ASSESSING SOIL AND PLANT HEALTH RESPONSE TO COMPOSTED AND SOLARIZED GRAPE POMACE WITH MANURE IN SEMI-ARID SOIL

Goal: To reduce Verde Valley wineries by-products (grape pomace (GP)) as environmental waste by 100% in Arizona and instead promote it as soil and plant health enhancement alternative in semi-arid croplands in the USA and worldwide.Objectives:1. To assess the effects of composted grape pomace (CPG) and solarize grape pomace (SPG) with manure (poultry and horse) on soil health (pH, salinity, nutrient availability, organic matter, aggregate stability, water-holding capacity, water infiltration, and microbial respiration) and plant nutrient uptake efficiencies for the selected vegetable crops(carrot and spinach).2. To assess the effects of CPG and SPG combined with manure (poultry and horse) on the plant rhizosphere and phyllosphere microbial community diversity and population structure.3. To compare the economic viability and profitability of CPG and solarize SPG with manure (poultry and horse), focusing on cost, carbon credit, and crop yield.4. To promote the use of organic amendment as sustainable, regenerative agriculture soil amendment practices using extension programs and outreach with field demonstrations and field days, conference presentations, and publications.