Location: New England Plant, Soil and Water Research Laboratory
2022 Annual Report
Objectives
Objective 1: Develop sustainable cropping systems that include effective management practices to improve soil health, crop productivity, and economic viability, and reduce soil borne diseases for food production systems of the Northeast.
Sub-objective 1.1. Develop and implement sustainable cropping systems consisting of effective management practices that maintain or improve soil health, productivity and market quality, reduce soilborne diseases, and enhance profitability for potato-based production systems.
Sub-objective 1.2. Develop and evaluate crop and soil health management practices for conventional and organic vegetable production systems to improve crop productivity, economic viability, and reduce impacts on the environment.
Approach
Our approach to building sustainable cropping systems for improving crop productivity and enhancing economic viability for food production systems in the Northeast is through the development of improved biological and cultural management practices and incorporating these into integrated cropping systems. There are many practices and amendments that have been previously identified, in ours and others research, as providing beneficial responses for these production systems. However, much research is still needed to determine the best ways to utilize and implement these practices in production agriculture. In our previous research, through long-term cropping systems studies, we determined the areas that are the most crucial constraints to productivity in potato production systems, as well as some factors that were less important. Critical constraints were water availability, soil health, and disease pressure, whereas previously studied criteria such as fertility and soil physical properties were not critical factors. Further research indicated that a specific 3-yr cropping system containing a disease-suppressive rotation crop and a small grain could maintain low disease while achieving high yield, and be profitable. In addition, a system with organic amendments added periodically could substantially increase yield and productivity. This proposed research is building directly on this previous research, further developing and refining management practices that have shown the greatest potential for reducing soilborne diseases, enhancing soil health, and improving crop yields in a sustainable manner. Management practices of particular importance include the use of disease-suppressive rotation crops, cover crops, green manures, and organic amendments. Focus will be placed on developing practical cropping systems that can be readily implemented and provide useful benefits to growers. Special emphasis will be placed on the biological processes involved and the role of soil microbial communities in developing disease-suppressive, yield-enhancing cropping systems.
Progress Report
This project consists of a series of research studies using crop and soil management practices to improve crop productivity and economic viability, and reduce diseases, with the goal of building and developing more productive and sustainable cropping systems for conventional and organic food production systems in the Northeast. In this year of the project, ongoing field experiments were continued in Presque Isle and St. Albans, Maine. In our potato cropping systems research at Presque Isle, Maine, we are continuing to monitor enhanced cropping systems incorporating reduced tillage, cover crops, organic amendments, and disease-suppressive rotation crops for improvements in crop productivity, disease suppression, and economics, and cropping systems have been modified to include an additional potato variety with improved characteristics, as well as new cover cropping treatments, for applicability and comparisons with existing systems. Field preparation, soil sampling, and planting for the 2022 field season was accomplished in May-June 2022. In our organic vegetable research in St. Albans, Maine, a new trial has been established assessing the efficacy of insect netting and new soil amendment treatments in green bean, squash, and beet vegetable crops (planted May 2022) for determination of improved management practices for organic vegetables. Characterization, analyses, and assessment of the soil microbiome in relation to numerous factors is also a feature of the project for both the potato and vegetable cropping systems. Data collected from 2019 and 2020 have been analyzed and demonstrate the benefits of incorporating soil health management practices into improved cropping systems. Results are being disseminated to stakeholders and other researchers and are being used to determine future directions for the research. Overall, this research provides information needed to improve crop production and sustainability for potato and organic vegetable production, which can lead to improved agricultural viability and rural economic vitality in the Northeast.
Accomplishments
1. Cover crop and soil amendment impacts on soil properties, yield, and disease development in organic vegetable production.. Sustainable organic vegetable farming faces many production challenges, including maintaining adequate soil health and fertility, management of weeds, pests, and diseases, and balancing multiple different vegetable crops. ARS researchers in Orono, Maine, evaluated the impacts of two different cover crop (CC) strategies, as well as compost, silicon (Si), and biocontrol (BC) soil amendments on soil chemical and biological properties, crop development and yield, and disease and pest issues in organic vegetable production, as represented by legume (green snap bean), cucurbit (green zucchini squash), and solanaceous (sweet pepper) vegetable crops, in a three-year field trial. A multi-species CC mixture (6 crops, including legumes, grasses, and brassicas) resulted in lower biomass and ground cover relative to winter rye CC, but had no effect on crop development or yield. Compost amendments increased yields of bean, zucchini, and peppers, as well as increased soil pH, organic matter, and nutrient contents relative to a fertilizer-only treatment. Additions of Si reduced powdery mildew on squash and leaf necrosis of beans, and BC also provided some reductions in foliar diseases. These results help define specific management practices to improve organic vegetable production and provide useful information and options for growers.
Review Publications
Larkin, R.P., Griffin, T.S., Honeycutt, C.W., Olanya, O.M., He, Z. 2021. Potato cropping system management strategy impacts soil physical, chemical, and biological properties over time. Soil and Tillage Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2021.105148.
Larkin, R.P. 2021. Use of crop rotations, cover crops and green manures for disease suppression in potato cropping systems. Review Article. https://doi.org/10.15377/2409-9813.2021.08.12.
Curland, R.D., Mainello, A., Perry, K.L., Hao, J., Charkowski, A.O., Bull, C.T., McNally, R.R., Johnson, S.B., Rosenzweig, N., Secor, G.A., Larkin, R.P., Gugino, B.K., Ishimaru, C.A. 2021. Species of Dickeya and Pectobacterium isolated in 2015-2016 from potatoes with soft rot disease in Northeastern and North Central United States. Microorganisms. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9081733.
