Lime Evaluations
Compare the effectiveness to increase soil pH and economic
crop growth benefits of pelleted lime with standard agricultural limestone
in a no-till corn-soybean rotation (Two simultaneous studies in plots on
the Piketon and Vanmeter farm).
Collaborators: Scioto County
Farmer's Club and Rich Sherman.
* Drainage and Nitrogen
Management for Blueberry Production
Determine optimal nitrogen rates and application methods (broadcast vs.
fertigated) for both drained and undrained, drip-irrigated blueberries.
Evaluate the effectiveness of raised beds to substitute for drainage
systems. Collaborators:
Dr. Dick Funt, Dept. of Horticulture, The Ohio State University.
*Development of a simple
soil quality field test for farmers
To develop a rapid, reproducible, and safe method for measuring a soil C
parameter that would be a sensitive indicator of management-induced soil
quality changes. To simplify this method for use in a user-friendly kit
that farmers could use in the field. This objective required a method that
would not require elaborate equipment and would use a minimum number of
reagents, none of them highly toxic, hazardous or unstable. To evaluate
the suitability of the method for use on soils with a wide range of
properties, and assess the relationships between the measured C fraction
and soil microbial properties. Collaboration
with Dr. Ray Weil, Dept. Natural Resources and Landscape Arch., Univ.
Maryland at College Park.
*Nitrogen management using
slow-release fertilizers
To determine N release from surface-applied Duration, high energy-N and
traditionally used urea, UAN and ammonium nitrate fertilizers. To compare
the effect of different N fertilizers on growth and yield of corn, and to
determine the effect of different N fertilizers on soil quality
properties. Research collaboration with Crop Production Services, Ohio, USA,
Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers, USA and Agrium Inc., Denver, Colorado.
Comparison of slow release
urea (Duration), UAN-28% liquid N, UAN+Agrotain, and urea fertilizers on
crop yields, nitrogen leaching and soil quality properties
To determine release of nitrogen from Duration, UAN-28% and urea
fertilizers.To measure leaching potential of nitrogen from Duration and
other nitrogen fertilizer sources. To compare the effectiveness of
nitrogen fertilizers on growth and yield of corn and wheat. Particular
interest is in fall applications of Duration with phosphate and potassium
fertilizers. To determine the effect of different N fertilizers on soil
quality
properties. Research Proposal submitted to Dr. Alan Blaylock, Senior Agronomist,
Agrium Inc., Denver, Colorado.
*Long-term effects of
tillage and crop rotation on biological dynamics, carbon sequestration and
quality of soil
Compare the long-term effects of several agronomic cropping systems with
differences in tillage, crop rotation, and cover crops on soil quality and
C sequestration.
1) Continuous tilled corn with standard fertilizer and herbicide
applications
2) Corn-soybean rotations: alternate tillage
3) Corn-soybean rotations: no-till
4) Corn-cover crop-soybean-wheat-cover crop: no-till
5) Corn-cover crop-soybean-cover crop: no-till
6) Corn-mixed cover crops-soybean-mixed cover crops: no-till
Collaborators: Dr. Shawn Wright. OSU South Centers, Drs. Ratan Lal,
Brian Slater, Frank Calhoun, School of Natural Resources, The Ohio State
University; and Dr. Ray Weil, Dept. of Natural Resources and Landscape
Architecture, Univ. of Maryland at College Park
*Cover Crops, Composted
Chicken and Dairy Manures Effect on Crop Yields and Soil Quality in
Soybean-Corn Rotations
To evaluate agronomic, soil quality, and environmental aspects of
composted chicken and lot scrapped dairy manures, and cover crops,
compared to commercial fertilizers and herbicides over a three-year
period. Demonstrate Promote use of composted chicken and dairy manures and
cover crops for grain crops, and assist farmers to develop sustainable
soil-crop management practices, which will supplement, replace, or reduce
their need for commercial fertilizers and herbicides, and sustain soil
quality. Collaborators: Jeff Chattin, Farmer, Ross County, and Paul Bapst,
Farmer, Pike County, and Jeff Fisher, Ag Extension Agent, Pike County.
Research funded by The Ohio State University Paul C. and Edna H. Warner
Endowment Fund for Sustainable Agriculture Interdisciplinary Grant Program
for On-farm Research
*Carbon Sequestration Potential in Different
Soil Regions of Ohio
To analyze soil core samples for determining C sequestration potential and
rates under different land-use/land cover types, and cropping and tillage
management systems. Collaborator: Dr. Ratan Lal, School of natural Resources, The Ohio
State University. Funded by the Consortium for Agricultural Soil
Mitigation of Greenhouse Gases project.
*Tillage and Crop Rotation
Effects on Soil C sequestration
To determine the effects of long-term tillage practices and crop rotation
on nutrient stratification, sequestration and soil quality
properties. Collaborator: Jim O'Brien, Ag Extension Agent, Fayette County.
*Production and economics
of Ethnic vegetable crops
To raise high-value ethnic crops, vegetables and spices (zinger, turmeric,
egg plants, luffa, decoration gourd, asparagus beans, hot chilly, Malabar
spinach, jute, sesame, lemongrass, amaranth/edible pigweeds, etc.) as
sources of alternate income for farmers at Southern
Ohio. Collaborators: Dr. Shawn Wright, and Rory Lewandowski, Athens County,
OSU Extension
Forages, Grasses and Cover
Crops
Compare the suitability of selected forage/cover crops for quality
animal feed, greater biomass production, N scavenger and source,
beneficial to soil and water qualities, and low maintenance establishment.
in the Southern Ohio region. The forages/cover crops will be used: hairy
vetch, cowpeas, Australian winter peas, buckwheat, crimson clover, mammoth
red clover, Kura clover, alfalfa, orchard grass, reed canary grass,
timothy, winter wheat, rye, foxtail millet, Japanese millet, barley,
Bermuda grass and sorghum-Sudan
grass. Collaborators: Dr. Shawn Wright, and Dr. Doo H. Min, Upper Peninsula
Expt. Station, Michigan State University.
*Phytoextraction of Heavy Metals with Herbaceous
and Woody Plants
Research proposal submitted to Dept. of Energy to determine the use of
short-rotation herbaceous and woody plants with and/or without chelating
agents to clean-up contaminated sites. Phytoextraction experimental
treatments will consist of 12 combinations of six types of plants and two
doses of EDTA (0 vs. 1000 kg/ha) in a 6 x 2 split-plot setting. The EDTA
treatments will be main plots and control plants will be in sub-plots.
Each treatment combination will be replicated four times in a randomized
complete block design. The treatments are:
1. Phytoremediation with EDTA
Red Maple, Hybrid Poplar, Willows, Bermuda grass, Eastern gamma-grass, and
Kura clover
2. Phytoremediation without using EDTA
Red maple, Hybrid Poplar, Willows, Bermuda grass, Eastern gamma-grass, and
Kura clover.
Collaborators: Drs. Shawn Wright, OSU South Centers and Morris Cline,
Dept. of Plant Biology, OSU.
Biological-Root Protectant
Fungicide (T-22) Effects on N-Fertilizer Use Efficiency, Growth and Yield
of Wheat, and Soil Quality
To evaluate the effect of T-22 on N use efficiency, crop growth and yield,
and soil quality, averaged across N fertilizer rates. To evaluate the
effect of N fertilizer rates on N availability, and crop growth and yield,
and soil quality, averaged cross T-22. To evaluate the interactions of
T-22 and N fertilizer rates on N use efficiency, crop growth and yield,
and soil quality. Research funded by the Advanced Biological Marketing
Development of a simple
test to evaluate water suitability for mixing with pesticides
To develop a simple chemical test for determining water suitability
for pesticide mixing to control tree fruits diseases and plant pathogens.
This rapid and simple test of water quality will allow fruit growers to
evaluate the hardness of water before mixing in pesticides. This test will
help for routine monitoring and treatment of water, improve the effective
and efficiency of application of chemicals to control diseases and
insects, and reduce the operating cost of fruit production. Collaborators: Shawn Wright, Ph.D., Horticulturist, Dick Funt, Ph.D.,
Dept. of Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University.
Research funded by the Ohio Vegetable and Fruit Growers Association.
Agroforestry Practices for
Commercial Production of High-value Specialized Crops Under Natural Stand
of Forest Trees
To demonstrate an establishment of low maintenance high-value specialized
crops (ginseng, goldenseal, zinger, and turmeric, etc.) under paw paws and
hard wood trees at our Land lab site to generate additional income; and
regenerate degraded or marginal
lands. Collaboration with Dr. Shawn Wright, Ron Miller, and Colin Donahue,
Rural Action Sustainable Forestry.
Agroforestry Practices of
Ginseng and Goldenseal in Natural Stand of Hardwood Forest Trees: SARE
Producer Grant
To study agroforestry aspects of growing ginseng and goldenseal under
natural stand of hardwood forests using organic amendments to improve site
quality; and promotion of forest-based cultivation of endangered and other
native medicinal plants to preserve forest biodiversity while increasing
stability and resiliency of incomes for small farmers and woodland
owners. Collaborators: Dr. Shawn Wright, Ron Miller, Dave Apsly, and Yi Wang,
and Jack R. Oxenrider, Southern Ohio Forestry Association, and Colin
Donahue and John Withers, Rural Action Sustainable. Research funded by the
North Central Region SARE 2002 Producer Grant.
