239 research outputs found
Enhancing Forages with Nutrient Dense Sprays Final Report
The purpose of the Nutrient Dense Spray (NDS) trial was to evaluate the impact of nutrient dense foliar sprays on perennial forage yield, quality, and fatty acid concentrations. The nutrient spray program was developed by Advancing Eco-Agriculture (Middlefield, OH) and consisted of five foliar sprays specifically recommended for the farms participating in this study. The recommended foliar applications were evaluated over 3 growing seasons. In the third year of the study, a sixth foliar spray, âSea Shieldâ was added to the treatments. The recommended spray program included applications of Rejuvenate in the early spring and late fall, and a combination of PhotoMag, Phosphorus, Potassium, MicroPak, and Sea Shield applied in the spring and after each harvest of hay or graze (Table 1). This study was conducted based on farmer interest in enhancing nutrient density of forages through foliar sprays and was funded by the Lattner Family Foundation. Any reference to commercial products, trade names or brand names is for information only, and no endorsement or approval is intended
Winter Canola Survival
Winter canola (Brassica napus) is a relatively new crop in Vermont. This crop has the potential to be added into a rotation to both promote soil health and yield a crop for oil production. Generally planted in late August or early September, winter canola should produce ample vegetation and root growth prior to plant dormancy (Figure 1). Growers can often fit a canola crop in after harvesting winter grains or other early crops. Regrowth in the spring depends on the harshness of winter conditions, but generally the plants are âgreening upâ in April, and will enter the rosette stage and begin to leaf out soon afterwards
Sunflower Interseeding Trial
Sunflower, a relatively new crop for Vermont, has the potential to add value to a farm operation in the form of fuel, feed, food, and fertilizer. However, pest pressures, including weed competition, have limited the yield potential of Vermont sunflower in the past. The practice of interseeding, or planting cover crops between rows, could limit the early-season weed pressures and allow for a competitive advantage for sunflower, increasing yields and quality. Crops like clover, tillage radish, and annual ryegrass may also benefit long-term soil health and decrease expensive inputs by adding organic matter and nutrients into the soil
A Critical Analysis of Land Trusts and Their Use of Conservation Easements as an Effective Tool for Open Space Preservation
Impact of High Glucosinolate Mustard Biomass and Meal on Black Bean Yield
Brassicae crops (mustard family) contain chemicals called glucosinolates. These compounds are present in the leaves, stem, roots, and seed of the plants. When the plant biomass is incorporated into the soil these glucosinolates are broken down into a number of secondary compounds. The primary compound is isothiocyanate which can be biocidal to germinating seeds, insects, nematodes, and other microbes (fungi, bacteria, etc). In recent years, plant breeders have worked to develop high glucosinolate varieties of mustard to be used as biofumigants in crop production. These high glucosinolate mustards (HGM) are being used as cover crops and the entire plant biomass incorporated into the soil. Interestingly, the mustard is also an oilseed with a potential use in biofuel production. Extraction of the oil from the seed leaves a meal that is also high in glucosinolates as well as nitrogen. Hence, the meal used as a soil amendment could potentially provide nutrients and suppress weed and diseases
Sunflower Reduced Tillage Trial
Sunflowers are being grown in the Northeast for their potential to add value to a diversified operation as fuel, feed, fertilizer, and an important rotational crop. However, early season weed competition can limit the yields of sunflower crops, especially when wet or adverse soil conditions do not allow for mechanical cultivation in early summer. Planting sunflower into a freshly-terminated cover crop of winter rye could help reduce weed pressures. Winter rye would suppress weed germination by covering the ground early in the season, and also through the allelopathic compounds produced in the plantsâ roots, which inhibit germination of small-seeded plants. In addition, winter rye, a reliable and winter-hardy cover crop, benefits water quality and soil health, adding soil stability and organic matter between cash crops. Rye has the ability to scavenge nutrients from a previously fertilized and harvested crop, minimizing fertility inputs and keeping the ground covered through the winter
Long Season Corn Silage Variety Trial
In 2013, the University of Vermont Northwest Extension Crops and Soils Team evaluated yield and quality of long season corn silage varieties at Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, VT. Long season corn can be difficult to grow in Vermont, due to the climateâs restricted Growing Degree Days (GDDs). In addition, wet springs are becoming more common, delaying corn planting later into the season. However, on many farms, long season corn can produce higher yields and quality than many short-season varieties. The test site was at Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, VT, which has what is considered one of the longest growing seasons in Vermont (2,259 GDDs in 2013). In this yearâs trial, 24 varieties were evaluated from six different seed companies. While the information presented can begin to describe the yield and quality performance of these long season corn silage varieties in this region, it is important to note that the data represent results from only one season and one location. Compare other hybrid performance data before making varietal selections
High Glucosinolate Mustard and Potato Trial
High glucosinolate mustard (HGM) can be planted as a cover crop to suppress weeds and disease. Studies have shown a reduction in soil-borne diseases, as well as advantages in mitigating weed pressure, after planting HGM cover crops. Mustards, and many other cruciferous plants, contain glucosinolates, which are allelopathic, meaning they produce biochemicals that affect the growth and survival of other organisms. High glucosinolate mustard varieties have high levels of glucosinolates and have been shown to suppress the growth of weed seedlings, as well as helping to reduce soil-borne disease. The glucosinolates in HGM plants hydrolyze into molecules called volatile isothiocyanates, which are partially responsible for allelopathy. Little research has been done in the Northeast to quantify the effects of HGM cover crops in reducing skin disease in potatoes (Solanum tuberosum). Potato demand hinges on appearance, as consumers often refuse individual potatoes with skin defects such as common scab or rhizoctonia, and potatoes for seed are rejected if they have significant damage to skin quality. Rhizoctonia, a soil fungus, is particularly common in cool, wet growing regions like the Northeast. Reducing these skin diseases would increase the marketable yields of potato crops. High glucosinolate mustard cover crops would provide additional benefits to weed competition and soil health. Keeping the ground covered with a living cover crop for months after a regular-season cash crop is harvested helps to stabilize and build soil aggregates, as well as providing organic matter and scavenging nutrients in the soil. The integration of HGM cover crops into vegetable production could prove to be a beneficial introduction in multiple ways
The Effects of Topdressing Nitrogen on Hard Red Winter Wheat
The demand for local organic food is steadily increasing throughout Vermont and New England. Consumers are asking for bread baked with locally grown wheat; however, bakers have been slow to incorporate local wheat flour because of the challenges associated with obtaining grains that consistently meet bread-baking standards. Addressing the quality issue is essential for expanding the bread flour market in the northeast. One of the major quality factors facing Vermont grain producers is protein content. Much of the winter wheat currently produced in Vermont has protein levels below what most commercial mills would consider suitable for flour production. Commercial mills prefer to buy wheat with crude protein (CP) concentrations of 12-15%. Higher protein levels generally improve baking characteristics. In 2012, the University of Vermont Extension established a trial at Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, VT to evaluate if winter wheat yield and protein could be improved by topdressing with different split N applications at key developmental stages
Small Grain Forage Trial: Nitrogen Fertility x Harvest Date
Cool season annual forages, such as cereal grains, can provide early season grazing as well as high quality stored feed. However, it is unclear if quality and yield of these forages could be improved through better nitrogen (N) management. Improved quality of homegrown forages can help to reduce expensive grain purchases. The goal of this project was to determine yield and quality of an annual cool season forage harvested at various stages of maturity and under different organic N fertility regimes. The data presented here is from one replicated research trial in Vermont. Crop performance data from additional tests in different locations and often over several years, should be compared before you make decisions about planting small grains
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