SOIL AND MINERAL ELEMENT PROBLEMS IN WASHINGTON TREE FRUIT ORCHARDS

Quantify the influence of nutrient management practices on soil physicochemical properties, nutrient availability, and fruit tree responses; Develop and refine grower-friendly nutrient management practices that simultaneously optimize growth and productivity of deciduous fruit trees, reduce production input requirements such as agricultural chemicals and labor, and minimize risk of environmental degradation; Quantify biogeochemical processes in lead arsenate-contaminated orchard soils and develop soil and plant management practices to minimize the toxicity risks that these soils impose on agricultural crops and on human and environmental health.