Organic Nutrient Management of Raspberries in a High Tunnel

By Jesse Dahir-Kanehl, Horticulture Masters StudentAdvisor – Prof. Rebecca Harbut

Quick Research IntroEffects 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 qualityDecreases in wind leading to taller

plantsDecrease in pest pressure

(Japanese Beetle) and change in pest complex

Decrease in disease pressure

Background

High School FFA Greenhouse

Bachelors at UW-Madison, Horticulture

Organic Vegetable and Fruit Farm

Hobbies: brewing, gardening, biking, folk

Coops: Babcock House

Overview1. High Tunnel (HT) Production

a. Definitionb. Why?c. Disadvantagesd. Uses in Wisconsine. Research being done with HTs

2. Organic Fruit Production in Wisconsina. Problemsb. Organic fruit farm/orchard managementc. Why?d. Research being done

3. My Research Project – No dataa. What’s being studiedb. Wherec. Whend. Whye. Resultsf. Spreading the word

High Tunnel ProductionTemporary season extending

structureArched roof & high sides – snow

sheddingGreat for tall crops or large

machineryRelatively new tool, but why use

it?

Why?Higher temps > higher

mineralizationExtends seasonExclusion of rain – target

irrigationReduce application ratesIncreases fruit qualityReduces disease and pest

pressureChanges pest complexReduces wind, increases heightMarketing

Temperature

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

High Tunnel Avg. - 2009

Field Avg. - 2009

Fruit Size Yield Fruit Size Yield

4.0g 22,253 lb/a 3.8g 4,708 lb/a

Plant Height Average (in)

HT 08

Field 08

HT 09 Field 09

64 25 62 28

DisadvantagesRelatively expensiveRequires high returnSalt buildupUse in WI

Stephen McDonough, NCSU, 2008

How are they used in Wisconsin?Mostly season extensionLargely vegetables – tomatoesNurseriesSome fruits - raspberries &

strawberriesNational Resources Conservation

Service program – 2010, 184 tunnels, $763k

NRCS, 2009

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

University of Arkansas, 2011

Overview1. High Tunnel (HT) Production

a. Definitionb. Why?c. Disadvantagesd. Uses in Wisconsine. Research being done with HTs

2. Organic Fruit Production in Wisconsina. Problemsb. Organic fruit farm/orchard managementc. Why?d. Research being done

3. My Research Project – No dataa. What’s being studiedb. Wherec. Whend. Whye. Resultsf. Spreading the word

Problems in WIMaintaining high soil qualityHot + humid = diseasePestsPerennial system means perennial

weedsOvercoming common beliefs of

perfection

Mike Wakefield, 2011

Pestmall, 2010

Organic ManagementSoil amendmentsPest controlDisease controlWeed controlMarketing – processing

Beverage Express, 2011

High Tunnel Tree Fruit Production: The Final Frontier? (Lang, 2009)Pest Increased

IncidenceDecreased Incidence

Diseases Powdery Mildew Cherry Leaf Spot

Bacterial Canker

Insects Black Cherry Aphid Plum curculio

Two-spotted Spider Mite

Cherry Fruit Fly

Japanese Beetle

Why?Price premiumMarketingSustainabilityPersonal beliefs

Golden State Fruit, 2012

ResearchPest controlWeed controlSoil amendmentsIncrease densitySeason extensionBreedingPostharvestNutritionSustainability – economic &

environmental

Overview1. High Tunnel (HT) Production

a. Definitionb. Why?c. Disadvantagesd. Uses in Wisconsine. Research being done with HTs

2. Organic Fruit Production in Wisconsina. Problemsb. Organic fruit farm/orchard managementc. Why?d. Research being done

3. My Research Project – No dataa. What’s being studiedb. Wherec. Whend. Whye. Resultsf. Spreading the word

My ResearchOrganic fertilizers – cow manure,

mushroom, fish emulsion, urea, noneVarieties – Caroline & HeritageMineralizationElectrical ConductivityYieldHatch and Sustainable

Agriculture Research and Education grants

WhereWest Madison Research StationPlano silt loam & Kegonsa silt

loamHT and outside – 96’ x 30’Cole Murphy – Fond du lacPeninsular Research Station

When2011 – establishment year2012 – soil data, yields, etc2013 – soil data

Why?Fertilization recommendations for

HTApplication timesUnderstanding of HT

environmentFor the grower

100 Mile Challenge

Spreading the wordMidwest Organic and Sustainable

Education Service conferencePublish in a journalCenter for Integrated Agriculture

SystemsTalk to professors, extension

agents, producersOther conferences

ConclusionHT

◦ Cost◦ Yield, season, quality◦ Pest pressure◦ Reliability and control

Organic Fruit◦ Price premium◦ Difficulties◦ Inputs

Research◦ Fertilizer recommendation

Further ResearchAdapting HT to tall fruit crops or

vice versaOther crops? – borderline hardy

plantsYield modeling inside HT

environmentEffects of dry walkways on soilFurther studies into HT multiple

effects on soil microbes and biology

Questions and Comments

Kathy Kitchens Downie, 2012