Project Number: 5302-13000-011-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Jan 29, 2012
End Date: Jan 28, 2017

Objective:
Objective 1. Develop crop water requirements and irrigation strategies for perennial horticultural crops using remotely sensed data. Objective 2: Develop sustainable water management strategies for perennial horticultural crops with limited and impaired water supplies. Objective 3: Develop sustainable agricultural water reuse systems to protect soil/environmental health of drainage impacted soils when using poor quality water. Objective 4: (NEW) Develop effective, practical, economical, and environmentally acceptable approaches to replace methyl bromide as a pre-plant soil fumigant in ornamental and strawberry production systems. [NP303, C4, PS4A and PS4B] Objective 5: (NEW) Develop various application methods, soil amendments, and physical barriers to reduce the emissions and enhance efficacy of the chemical alternatives to methyl bromide. [NP303, C4, PS4A]

Approach:
Using weighing lysimeters and precision water and nutrient application through micro irrigation systems to assess water, nutrient, crop yield and quality, and deep percolation relationships for annual crops and perennial horticultural crops. Use field studies to develop sustainable cropping systems in areas with restricted drainage discharge, and to determne the impact of management practices on soil salinity, groundwater and drain water quality and quantity, and crop yield. Determine, through greenhouse and field studies, the ability of crop species to tolerate and accumulate selenium, boron, and other constituents found in arid saline soils and shallow groundwater. Field studies to determine water requirements and deficit irrigation strategies will be used to determine the sustainable production of biofuel crops. Determine soil microbial structure following fumigation in ornamental and strawberry production systems using field trials and laboratory measurements . Use laboratory dose response studies to evaluate emerging chemicals as alternatives to methyl bromide for controlling pathogens and weeds. Determine pathogen and weed control efficacy of emerging chemicals as alternatives to methyl bromide in field trials. Test spot injection and spot plus carbonation as new fumigant application methods to enhance deep penetration in the soil for nematode control in orchard replant trials. Determine surface barriers with TIF tarp and reduced dosage for emission reductions and enhanced pest control efficacy in field trials.