Efficacy and Timing of Application of Fungicides, Biofungicides, Host-Plant Defense Inducers, and Fertilizer to Control Phytophthora Root Rot of Flowering Dogwoods in Simulated Flooding Conditions in Container Production

Phytophthora root rot caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands is one of the major diseases of flowering dogwoods (Cornus florida L.). The severity of root rot disease increases when the plants are exposed to flooding conditions. A study was conducted to determine the efficacy and timing of application of different fungicides, biofungicides, host plant defense inducers, and fertilizer to manage Phytophthora root rot in month-old seedlings in simulated flooding events for 1-, 3-, and 7- days. Preventative treatments were drench applied 3 weeks and 1 week before flooding whereas curative treatments were applied 24 hrs. after flooding. Dogwood seedlings were inoculated with P. cinnamomi 3 days before the flooding. Plant height and width were recorded at the beginning and end of the study. At the end of the study, plant total weight and root weight were recorded and disease severity in the root was assessed using a scale of 0-100%. Root samples were plated using PARPH-V8 medium to determine the percentage recovery of the pathogen. Empress Intrinsic, Pageant Intrinsic, Segovis, and Subdue MAXX, as preventative and curative applications, were able to suppress the disease severity compared to the inoculated control in all flooding durations. All treatments, with the exception of Stargus as preventative application 3 weeks before flooding and Orkestra Intrinsic as curative application, were able to suppress the disease severity compared to the inoculated control for 1-day flooding event. Aliette and ON-Gard were effective in the first trial when applied preventatively in both 1 week and 3 weeks before flooding but not in the second trial. Signature Xtra was effective as preventative application but not as a curative application. Interface was effective as curative application but not as preventative application. The findings of this study will help nursery growers to understand the performance of fungicides, biofungicides, host-plant defense inducers, and fertilizer in different time intervals and repeated applications to manage Phytophthora root rot in flooding conditions

A Modified Delphi Study on Boxwood Blight Disease Management in the US Nursery Industry

Boxwood is one of the most popular evergreen shrubs in the United States, the production of which is currently challenged by boxwood blight, an emerging threat that has spread across 30 states. A thorough understanding of boxwood production, plant health, management practices and economic impact could aid in answering the needs of the nursery industry in managing this disease. An online modified Delphi survey was conducted to identify grower perceptions on processes, programs, and practices to limit or prevent the entry and spread of boxwood blight disease. The expert panel consisted of 29 nursery producers who represented a significant portion of boxwood production nationally. The panel members rated boxwood blight as the third most problematic disease with a potential to be number one in the future. Boxwood transplants were perceived as the main source of boxwood blight outbreak, followed by cutting tools, nursery equipment, containers, plant debris, irrigation water, worker hygiene, and other crops. According to the panel responses, cultural control methods, inspection, and quarantine of incoming plant material, scouting, and sanitization were the most important practices that can limit or prevent plant diseases during boxwood production. The panel members did not agree that the composted manure could influence the spread of plant disease in boxwood production, although this has been verified by the findings of various previous research experiments. Panel members were very familiar with scouting and employee training, best management practices, and the boxwood blight cleanliness program. This study documents the key components, practices, and procedures in boxwood production that could influence the spread of boxwood blight in nurseries and could be further verified by sampling and laboratory assays to specify the critical control points in the production process

Testing of models to scale up low cost agriculture practices and tools in hills of Nepal

This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and with financial support from the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada (GAC)The poster depicts how affordable appropriate technology interventions are being adopted and scaled up for terrace farmers in Nepal. A business model has been designed to scale up tools and materials through established private sector agencies like Agrovet or through organizations such as farmer cooperatives. For instance, the hand held corn sheller and composite vegetable kits are two top products. Agrovets are able to sell more vegetable composite kits (Sustainable Agricultural Kits), whereas a higher number of corn shellers are being supplied to the community by farmer cooperatives. Extension services are provided mainly through NGO and government agencies

A Modified Delphi Study on Boxwood Blight Disease Management in the US Nursery Industry

Boxwood is one of the most popular evergreen shrubs in the United States, the production of which is currently challenged by boxwood blight, an emerging threat that has spread across 30 states. A thorough understanding of boxwood production, plant health, management practices and economic impact could aid in answering the needs of the nursery industry in managing this disease. An online modified Delphi survey was conducted to identify grower perceptions on processes, programs, and practices to limit or prevent the entry and spread of boxwood blight disease. The expert panel consisted of 29 nursery producers who represented a significant portion of boxwood production nationally. The panel members rated boxwood blight as the third most problematic disease with a potential to be number one in the future. Boxwood transplants were perceived as the main source of boxwood blight outbreak, followed by cutting tools, nursery equipment, containers, plant debris, irrigation water, worker hygiene, and other crops. According to the panel responses, cultural control methods, inspection, and quarantine of incoming plant material, scouting, and sanitization were the most important practices that can limit or prevent plant diseases during boxwood production. The panel members did not agree that the composted manure could influence the spread of plant disease in boxwood production, although this has been verified by the findings of various previous research experiments. Panel members were very familiar with scouting and employee training, best management practices, and the boxwood blight cleanliness program. This study documents the key components, practices, and procedures in boxwood production that could influence the spread of boxwood blight in nurseries and could be further verified by sampling and laboratory assays to specify the critical control points in the production process

Optimizing biological nitrogen fixation inexpensively as part of a sustainable agriculture kit (SAK) strategy to assist subsistence farmers

PowerPoint presentationThis work was carried out with the aid of a grant from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and with financial support from the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada (GAC)This PowerPoint presentation shows how Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation (SNF) works in plants and soils, and how it can be improved to help smallholder farmers through identification practices. A newly developed biosensor “GlnLux biosensor” measures SNF output in non-transgenic ureide- and amide-exporting legumes. This process can efficiently measure nitrogen fixation capabilities of legume crop varieties. Also part of the presentation are low cost tools and methods of planting, provided as visual instructions for smallholder participants in field trials, as well as Sustainable Agriculture Kit (SAK) tests and demonstrations

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation, growth and yield response of common bean and cowpea for Rhizobia inoculation and micronutrients (B and Mo) application in mid-hill regions of Nepal

This is a CIFSIRF funded project.Challenges associated with legume production in Nepal include: lack of high yielding varieties and crop specific management (e.g., disease/pest management) practices, loss of soil fertility including micronutrients, poor access to agricultural inputs and services, shortage of irrigation water, lack of mechanization, and labour shortages which led to poor yields and low economic returns to farmers (Chapagain and Gurung, 2010; Chapagain and Raizada, 2017). Farmers mostly used untreated seeds from previous season harvest to cultivate these crops and very little attention has been given to study the effects of bacterial inoculation on the crop performance and soil health through systemic on-farm trials. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation of 3 legumes can be improved by introducing efficient rhizobia strains for N fixation (Thilakarathna and Raizada, 2017), and also through application of soil deficient micronutrients which are important for different stages of SNF (Weisany et al., 2013). This research explores the opportunities to use different rhizobia strains (native as well as exotic) along with micronutrients (Boron and Molybdenum) on two legume crops (e.g., cowpea and common bean) to enhance SNF, crop yields (grain and plant biomass), plant and grain N content, and offers the most productive combination(s) for each crop

Seasonal and year-round intercropping systems for smallholder farmers : results from on-farm intercropping trials on terraces in Nepal on maize, millet, mustard, wheat and ginger

We would like to thank the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF), jointly sponsored by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC, Ottawa) and Global Affairs Canada (GAC) for funding.Low yield and total land productivity are major challenges associated with smallholder terrace agriculture in developing countries. Crop intensification and diversification by introducing legumes as intercrop could help alleviate these challenges. We compared 10 intercrop combinations with sole cropping system for two rotation cycles (2015-17) to identify the most productive and economic intercrop combinations for smallholder terrace agriculture. In the spring-summer season (March/April-July/August), cowpea (var. Makaibodi and Suryabodi) and bean were intercropped with maize in rows of 1:1 whereas soybean, blackgram and horsegram were broadcasted with millet (30:70 ratios) during summer-rainy season (July/August-November/December). Pea and lentil were used as winter intercrop (November/December-March/April) in wheat (30:70 ratios) while mustard was planted with pea. Ginger was planted with maize in 1:1 rows during spring-summer season in which the maize rows were replaced by soybean and lentil during summer-rainy and winter season, respectively

Yam on terrace walls valuing underutilised crops, Annex 16

Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD) in partnership with scholars from University of Guelph, and Canadian Mennonite University and funded by International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Global Affairs Canada (GAC), Canada is trying to promote the use of barren and steep walls of the terraces and other areas which are least used for food production.This publication received funding from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Global Affairs Canada (GAC), Canada.A report of Nepal Chepang Association (NCA) suggests that 71% of the children are malnourished. Non-toxic wild yam of Nepal is recognized as ‘Health/ Functional food’ with high nutritional values. Rich in starch, yam is principal source of food and carbohydrate during food insufficiency periods for such communities. Some of the species of yam reported to have 5 times more protein than potatoes and sweet potatoes. Yam also supplements many dietary minerals. Yam can be mixed with different kinds of food like noodles and breads, which further enhances the nutritional value and palatability ultimately aiding to overcome malnutrition in children