing contributes to climate change, and many plastics are produced for single-use and do not easily decompose. The curricula also introduce youth to the new ways scientists and engineers are working to develop bio-plastics in order to lessen effects on our environment.

The curricula were designed to build foundational skills of science and engineering: observation, asking questions and defining problems, planning and carrying out investigations, and communicating. The curricula are intended for delivery during out-of-school time and facilitated by educators such as trained volunteers or program staff. Three curricula are available for download and print copies are available from Shop 4-H (Note: only K-2 is available now, grades 3-5 and 6-8 are coming soon). The curricula were piloted with more than 300 youth.

The Impact

Findings from pilot outcome data included 4-H youth self-reporting that they learned some materials can be recycled and some cannot (89% of 161 youth) and that many things are made of plastic (86% of 155 youth). Youth also came up with ideas for how to care for the environment (87% of 158 youth) and expressed their intent to help family or friends recycle more (91% of 156 youth). While recycling plastic has some ecological benefits, not all plastics are recyclable, and recycling is not likely to be the only solution needed. Youth learned that the other 5 R's are important in finding sustainable solutions, including refusing plastics altogether, reducing use, reusing plastic items, repurposing plastic products, or purchasing plastics made with renewable materials that rot (compost). Place-Based Education research shows that integrating science learning with materials and experiences youth are familiar with helps lead to more meaningful and engaged learning , and thus, youth are more likely to be motivated to help improve their communities. In this way, this project and 4-H's work in the mission areas of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) contributes to condition changes of improved civic engagement, increased college readiness, and increased ecological sustainability.

For more information, please contact Martin Smith, Specialist in Cooperative Extension, mhsmith@ucanr.edu; or Steven Worker, 4-H Youth Development Advisor, smworker@ucanr.edu

UC ANR research helps Southern California farmers conserve water by an average of 15% and encourages others to make region-specific crop management and irrigation decisions, contributing to UC ANR's public value of protecting California's natural resources.

The Issue

Water scarcity will become a more significant concern in the Colorado River Basin due to altered weather patterns and multi-year droughts. Knowledge of the evapotranspiration (ET) of crops produced in Southern California will be critical to better managing limited water resources. Accurate information on crop water use and crop coefficient (K_c) is an immediate need for on-farm water conservation programs in the low desert region. Growers, irrigation and water districts, and researchers typically use crop coefficients developed in the Central Valley or other areas. Formulating this irrigation information for the Southern California region is crucial since the region has differences in climate, soil types and conditions, cropping systems, and irrigation and farming practices.

Equipment used to measure crop water use

How UC Delivers

Extensive field measurements were conducted in 53 commercial fields over the last three-year for 11 agricultural commodities, including alfalfa, carrots, onions, Klein grass, date palm, lemons, olives, sugar beets, spinach, sunflowers, and wheat. The residual of energy balance method, which used a combination of surface renewal (SR) and eddy covariance (EC) techniques, was used to determine the actual ET and crop coefficients in each site. In addition, Tule technology, an affordable crop water use measurement sensor, was set up at the experimental sites for extension purposes. Twenty fully automated SR-EC ET towers, 60 Tule technology sensors, and more than 700 other various soil moisture sensors were set up in the Imperial, Coachella, and Palo Verde valleys. The study's crop coefficients and irrigation management best practices were periodically shared with cooperative growers to evaluate their practices, learn about the advantages of sensor-based irrigation management, and encourage utilizing the tools and information to improve irrigation management and yield production. Additionally, the information was discussed with local irrigation and water districts in different events and meetings, and study findings were published in several extension articles and peer-reviewed journals.

Flux tower and sensors at Coachella Valley date farm

The Impact

As a result of collaborating in this study, a cooperative date grower found that water use efficiency improved by 18%, puffy skin diseases of date fruits reduced, and fruit quality improved overall. The study, which includes nearly 50% of crops grown in the region, helped participating growers conserve water by 15% on average across various agricultural commodities. Furthermore, these findings provide evidence about the  benefits of the residual of energy balance method, water use sensors, and soil moisture sensors  specifically in southern California. The most accurate crop coefficients for the cropping systems and the best factual guidance available provide significant benefits to the region by supporting enhanced water and nutrient use efficiency and drought resilience information for profitable and sustainable crop production. The tools developed by this program have the potential to yield large dividends through not only improved resource use efficiency but also best management practices and crop quality. Local irrigation and water districts may utilize the information in their on-farm efficiency conservation and water delivery programs. Additionally, adopting these knowledge-based information and tools in combination with CIMIS (California Irrigation Management Information System) or Spatial CIMIS data may benefit the region more than $7.5 million in water and energy savings.

Monitoring stations at commercial carrots and alfalfa fields

These outcomes demonstrate UC ANR's public value of protecting California's natural resources. The following links are publications associated with this study that have been shared in agricultural journal and research settings:

Determination of Actual Evapotranspiration and Crop Coefficients of California Date Palms Using the Residual of Energy Balance Approach

Feasibility of Moderate Deficit Irrigation as a Water Conservation Tool in California's Low Desert Alfalfa

UC ANR Agricultural Brief: May 2021

Vegetables West July/August 2020 Issue

UC ANR Agricultural Brief: December 2019

UC ANR Agricultural Brief: July 2019

UC ANR Agricultural Brief: October 2018

UC ANR Agricultural Brief: July 2018

UC ANR Agricultural Brief: March 2018

UC ANR research on drip irrigation shows potential to reduce downy mildew incidence while improving water quality and resource-use efficiency, contributing to increased water-use efficiency and improved food safety. 

The Issue

Spinach is a leafy green quick-maturing, cool-season vegetable crop. Downy mildew on spinach is a widespread and very destructive disease in California. It is the most significant disease in spinach production, causing  crop losses in all areas where spinach is produced. Most conventional and organic spinach fields are irrigated by solid-set or hand-move sprinklers. However, overhead irrigation may contribute to the speed and severity of downy mildew epidemics within a field when other conditions such as temperature are favorable. It is postulated that new irrigation management techniques and practices in spinach production may have a significant economic impact to the leafy greens industry through the control of downy mildew.

Commercial conventional spinach field

How UC Delivers

The main objective of this study was to explore the viability of adopting drip irrigation for organic and conventional spinach production. Field experiments were conducted at the UC Desert Research and Extension Center and three commercial fields in the low desert of California over four crop seasons (2018-2021). Several treatments and  comprehensive data collection were carried out to optimize drip system design, irrigation and nitrogen management strategies, planting method, and evaluating the effects of drip on plant growth and downy mildew incidence, and seed germination by drip irrigation.

The results of this multi-year study demonstrated that drip irrigation has the potential for producing profitable spinach in the California crop production system. No significant yield difference was observed among sprinkler treatments and most drip treatments in the 2021 trial. An overall effect of the irrigation system on downy mildew was observed, in which downy mildew incidence was two-to-five times lower in plots irrigated by drip when compared to sprinklers. The likely mechanism for reducing downy mildew incidence is the reduction in leaf wetness resulting from drip irrigation. Leaf wetness is a critical factor for infection and sporulation by the downy mildew pathogen.

Organic spinach trial at UC Desert REC

The Impact

The findings of the aforementioned study show that adopting drip irrigation for high-density spinach plantings can reduce incidence of downy mildew and related food safety risks and crop loss. As a result of participating in research trials, a cooperative grower reported a considerable cost reduction of $300 per acre due to less/no water treatment applications for downy mildew control and food safety issues in conventional spinach under drip irrigation. The findings of this study show that adopting drip irrigation for high-density spinach plantings can be a solution to reduce food safety risks and losses from downy mildew, conserve water and fertilizer, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A lower energy cost of $200 per acre is estimated for spinach producing under drip irrigation.

Several factors influence appropriate drip irrigation management in spinach including system design, soil characteristics, and environmental conditions. Drip irrigation offers the potential for precise water management, as well as the ideal vehicle to deliver nutrients in a timely and efficient manner. However, achieving high water- and nutrient-use efficiency, while maximizing crop productivity requires intensive and proper management, particularly in organic baby spinach. The knowledge-based information and findings of this study have been shared with growers and stakeholders through several media interviews, presentations in workshops/webinars, and extension and peer-review publications, contributing to UC ANR's public values of resource conservation and safe, sufficient food for all. The following links are some of the publications associated with this study in Western Farm Press, the Desert of Review, the Holtville Tribune, California Ag Today Radio, Vegetables West, California Organic Farmer, Journal of Agriculture, Agricultural Briefs, and UC ANR Knowledge Stream:

The Holtville Tribune - May 2021

Vegetables West - April 2021

California Ag Today Radio - March 2021

Western Farm Press - February 2021

Journal of Agriculture - August 2019

California Organic Farmer - August 2019

UC ANR Knowledge Stream - August 2019

UC ANR Agricultural Briefs - June 2019

UC ANR Agricultural Briefs - February 2019

The 4-H Latino Initiative achieves positive youth outcomes and advances practices on culturally relevant programming, contributing to UC ANR's public value of developing an inclusive and equitable society. 

The Issue

Over 39% of Californians identify as Hispanic or Latino. Growth estimates project that Latinos will make up half of all Californians by 2060. In the K-12 public school system, more than 54% of students identify as Latino or Hispanic. Yet, until recently, the youth membership of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) 4-H programs did not represent the state's Latino population.

How UC Delivers

In 2015, UC ANR provided $2 million to fund the UC 4-H Latino Initiative, a three-year effort from 2016 to 2019 to develop, adapt, implement, and evaluate culturally relevant and responsive 4-H youth development programs. Seven counties — Kern, Merced, Monterey, Orange, Riverside, Santa Barbara, and Sonoma — were selected, representing rural, suburban, and urban communities. Each county received funding to hire a bilingual and bicultural 4-H program staff. Additionally, UC ANR hired an assistant state director for diversity and expansion. The goal was to develop, deliver, and assess culturally responsive program models to recruit and retain Latino youth, families and volunteers into 4-H.

Over three years, each county made progress increasing its reach with youth using a combination of program models and delivery modes. Statewide, youth enrollment grew from serving 1.1% of the school-aged population in 2016 to 1.9% at the end of year three (2019). The number of Latino youth enrolled in 4-H grew 104% from the year before the initiative to year three. Specifically, the 2016 program year had 34,040 Latino youth members, which was 40% of total 4-H membership, and the 2019 program year had 69,383 Latino youth members, making up 47% of total 4-H membership.

We generated new knowledge to advance the field of culturally responsive youth development programming. For example, in a study of bicultural program staff, published in the Journal of Youth Development, we reported on the competing demands to build relationships, engage youth, and show results, with lessons to help shape future efforts (Worker et al., 2019)

The Impact

Newly recruited Latino young people experienced positive outcomes from participating in 4-H programs such as improvements in mindset and social skills. Additionally, we found that the program experience including relationship building and youth engagement, were similar across community clubs and 4-H Latino Initiative programs (Worker, Fábregas Janeiro, & Lewis, 2019). As a result, the 4-H organizational culture shifted to become more accepting and welcoming, particularly with implementing new, culturally responsive programming. Adopted strategies include incorporating positive development of ethnic identity, tailoring to the needs and interests of local and regional Latino youth and families, removing barriers to participation, and increasing cultural competencies among 4-H volunteers. Resources developed by the Latino Initiative are now located on a web page and continue to be accessed by 4-H academics, staff, volunteers, and 4-H professionals across the nation. They include resources for assessing, implementing, and evaluating culturally responsive programs, as well as marketing and communicating about efforts to engage Latino youth.

“I love having 4-H in my school. I decided to help coach a team, even if I don't know much about soccer. It has been so much fun to learn with the kids and play soccer with them." – Elizabeth, 4-H volunteer soccer coach