07/14/1994

Good Food and Safe Environmnet Highlights of Field Day

SHORTER, Ala. - Growing high quality fruits and vegetables while protecting the environment was the emphasis of presentations made at a Fruit and Vegetable Field Day held recently at the E.V. Smith Research Center in Shorter.

More than 200 people from throughout Alabama attended the Field Day, which featured the latest results of research conducted at the Center, the main research facility of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station (AAES) at Auburn University.

The program featured Auburn University faculty members who are conducting studies on fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops at the Center's Horticulture Unit.

Jim Bannon, Center director, gave highlights of a study that is exploring new ways to use solid waste and to benefit crops. The study is evaluating the use of solid waste materials such as newsprint, lawn clippings, wood chips and gin waste, as soil amendments, explained Bannon. These materials can supply a source of carbon to the soil and crops. Broiler litter, another waste product, also is being used in conjunction with some of the treatments to provide nitrogen and other nutrients. Corn, cotton, tomatoes and soybeans are the crops currently being tested in the study.

Researchers think that these materials may improve the productivity of Alabama soils. If these products can be used successfully on crops, the benefits will be several-fold -- less solid waste materials will have to be disposed in already crowded landfills, new uses for broiler litter will be developed and high quality food and fiber can be provided to consumers.

"We have found that the newsprint increases the organic matter in the soil, which is a real benefit for most Alabama soils," said Bannon. "But we also found that it inhibits the growth of some crops, and also some weeds."

Bannon said that the tomato study at the Horticulture Unit indicates that cotton gin waste may provide the best growth benefits for crops. However, the newsprint treatments helped control weeds in the crop and, if managed correctly, also may be a viable soil amendment for this crop.

Another project aimed at protecting the environment while also increasing the efficiency of horticultural crop production, is being conducted by Beth Guertal, assistant professor of agronomy and soils at Auburn. Guertal is trying to establish a way to monitor nitrogen needs of vegetable crops. She explained that soil and plant matter testing procedures have been developed for most row crops, which allow producers to know when enough nitrogen has been applied. However, these guidelines have not been established for vegetable crops. If producers can use a simple testing procedure, they may be able to reduce the amount of nitrogen they apply, saving money and also helping avoid over-application of nitrogen, which might eventually leach into groundwater.

The study is being conducted on tomatoes at the Horticulture Unit and includes the use of a computerized monitoring system. Guertal also is testing a new device called a chlorophyll meter that may eventually provide rapid in-field readings of a plant's nitrogen content.

Another study underway at the Center is looking at the best way to apply nitrogen. This study, according to Tim Motis, a graduate student in horticulture at Auburn, is comparing the effect of soil incorporated nitrogen versus nitrogen applied through drip irrigation on the performance of tomatoes. Results thus far suggest that applying nitrogen directly to the soil prior to planting results in faster growth, though the drip-applied treatments are now beginning to catch up to these this season. Final results will not be available until the end of the growing season.

Another focus of the Field Day was irrigating peach crops. Arnold Caylor, research associate in Auburn's horticulture department noted that applying up to two gallons of water per day to peaches results in larger fruit, which is an advantage for producers. It also helps get young trees established faster.

These results suggest that commercial peach growers may want to install irrigation systems to their crops to improve yields and production efficiency. Caylor also noted that peaches should be irrigated during the entire growing season, even after the crop has been harvested, because this can benefit next year's crop.

Other topics discussed relating to fruit and vegetable production included a short overview of variety trials underway at the Center and at other research farms across the state. Eric Simonne, also with the Department of Horticulture, noted that variety tests are underway on peppers, eggplants, squash, cantaloupes, southernpeas, watermelons, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and sweet corn.

He explained variety trials involve planting several varieties of the same crops and evaluating the performance of each variety. Such factors as yield and disease resistance are assessed so researchers can determine which varieties are best suited for Alabama production.

Other researchers also talked about melon and plum variety trials and a newly-established All-American Display Vegetable Garden that has been instituted at the Center.

Those interested in ornamental plants were not left out of the Field Day. Kira Bowen, associate professor of plant pathology at Auburn, discussed a study of new ways to control blackspot in roses, which leaves black spots on the leaves and can defoliate plants. She noted that fungicidal sprays are the best controls for this disease. She noted that using a mulch, such as pine or oat straw, that sponges water away from the plant also will help control this disease.

"These mulches keep rain and water from splashing up on the plant," she explained. "The disease is spread when water splashes it onto the plant, so certain mulches can help stop its spread."

Bridget Behe, associate professor of horticulture, also told the gathering about a research project that is evaluating various types of summer and winter annual bedding plants for heat tolerance and cold tolerance, respectively. She said the study, which is in its third year, is helping show which varieties of bedding plants are best for Alabama. Results are available from Behe.

Bannon noted that these studies are just a small illustration of work underway at the Horticulture Unit and the other units at the Center. He urged people to come out any time and learn more about the Center's research efforts and program.

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News from:

Office of Ag Communications & Marketing

Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)

Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
Contact Katie Jackson, 334-844-5886 or smithcl@auburn.edu

July 14, 1994