- Author: Dustin Blakey
The first week of December is California Healthy Soils Week. To help "celebrate" the occasion, I was asked to give a lecture on some tips to keep your garden soil healthy. If you're the type that likes to watch videos, then you can watch the recording. (It's about 1 hour, including the questions at the end.)
If you're like me and like to get the short, bullet-point version, here it is.
Dustin's Healthy Soil Tips:
- Know your native soil (Try this link!)
- Make permanent paths
- Treat beds like beds: don't stand or walk in them and keep them covered—with mulch
- Add organic materials like compost
- Rotate crops; be sure to include cover crops
- Till gently; here's an article to learn more
Originally published on the Backyard Gardener blog (Dec. 16, 2020):
https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=44434
- Author: Surendra K. Dara
There has been a growing interest in the recent years in exploring the potential of biostimulants in crop production. Biostimulants are mineral, botanical, or microbial materials that stimulate natural processes in plants, help them tolerate biotic and abiotic stressors, and improve crop growth and health. Several recent studies demonstrated the potential of the biostimulant or soil amendments in improving crop yields and health. For example, in a 2017 field study, silicon, microbial, botanical and nutrient materials improved processing tomato yields by 27 to 32% compared to the standard fertility program (Dara and Lewis, 2018). In a 2017-2018 strawberry field study, some biostimulant and soil amendment products resulted in a 13-16% increase in marketable fruit yield compared to the grower standard (Dara and Peck, 2018). He et al. (2019) evaluated three species of Bacillus and Pseudomonas putida alone and in different combinations in tomatoes grown in laboratory and greenhouse. The combination of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, B. pumilus, and P. putida increased the plant biomass and the root/shoot ratio. Significant increase in fruit yield, between 18 and 39%, was also achieved from individual or co-inoculations of these bacteria. A field study was conducted in processing tomato to evaluate the impact of nutrient products containing beneficial microbes and botanical extracts on tomato yields and fruit quality.
Methodology
The study was conducted from late spring to fall of 2018 to evaluate three treatment programs compared to the grower standard. Tomato cultivar Quali T27 was seeded on 25 April and transplanted on 19 June using a mechanical transplanter. Due to high temperatures at the time of planting, some transplants died and they were re-planted on 28 June. Herbicide Matrix was applied on 5 July and Poast was applied on 13 July followed by hand weeding on 27 July. Crop was irrigated, fertigated, and treatements were applied through a drip system. Overhead sprinkler irrigation was additionally used immediately after transplanting. The following treatments were included in the study:
1. Grower standard: 10-34-0 Ammonium Polyphosphate Solution was applied at 10 gal/ac at the time of transplanting followed by the application of UAN-32 Urea Ammonium Nitrate Solution 32-0-0 at the rate of 15 units of N at 3, 6, and 13 weeks after planting and 25 units of N at 7 weeks after planting.
2. Grower standard + BiOWiSH Crop 16-40-0: BiOWiSH Crop 16-40-0 contains 16% nitrogen and 40% phosphate along with B. amyloliquefaciens, B. licheniformis, B. pumilus, and B. subtilis at 1X108 cfu/gram. Crop 16-40-0 was applied at 1 lb/ac at the time of planting followed by the application 0.5 lb/ac at 3, 6, and 9 weeks after planting.
3. Grower standard 85% + BiOWiSH Crop 16-40-0: Crop 16-40-0 was applied at the same rate and frequency as in treatment 2, but the grower standard was reduced to 85%.
4. RootRx: RootRx contains 5% soluble potash and proprietary botanical extracts and is supposed to stimulate a broad range of antioxidant compounds in the plant. It was applied at 0.25 gal/ac at the time of planting followed by the application of 0.5 gal/ac at 3, about 7, and 13 weeks after planting.
Each treatment contained 30' long bed with a single row of tomato plants and replicated five times in a randomized complete block design. Along with the fruit yield, the sugar content of the fruit and leaves [using a refractometer from three fruits (two measurements from each) and four leaves per plot], chlorophyll content (using a digital chlorophyll meter from four leaves per plot), and frost damage levels (using a visual rating on a 0 to 5 scale where 0 = no frost damage and 5 = extreme frost damage with a complete plant death) were also monitored. Due to an unknown reason, some plants in the fifth replication were stunted halfway through the study. Data from the fifth replication were excluded from the analysis. Data were subjected to the analysis of variance using Statistix software and significant means were separated using the Tukey's HSD test.
Results
Fruit yield: Marketable and unmarketable fruit yield was monitored from 27 August to 13 November. Seasonal total for marketable fruit was significantly (P = 0.04) different among the treatments where RootRx resulted in a 26.5% increase over the grower standard while Crop 16-4-0 with the full rate of the grower standard had an 8%, and with 85% of the grower standard had a 13.2% increase. It appeared that a similar improved yield response was also seen when Crop 16-40-0 was used at a reduced rate of the grower standard in other studies conducted by the manufacturer.
Sugar content: Sugar content of the fruit and leaves was measured once after the last harvest and there were no significant (P > 0.05) difference among the treatments.
Chlorophyll content: Chlorophyll content was measured once after the last harvest and there was no significant (P > 0.05) difference among the treatments.
Frost damage: Study was concluded after frosty conditions in November 2018 damaged the crop. Although there were no statistically significant (P > 0.05) differences, plants treated with RootRx had the lowest rating of 2.
Acknowledgements: Thanks to Jenita Thinakaran and the field staff at the Shafter Research Station for their technical assistance, Plantel Nurseries for providing transplants, and BiOWiSH Technologies and Redox Chemicals for their financial support.
References
Dara, S. K. and D. Peck. 2018. Microbial and bioactive soil amendments for improving strawberry crop growth, health, and fruit yields: a 2017-2018 study. UCANR eJournal of Entomology and Biologicals (https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=27891)
Dara, S. K. and E. Lewis. 2018. Impact of nutrient and biostimulant materials on tomato crop health and yield. UCANR eJournal of Entomology and Biologicals (https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=26054)
He. Y., H. A. Pantigoso, Z. Wu, and J. M. Vivanco. 2019. Co-inoculation of Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas putida at different development stages acts as a biostimulant to promote growth, yield and nutrient uptake of tomato. J. Appl. Microbiol. https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.14273
- Author: Milton E McGiffen
Assistant professor positions in soil biogeochemistry and soil health that would touch on biochar-related areas have opened up at the University of Missouri. For more information search: http://hrs.missouri.edu/find-a-job/academic/
- Author: Lynn M. Sosnoskie
South Sacramento Valley Processing Tomato Production Meeting
When: Thursday, January 10, 2019
Time: 7:45am to 12:00pm
Where: Woodland Community Center (2001 East Street, Woodland, CA 95776).
Agenda:
7:45 DOORS WILL OPEN — COFFEE AND REFRESHMENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE
8:15 Broomrape- a Weed of Industry Concern: Gene Miyao, retired, UC Farm Advisor, Yolo/Solano/Sacramento counties
8:40 Recent Tomato Lessons Gleaned from UC Russell Ranch, Long-Term Experiment: Israel Herrera, field manager, UC Russell Ranch project, UC Davis.
9:00 Local Pesticide Regulation Update: Jenni King, Deputy Ag Commissioner, Yolo County
9:20 Decision Support Tools for Processing Tomato Irrigation and Fertilization: Daniel Geisseler, Nutrient Management Specialist, UC Davis
9:40 BREAK
10:00 Summary of Fungicide Efficacy Evaluations for Powdery Mildew Control; and Progress Report on Yield Response to Grafting: Brenna Aegerter, UC Farm Advisor, San Joaquin County
10:20 Processing TomatoVariety Evaluations: Scott Picanso & Jonathan Deniz, TS&L.
10:40 Keys to Field Bindweed Management: Lynn Sosnoskie, UC Farm Advisor, Merced and Madera counties
11:00 Monitoring Southern Blight in Colusa County and 2018 Field Observations: Amber Vinchesi, UC Farm Advisor, Colusa and Sutter/Yuba counties
11:20 Fusarium Diseases of Tomato- an Update on Identification and Management: Cassandra Swett, Plant Pathology Dept, UC Davis
Continuing Education Units:
PCA credits are pending. CCA credits: 1.5 hrs IPM, 1.5 hrs Crop Management.
San Joaquin County and Delta Field Crops Meeting
When: Thursday, January 17, 2019
Time: 8:00am to 12:00pm
Where: Cabral Agricultural Center in Stockton (2101 E. Earhart Ave., Stockton, CA 95206).
Agenda:
8:00am Doors Open and Sign In
8:15am Nitrogen Stabilizers in Silage Corn, Michelle Leinfelder-Miles, UCCE San Joaquin/Delta Counties
8:45am Measuring the Interaction between N Demand and Water Use in Irrigated Corn, Mark Lundy, UC Davis
9:15am Regulatory Update, Tim Pelican, San Joaquin County Agricultural Commissioner
9:30am Fish Friendly Farming Program for the Delta, Laurel Marcus, California Land Stewardship Institute
9:45am Break
10:00am Agronomic Strategies to Improve Alfalfa Pest Management, Dan Putnam, UC Davis
10:30am Opportunities for Automation and Optimization of Surface Irrigation Systems, Khaled Bali, UCCE, Kearney Research and Extension Center
11:00am Italian Ryegrass Management in California Wheat Cropping Systems, Mariano Galla, UCCE, Glenn/Butte/Tehama Counties
11:30am Managing for Soil Health and Soil Salinity, Michelle Leinfelder-Miles, UCCE, San Joaquin/Delta Counties
12:00pm Evaluations and Adjourn
Continuing Education Units:
Applications for continuing education units for pesticide licensing, CCAs, and nitrogen management (continuing education requirement for the Irrigated Lands Program) have been submitted.
Annual Meeting of the California Weed Science Society
When: Wednesday to Friday, January 23 to 25, 2019
Where: Hyatt Regency in Sacramento (1209 L St, Sacramento, CA 95814).
The annual meeting of the California Weed Science Society will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Sacramento, January 23-25. This meeting is a great opportunity for professionals to stay informed of the latest pesticide regulations, industry trends, and active weed management research in California. This year's weed school will focus on invasive plant management for wildfire mitigation while the general session will update participants about the control in invasive weeds in the Delta. Concurrent research sections will focus on specific areas of interest including: trees and vines, rice, turf and ornamentals, forestry and natural areas, agronomic and vegetable crops, roadsides and industrial sites, and aquatic systems. Friday's session will focus exclusively on laws and regulations. Registration can be done through mail or online (http://www.cwss.org/events/registration/). Cost of attendance is $249 (through January 3rd). A schedule of events can be found at: http://www.cwss.org/events/schedule-of-events/.
Continuing Education Units:
Continuing education units will be offered.
- Author: Lynn M. Sosnoskie
While soil health is currently a big buzzword in CA agriculture, UC Davis researchers want to dig into how managing CA soils to build soil health indicators impacts a grower's crop management decisions, productivity, and economic bottom line.
To further investigate these issues, UC Davis soil scientists are looking for processing tomato growers interested in participating in a soil health survey in summer 2019. The research will provide insight into the relationship between soil health indicators (which include soil chemical, biological, and structural/physical factors) and crop management, including how certain aspects of soil health impact fertility management and tomato yields.
To do this, researchers will ask participating growers to choose 2-3 fields for researchers to survey, including what they view as their "best" and "worst" fields, in either subsurface drip or furrow irrigation. Growers will also be asked to provide information on the history of the fields sampled, including crop rotation, duration in drip irrigation (if applicable), a general description of inputs management, as well as their own perspectives on soil management. Soil collected from growers' fields will be analyzed for soil texture, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, pH, organic matter, cation exchange capacity, electrical conductivity, and aggregate stability. Soil microbiological factors will also be measured, including bacterial and fungal biomass, mycorrhizal biomass, and microbial carbon and nitrogen pools.
Each participant will receive a detailed report on test results of their fields and overall findings from the study, though all results from individual fields and farms will be anonymized with all identifying information removed when being shared with anyone other than the grower.
UC Davis researchers hope that this study will contribute to knowledge of how soil health status impacts management decisions for annual vegetable growers on the ground, including how soil health can contribute to agroecosystem productivity, prosperity, and sustainability for California farms.
Please contact Nicole Tautges, UCD crop scientist, for more information or to request sampling on your farm.
Nicole Tautges
Cropping Systems Research Manager
Russell Ranch Sustainable Agriculture Facility
University of California, Davis, CA 95616
Ph: 530-219-5380
Email: netautges@ucdavis.edu