MulchH2O Project Data

Polyethylene plastic mulch is widely used in organic horticultural systems to suppress weeds and promote crop performance through optimization of soil temperature and moisture. Unfortunately, disposal of this non-biodegradable material is associated with negative environmental impacts that are misaligned with goals of organic agriculture. We propose to develop biodegradable alternative mulches that effectively suppress weeds, but also enhance or maintain soil health while mitigating plastic pollution.With producer collaboration, we conducted exploratory studies to assess weed suppression associated with a simple cellulosic mulch applied as an aqueous slurry (hydromulch) in organic carrot production. Our study, along with others, showed promising results, but with room for improvement. We propose to conduct experiments, also in collaboration with organic producers, to develop new composite hydromulch formulations ? optimizing physico-mechanical properties such as tensile strength, puncture resistance, rain-fastness, porosity, C:N ratio, and soil adhesion. We will explore, with producer involvement, novel application methods for installing hydromulches in organic blueberry, strawberry, onion, and broccoli production systems. Weed communities will be assessed in each crop to determine hydromulch efficacy. Comprehensive soil measurements will document hydromulch impacts on numerous soil health metrics. Cost-benefit analyses will document economic benefits associated with hydromulching.To accomplish these objectives, numerous experiments will be conducted in both controlled environments (laboratory and greenhouse) and in the field. Types of data that will collected include weed density and biomass under various mulch treatments, mulch deterioration, crop growth and yield responses, mulch physical properties, and soil responses to mulch presence, incorporation and decomposition. Economic data will also be collected about the cost of using these approaches in a production context.All these data collected are stored and available as *.csv files that are titled according to datatype and contain comments explaining treatment codes, units, and other information that facilitates use of the data.USDA-NIFA Organic Research and Extension Initiative, ND05057USDA Hatch Funding, ND0151

Kentucky Bluegrass Invasion in the Northern Great Plains and Prospective Management Approaches to Mitigate Its Spread

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is one of the most aggressive grasses invading Northern Great Plains (NGP) grasslands, resulting in substantial native species losses. Highly diverse grasslands dominated by native species are gradually transforming into rangelands largely dominated by non-native Kentucky bluegrass. Several factors potentially associated with Kentucky bluegrass invasions, including high propagule pressure, thatch formation, climate change, and increasing nitrogen deposition, could determine the future dominance and spread of Kentucky bluegrass in the NGP. Because atmospheric CO2 is amplifying rapidly, a C3 grass like Kentucky bluegrass might be photosynthetically more efficient than native C4 grasses. As this exotic species shares similar morphological and phenological traits with many native cool-season grasses, controlling it with traditional management practices such as prescribed fire, grazing, herbicides, or combinations of these practices may also impair the growth of native species. Thus, developing effective management practices to combat Kentucky bluegrass spread while facilitating the native species cover is essential. Modifying traditional techniques and embracing science-based adaptive management tools that focus on the ecological interactions of Kentucky bluegrass with the surrounding native species could achieve these desired management goals. Enhancement of the competitiveness of surrounding native species could also be an important consideration for controlling this invasive species

Impacts of Organic Zero Tillage Systems on Crops, Weeds, and Soil Quality

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Home on the Range: Establishment of a Canada Thistle Biocontrol Agent

Invasive weeds are one of the worst scourges within rangelands, and it is often difficult to control them using conventional approaches such as herbicides or mowing. But all is not lost—insect allies can help us combat these noxious plants! We are talking about insect biocontrol agents, or plant-eating bugs that feed on weeds. However, there are hurdles these insects must overcome to successfully control weed populations; the first is establishing a viable population after being released. In this article we focus on one such ecological drama, which is the biocontrol of Canada thistle in North Dakota with a stem-mining weevil. The Rangelands archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform March 202

Crop species diversity hot spots based on the geostatistical analysis of the ENCS values for 1978, 1987, 1997 and 2012.

<p>Hot (red hues) spots are areas with significant clustering of counties with low ENCS values (low cropping diversity) and cold (blue hues) spots are clustering of counties with high ENCS values (high cropping diversity). Maps showing hot spot analysis for all Census years are available in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0136580#pone.0136580.s002" target="_blank">S2 Fig</a>.</p

Farm Resource Regions of the US.

<p>Adapted from USDA-ERS [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0136580#pone.0136580.ref011" target="_blank">11</a>].</p

Crop species diversity as effective number of species in 1978, 1987, 1997 and 2012 on a county level basis for the contiguous US.

<p>The hotter colors (red hues) indicate lower ENCS values (low crop diversity) while colder colors (blue hues) indicate higher ENCS values (high crop diversity). Maps showing crop diversity for all Census years are available in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0136580#pone.0136580.s001" target="_blank">S1 Fig</a>.</p