- Author: Chris M. Webb
Soil testing is an important component of a plant nutrient management program for farmers, home gardeners, and agricultural service personnel. Results from these tests can be used to improve nutrient management for crop production and environmental protection.
With assistance from UC Davis’ Dirk Holstege, Ventura County Cooperative Extension Advisors Jim Downer and Ben Faber along with Staff Research Assistant Maren Mochizuki conducted research to asses the accuracy of commercially available soil tests kits.
Soil analysis from five commercially available soil test kits were compared for accuracy against soil analysis completed at the UC Davis Analytical Laboratory. Much thought and care went into writing the findings of this study. In addition to analyzing the results of the kits, suggestions for improving accuracy and the role the kits can play in nutrient management programs are discussed.
Results and discussion from this study can be viewed on this page of our website.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
A collaborative effort among University of California experts throughout the state, including Ventura County UCCE Farm Advisor Ben Faber, the 2nd edition of the Small Farm Handbook is an amazing resource for small farmers.
Written in an easy to follow, compact format this book packs a whole lot of information, tips and resources onto its pages. No other publication covers topics, issues, and facets of California's small-scale agriculture with this depth or level of expertise.
This book features the following chapters:
- The Vitality and Viability of Small Farms
- California’s Small Farms: An Overview
- Requirements for Successful Farming
- The Basics
- Enterprise Selection
- Farm and Financial Management
- Marketing and Product Sales
- Labor Management
- Growing Crops
- Postharvest Handling and Safety of Perishable Crops
- Raising Animals
This resource is available for viewing in our office. You may purchase and learn more about the book by clicking here. Orders may also be placed by calling 1-800-994-8849.
To receive a 10% discount when ordering online, use promo code PRVEN56 at checkout. In addition to your discount, a portion of your purchase will help support Ventura County Cooperative Extension research and education outreach.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Today, Ventura County Cooperative Extension's Maren Mochizuki shares with us about
a local research project.
Armillaria mellea is a fungus that causes root rot in citrus, peach, and many other edible tree and landscape species. UCCE Farm Advisors Jim Downer and Ben Faber are investigating the effect of soil disturbance, organic matter, and Trichoderma (another soil fungus) inoculation on survival of peach trees planted in soil infested Armillaria mellea. Preliminary results were presented on Aug. 4 at the ASHS annual conference in Palm Desert, CA.
To view the presentation abstract, please visit: http://ashs.confex.com/ashs/2010/webprogram/Paper4324.html
For more information on symptoms and management of Armillaria mellea, please visit this UC IPM page.
Field shot showing infected tree with bare branches
and yellow leaves caused by Armillaria mellea.
Armillaria mellea
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Ventura County Farm Advisor Ben Faber is currently on sabbatical in Turkey. Today Ben shares a little about his studies.
Adana, Turkey is along the Mediterranean Sea, near the middle of the country, and is where I plan to spend the next 11 months studying and doing research. I am at Cukurova (pronounced Chuckorova) University which has collections of avocados, citrus, figs, mulberries and pomegranates. I came here because as a Mediterranean climate, it grows similar crops to California.
I had not realized that a Mediterranean climate could be so hot and humid, though. What defines a Mediterranean climate is one that has winter rain and summer drought and mild winter temperatures. The temperature at 6 AM in Adana is 37 C (98.6 F) and the humidity hovers around 75%. Most businesses do not have air conditioning, but they all have heaters. Most of the ‘Hass’ avocado trees do not look good, so I guess it is going to get cold this winter.
It is hot now, though, but that’s what makes the citrus grow, and grapes and figs and wheat and plums and apricots and corn and cotton that grow all around on the Cukurova Plain, once called the Cilician Plain.
The University is the largest agricultural school in the country with 45,000 students in diverse departments, such as horticulture, soils, and engineering, but also medical, dental, biotech, letters and sciences and other schools. The town of Adana has 1.5 million people, is about 20 miles from the coast, is at about the same latitude as San Francisco and has all the modern conveniences of any California town. Plus, it has a great bus system.
I am working with faculty from different departments on different trials. Two are on citrus; evaluating different rootstocks for iron deficiency and a chemical evaluation to control leaf flush in citrus. This latter trial is to reduce the new tissue that is so attractive to Asian Citrus Psyllid. In avocado, we are looking at different girdling times and styles for their impact on fruit set and yield. They have used a double girdling technique here on various tree crops for years and found that the double ring has effects that a single ring does not have.
Another trial is looking at different fig varieties as rootstocks, again to evaluate for resistance to iron deficiency. Figs world-wide are grown from cuttings, not grafted, because they root so easily. Having a rootstock that can handle the high pH soils that we have in coastal southern California could benefit a new industry in our State.
I am also working with the curators of the pomegranate and mulberry collections to better understand how those crops are grown here and also getting out meeting local growers of these crops.
The landscape here is fresh with new plantings, as far as the eye can see. It is really a dynamic agriculture with farms that look every bit as well cared for as those in California. Many of the local growers I have met have attended this University and several have studied in Europe and the US. My English gets me by, and when I get lost, people are good at steering me straight.
Adana is famous in Turkey for its kebab, a grilled, ground lamb that is served with lemon, onion, rice, flat bread, roasted peppers, mint, and salad. And everyone asks if I have eaten Adana kebab. Yes, I have, and it is wonderfully fresh food.
Cukurova plane (photo by Ben Faber)
Cukurova University Campus (photo by Ben Faber)
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Today, Maren Mochizuki shares with us preliminary findings from a local research project.
Soil pH along most of the California coast north of Los Angeles ranges between 7.3 and 8, which is generally higher than many edible and ornamental plants prefer. In some cases, availability of micronutrients such as iron is severely limited in soils above pH 8, leading to deficiency symptoms in plants. Other plants such as blueberries, rhododendrons, azaleas, and hydrangeas prefer acidic soil conditions (pH 6 and below).
To investigate potential soil pH reduction over time, UCCE Farm Advisors Jim Downer and Ben Faber and UCCE Staff Research Associate Maren Mochizuki applied coffee grounds, lemon waste, peat moss, pine needles, oak leaves, and municipal yardwaste in addition to elemental sulfur to soil with an unadultered pH of 7.8.
The project is on-going and is in its third year. Preliminary findings indicate that the combination of organic material plus elemental sulfur reduces pH to a greater degree and more quickly than either the amendment or sulfur alone. We have seen the greatest effect thus far with elemental sulfur plus coffee grounds, chipped lemon waste, or peat moss.
Lemon waste from Ventura County packinghouses.
Lemon waste was chipped before application and
incorporation into soil.
Coffee grounds (top) and peat moss applied
to soil prior to incorporation with a rototiller.