Organic Nutrient Management of Raspberries in a High Tunnel

1. Organic Nutrient Management of Raspberries in a High Tunnel By Jesse Dahir-Kanehl, Horticulture Masters Student Advisor – Prof. Rebecca Harbut

2. Quick Research Intro • Effects of high tunnel environment on microbes and mineralization of N, P, K • Mineralization differences seen in plant tissue, yields, and berry size? • Lack of leaching > higher salt buildup • Increase in fruit quality • Decreases in wind leading to taller plants • Decrease in pest pressure (Japanese Beetle) and change in pest complex • Decrease in disease pressure

3. Background • High School FFA Greenhouse • Bachelors at UW-Madison, Horticulture • Organic Vegetable and Fruit Farm • Hobbies: brewing, gardening, biking, folk • Coops: Babcock House

4. Overview 1. High Tunnel (HT) Production a. Definition b. Why? c. Disadvantages d. Uses in Wisconsin e. Research being done with HTs 2. Organic Fruit Production in Wisconsin a. Problems b. Organic fruit farm/orchard management c. Why? d. Research being done 3. My Research Project – No data a. What’s being studied b. Where c. When d. Why e. Results f. Spreading the word

5. High Tunnel Production • Temporary season extending structure • Arched roof & high sides – snow shedding • Great for tall crops or large machinery • Relatively new tool, but why use it?

6. Why? • Higher temps > higher mineralization • Extends season • Exclusion of rain – target irrigation • Reduce application rates • Increases fruit quality • Reduces disease and pest pressure • Changes pest complex • Reduces wind, increases height • Marketing

7. Temperature

8. Primocane-fruiting Raspberry Production in High Tunnels in a Cold Region of the Upper Midwestern United States (Yao and Rosen, 2011)

9. Disadvantages • Relatively expensive • Requires high return • Salt buildup • Use in WI Stephen McDonough, NCSU, 2008

10. How are they used in Wisconsin? • Mostly season extension • Largely vegetables – tomatoes • Nurseries • Some fruits - raspberries & strawberries • National Resources Conservation Service program – 2010, 184 tunnels, $763k NRCS, 2009

11. Research on HT • Small Fruit Production in HT, Demchak, 2009, Penn State • HT Tree Fruit Production, Lang, 2009, Michigan State • CO2 Enrichment May Increase Yield of Field-grown Red Raspberry under HT, Mochizuki et al., 2010, U of California and California State • Engineering Principles Impacting HT Environements, Giacomelli, 2009, University of Arizona • Trends in Soil Quality Under HTs, Knewston et al., 2010, Kansas State University • Yields and Economics of HTs for Production of Warm-season Vegetable Crops, Waterer, 2003, University of Saskatchewan • HT and Organic Horticulture: Compost, Food, Safety, and Crop Quality, Milner et al., 2009, USDA Maryland • + University of Georgia, Cornell, Colorado State, University of Minnesota, University of Arkansas

12. University of Arkansas, 2011

13. Overview 1. High Tunnel (HT) Production a. Definition b. Why? c. Disadvantages d. Uses in Wisconsin e. Research being done with HTs 2. Organic Fruit Production in Wisconsin a. Problems b. Organic fruit farm/orchard management c. Why? d. Research being done 3. My Research Project – No data a. What’s being studied b. Where c. When d. Why e. Results f. Spreading the word

14. Problems in WI • Maintaining high soil quality • Hot + humid = disease • Pests • Perennial system means perennial weeds • Overcoming common beliefs of perfection Pestmall, 2010 Mike Wakefield, 2011

15. Organic Management • Soil amendments • Pest control • Disease control • Weed control • Marketing – processing Beverage Express, 2011

16. High Tunnel Tree Fruit Production: The Final Frontier? (Lang, 2009)

17. Why? • Price premium • Marketing • Sustainability • Personal beliefs Golden State Fruit, 2012

18. Research • Pest control • Weed control • Soil amendments • Increase density • Season extension • Breeding • Postharvest • Nutrition • Sustainability – economic & environmental

19. Overview 1. High Tunnel (HT) Production a. Definition b. Why? c. Disadvantages d. Uses in Wisconsin e. Research being done with HTs 2. Organic Fruit Production in Wisconsin a. Problems b. Organic fruit farm/orchard management c. Why? d. Research being done 3. My Research Project – No data a. What’s being studied b. Where c. When d. Why e. Results f. Spreading the word

20. My Research • Organic fertilizers – cow manure, mushroom, fish emulsion, urea, none • Varieties – Caroline & Heritage • Mineralization • Electrical Conductivity • Yield • Hatch and Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education grants

21. Where • West Madison Research Station • Plano silt loam & Kegonsa silt loam • HT and outside – 96’ x 30’ • Cole Murphy – Fond du lac • Peninsular Research Station

23. When • 2011 – establishment year • 2012 – soil data, yields, etc • 2013 – soil data

24. Why? • Fertilization recommendations for HT • Application times • Understanding of HT environment • For the grower 100 Mile Challenge

25. Spreading the word • Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service conference • Publish in a journal • Center for Integrated Agriculture Systems • Talk to professors, extension agents, producers • Other conferences

26. Conclusion • HT • Cost • Yield, season, quality • Pest pressure • Reliability and control • Organic Fruit • Price premium • Difficulties • Inputs • Research • Fertilizer recommendation

27. Further Research • Adapting HT to tall fruit crops or vice versa • Other crops? – borderline hardy plants • Yield modeling inside HT environment • Effects of dry walkways on soil • Further studies into HT multiple effects on soil microbes and biology

28. Questions and Comments Kathy Kitchens Downie, 2012