LEVERAGING CONCENTRATED ORGANIC BYPRODUCT MATERIALS FOR HIGHER NUTRIENT USE EFFICIENCY AND ANAEROBIC SOIL DISINFESTATION IN ORGANIC VEGETABLE PRODUCTION

Organic vegetable farming is a holistic production/management system that promotes and enhances agroecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. Major challenges that plague organic vegetable production include a lack of knowledge and limited means to manage soil fertility, weed pressure, and pest outbreaks, which contribute to lower crop yields in organic production systems compared to conventional production systems. Despite scrupulous attempts to improve crop nutrition (through organic amendments), weed (through manual, mechanical, and cultural weeding), and disease (crop rotation, etc.) management, these areas remain among the biggest reasons for low yields in organic production systems. The proposed project aims to utilize the various natural amendments to tailor the nutrient release rate from new organic materials created through manure processing and rendered materials to match the nutrient release rate of organic materials to that of crop nutrient uptake rate and for anaerobic soil disinfestation. Thelong-term goalof the proposed project is to improve the productivity and profitability of organic vegetable crops by developing organic fertilizer formulations from manure products and rendered materials, for higher nutrient use efficiency and anaerobic soil disinfestation for weed and soil-borne disease management. Our integrated research and extension (outreach) activities will lead to effective management strategies to increase domestic organic vegetable production and profitability.The specific objectives of the proposed project are:Prepare and evaluatethe new organic materials-based and rendered materials-based fertilizer formulations for higher retention of net mineralized nutrients in soils for a longer duration by combining them with various natural agricultural amendments and horticultural oils.Fine-tuningthe regulated new organic materials-based and rendered materials-based fertilizer formulations:For maximizing the anaerobic soil disinfestation by combining with novel plasticulture materials.For nutrient release rate under plastic mulch and in the presence of plants.Evaluatethe impact of standardized organic materials-based fertilizer formulations (and their application rate) + novel plastic mulch cover:On crop N and P use efficiency, soil health, and environmental loss of nutrients.For anaerobic soil disinfestation, for its ability to reduce the incidence and population density of weeds and severity of soil-borne disease in organic vegetables grown under plastic mulch.Conducta cost-return analysis of new fertilizer formulations in combination with novel plastic mulch as compared to currently used farmer management practices.Promotingthe adoption of new fertilizer formulations and management practices by communicating research results and guidelines to stakeholders, scientists, and industry professionals in the southeastern and other regions of the US, through extensive education, extension, and outreach program.