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The overarching goal of the project is to provide a dynamic platform for organic growers in our region to research and discuss systems approaches to improve environmental sustainability and economic viability in a comprehensive manner. The research experiments will test fundamental hypotheses about processes and interactions in organic systems and their relationship to ecosystems services such as nutrient cycling; pest, disease, and weed suppression; and carbon sequestration in the soil. Nitrogen losses to the environment, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy use will be used to describe the environmental imprint of practices through direct measurement, modeling and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). <P> Specific objectives are: 1) Expand and strengthen a research-extension-farmer network for organic production on the central coastal California and beyond; 2) Evaluate performance of crop rotations and management strategies designed to meet the combined goals of high yields, reduced disease levels, provision of adequate N with minimal environmental impacts and improved C- sequestration; 3) Improve system-based insect pest management strategies for organic strawberries and vegetables and 4) Conduct Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of different strawberry/vegetable organic rotation systems. <P> Outputs include: an expanded researcher farmer network for the central coast and Santa Maria region; a series of field rotation experiments as described below; development of life cycle analysis and economic performance assessments for the different treatments being tested; improved understanding of nutrient cycling, disease suppression and biological control strategies for organic strawberries and vegetables; and improved knowledge of carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions for organic systems. In addition we will do research with and hold workshops for minority growers(Spanish speaking and Chinese). A series of field days, workshops and web based events (webinars, a short course) will be held, and a number of brochures developed on topics including rotation design, fertility management, and biocontrol agent identification to be used by extension specialists and farmers. For nationwide outreach a project website will be created and web-based extension materials developed in collaboration with e-Organic.
Non-Technical Summary: <BR>In the high input year round organic strawberry and vegetable cropping systems of coastal CA, growers have to balance their desire to reduce environmental impacts with the multiple challenges of maintaining economically sustainable yields, reducing disease levels, providing adequate plant nutrients, and improving system-based pest management strategies. Building from successes in our previous work on managing ecological processes and interactions to improve organic strawberry/vegetable production systems, this proposal addresses the need to develop integrated crop system designs and practices that provide long-term solutions to the problems encountered in today's organic cropping systems. We will provide a dynamic platform for growers in our region to research and discuss systems approaches to improve environmental sustainability and economic viability in a comprehensive manner. The research experiments will test fundamental hypotheses about processes and interactions in organic systems and their relationship to ecosystems services such as nutrient cycling; pest, disease, and weed suppression; and carbon sequestration in the soil. Nitrogen losses to the environment, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy use will be used to describe the environmental imprint of practices through direct measurement, modeling and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). The main experiment will test different rotation treatments using a range of input levels and disease suppression strategies. A sub set of these treatments (chosen by participating farmers) will be repeated across seven farm sites. Crop production, disease suppression, economic performance and environmental impacts of each treatment will be measured and compared using a combination of measurements of N loss and GHG emissions, modeling and LCA. A second set of experiments will be conducted on farms in a more southern strawberry producing region and focus on nitrogen management and use of Biochar to improve soil quality and sequester carbon. The question of whether organic farming can increase soil carbon storage will also be addressed by looking at sites in the region that have been managed organically for different lengths of time from a few to more than 30 years. Methods to enhance biological control of insect pests of strawberry and vegetables will also be evaluated. Our outreach plan includes: holding organic farming seminar series in cooperation with UC farm advisers in summers 2012 and 2014; holding webinars, workshops and a shortcourse through eOrganic.info; creating a series of brochures on topics including rotation design, fertility management, and biological control agent identification to be used by extension specialists and farmers; conducting workshops and on-farm experiments for Spanish-speaking and limited-resource growers with the Agricultural Land-Based Association (ALBA); and providing workshops for small-scale Chinese growers. Project outcomes will be further disseminated through extended networks and newsletters of the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), and eOrganic.info. <P> Approach: <BR> For objective 1 we will a) build upon our existing research-extension-farmer network by addressing new research priorities and expanding the number of farmers and researchers participating; b) implement a series of on-farm experiments in Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey and Santa Barbara Counties; c) Work with the Agricultural Land Based Association to provide translation services enabling Spanish-speaking growers to fully participate in network meetings and management of on-farm trials; d) organize workshops and field days for information exchange about sustainable organic production systems; e)outreach to Chinese growers; f) Develop educational tools including biocontrol agent identification, nutrient management guidelines, and rotation design brochures; g) Develop Webinars and online educational resources for nationwide outreach using eOrganic.info. For objective 2 we will conduct a replicated "mother" experiment at the UCSC farm to compare the effects of 4 versus 2 year vegetable/strawberry rotations with varying fertility management and cropping patterns on crop yield, weed and disease suppression, soil N, nitrate leaching, denitrification, C sequestration, methane and carbon dioxide emissions, and economics of production. A subset of treatments will be monitored in 7 unreplicated "baby" trials on different organic farms in the region. The treatments chosen allow us to test the effectiveness of mustard cake as a soil amendment in terms of N fertility supply, weed and disease suppression; and compare the effectiveness of Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD), mustard cake and non-host crop rotations alone, on the development of Verticillium wilt and other diseases in strawberries. In the Santa Maria region replicated on-farm trials will be established to compare 2 year rotations with leafy green vegetable, cover crops, Biochar, or fallow and strawberries on yields, crop N uptake, soil N and soil EC; determine the optimal balance of preplant and in-season N inputs for strawberry production; and determine the effect of Biochar on crop growth, N uptake and soil C sequestration. Soil C sequestration will also be measured at two depths in a series of fields that have been managed organically for various lengths of time, up to 30 years. For objective 3 in field trials we will determine the frequency of lygus bug predation by naturally occurring predators in strawberries via PCR gut content analysis; and quantify predation rates of lygus nymphs in alfalfa trap crops using a suite of prey marking ELISAs. Second, using the mother and baby trials we will examine syrphid species diversity and richness and Diadegma insulare persistence in broccoli in relation to cabbage aphid/diamondback moth densities, fertility treatment, season and temperature. For objective 4 LCA will be performed for all rotation systems and growers own practices to compare the environmental footprint of different practices. We will establish the boundary of this LCA to include the supply chain, including any nutrient additions, seeds, plastic mulches, fuel, and other materials used and document all waste products that leave the farm and any post-harvest processing on the farm.