Maximize Nutrient Density to Improve Production and Health Outcomes

Transcription

1 Maximize Nutrient Density to Improve Production and Health Outcomes 2017 Western Colorado Food and Farm Forum, Montrose, CO Dr. Andrew Smith

2 J.I. Rodale Organic Agriculture Healthy Soil = Healthy Food = Healthy People Wrote on a blackboard in 1942.

3 Regenerative Organic Agriculture Rodale Institute Research Farm Connecting Soil Health to Human Health

4 Regenerative Agriculture J.I. Rodale Robert Rodale *Founder of Rodale Inc (1942) & Rodale Institute (1947) *Popularized the word organic *Launched FST in 1981 *Author of numerous books on organic ag.

5 It s Not Only About Yields It s About the SOIL! To be a successful farmer one must first know the nature of the soil. Xenophon, Oeconomicus, 400 B.C.

6 Rodale Institute Mission and Values Mission: To improve the health and well-being of people and the planet through organic leadership. Core values: 1. We empower each other to live our mission 2. Our farm is a destination for inspiration 3. Our research is a catalyst for change 4. We are a clear voice for informed choice

7 Vegetable Production and Marketing

8 Fresh, locally-grown organic produce at affordable prices Members receive a seasonal share of produce each week that can be picked up at a local community site. Pay-as-you-go from week to week instead of paying hundreds of dollars for the whole season up front.

9 DelVal Rodale Institute Organic Farming Program

10 Organic Allentown Organic Farmers Market Educational Events

11 A Sweet Solution The Honeybee Conservancy at Rodale Institute was started in 2012 in response to the major health problems that have decimated the honeybee population in North America.

12 St. Luke s Rodale Institute Organic Farm

13 Livestock Management and Integration - Models

14 Outreach Education Workshops Field Day Tours Events Organic Transition Course Webpage Social Media

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16 The Vegetable Systems Trial (VST) Organic Conventional Reduced Till Plasticulture Reduced Till Plasticulture Green manures Cover Crops Compost Roller - Crimper Organic fertilizers Organic pest management Synthetic fertilizers Herbicides Cover Crop Insecticides Fungicides

17 The Vegetable Systems Trial (VST) Mission: To develop economically viable vegetable production systems which improve soil, plant, human and planetary health through the application of regenerative organic management techniques. Objectives: 1. Measure differences in soil health over time in organic and conventional vegetable production systems. 2. Measure differences in nutrient density and quality of vegetables grown under organic and conventional production systems. 3. Measure differences in vegetable crop tolerance to insects, diseases and weed pressures in organic and conventional production systems. 4. Measure the link between soil health, plant health and human health. 5. Measure economic viability and long-term sustainability of each system over the long-term considering dynamic ecological and socio-economical patterns.

18 Pioneer in Nutrition Research Hunza Healthy Soil = Dr. Robert McCarrison, Director of Nutrition Research, India Healthy Food = Healthy People

19 Nutrients and Health Donald R Davis and Williams 1976 C=chow(control), CG=Chow+Glucose, AS=American Diet Supplemented, A=American Diet

20 Nutrients and Health 80 year changes in maize nutrient content in 45 varieties released between 1920 and 2001 Davis 2009

21 Nutrients and Health Change in fruit and vegetable nutrient status from tests in 1950 and Davis 2009

22 Soil Health = Plant Health = Human Health Nutrient Decline Davis et al. 2004, USDA data, Old-1950:New-1999, from Davis Calcium concentrations in Broccoli (mg/g) to to (Farnham et al. 2000)

23 Plant Health = Human Health Source: Economic Research Service with USDA and proprietary data Pesticide Action Network North America 2012

24 Plant Health = Human Health Partnership for Solutions Johns Hopkins and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Chronic Disease: Last more than one year, limiting, and requires ongoing care. Diabetes, cancer, glaucoma, heart disease, aesthma. In 2000, 20 million increase from 1996 Predicted to inflict 25% of Americans by % are under 44 years of age Average healthcare cost per person with chronic disease - $6,032

25 Nutrients and Health How can we increase the nutritional quality of crops?

26 Soil Health = Plant Health = Human Health

27 The Brown Revolution Principles Solving the Carbon Problem 1. MINIMIZE SOIL DISTURBANCE reduce tillage; use cover crops, compost, and mulch; manage livestock Keeping not Adding Carbon Soil is the Heart of the System 2. ENERGIZE WITH DIVERSITY diversify and lengthen rotation; use cover crops and compost Adding and Diversifying Carbon 3. KEEP THE SOIL COVERED reduce tillage; retain residue; use cover crops, compost, and mulch Keeping, Adding, and Diversifying Carbon 4. MAXIMIZE LIVING ROOTS diversify and lengthen the rotation; use carefully chosen cover crops; manage livestock Adding, Keeping, and Diversifying Carbon 5. INSERT LIVESTOCK manage animals including insects for soil Adding, Keeping, and Diversifying Carbon

28 Interactive Carbon Economy Plants trade carbon to fungi and bacteria Mycorrhizal fungi Rhizobium N fixation P-solubilization Aggregate formation Porosity Soil structure Nematodes and Protozoa eat bacteria and fungi for N Microarthropods prep residues for bacteria Protozoa can recycle 7 ng N per gram of soil per day plant needs ~0.2 ng

29 Soil Health = Plant Health = Human Health Are organic vegetables higher in nutrient content than conventional vegetables? Maybe? Higher concentrations of antioxidants plant stress from insect and disease, soil microbes? Lower Cadmium concentrations Lower pesticide residues Baranski et al British Journal of Nutrition

30 Nutrients and Health Role of agricultural practices 1. Conventional crops higher in protein but lower ratio of essential amino acids to non-essential amino acids. 2. High N use dilutes vitamins and minerals particularly vitamin C. 3. High N use reduces glucose which impacts flavor and vitamin C production. 4. High N use increases nitrates in vegetable crops, leafy greens. 5. High N use reduces storability or shelf-life. 6. High N use can increase insect and disease.

31 Soil Health = Plant Health = Human Health Soil Tests: Chemical analysis OM and Total Carbon Penetrometer surface and subsurface compaction Aggregate Stability CO 2 Burst Phospholipid Fatty Acid (PLFA) Water Holding Capacity Cornell University Soil Health Test Haney Soil Health Test Wards Laboratories Woods End Laboratories Fertility and Soil Health Test

32 Soil Health = Plant Health = Human Health Taking penetrometer readings to measure surface and sub-surface compaction Plant roots can t penetrate When psi 300 From Cornell Soil Health Manual

33 Cornell Soil Health Test

34 Nutrient Balancing ph and Nutrient Availability H + OH -

35 Nutrient Balancing Cations and Cation Exchange Capacity(CEC) CEC dependent on clay type and soil organic matter

36 Nutrient Balancing Albrecht Cation% Saturations 60-75% Calcium (Ca) 10-20% Magnesium (Mg) 2-5% Potassium (K) 0.5-5% Sodium (Na) 10% Hydrogen (H) 5% Other Cations Acres USA

37 Nutrient Balancing Calcium 1,500 to 2,000 ppm Calcium:Magnesium Ratio 4:1 to 7:1 Not mobile in the plant needed continuously during plant growth

38 Nutrient Balancing Phosphorus Phosphate P 2 O 5 Not all readily available ppm In good soil, about half will be available Mycorrhizal fungi important P 2 O 5 Conversion factor = 2.29 (0.437) Not mobile in soil Won t leach Will Erode

39 Nutrient Balancing Potassium Potash K 2 O 2 nd most needed element in quantity ppm 2-5% base saturation A lot in the soil but most of it is not available K 2 O conversion factor = 1.2 (0.83) 2:1 Magnesium:Potassium Need more K if magnesium is high in the soil

40 Nutrient Balancing Magnesium ppm 10-20% base saturation 2:1 ratio Magnesium:Potassium

41 Nutrient Balancing Sulfur 25 ppm 10-20% base saturation 1:10 Sulfur:Nitrogen

42 Nutrient Balancing Micronutrients Zinc 5 ppm Manganese 20 ppm Iron (Fe) 20 ppm Copper (Cu) 2 ppm Boron (B) 2 ppm

43 Nutrient Balancing

44 Nutrient Balancing

45 Nutrient Balancing ppm x 2 = lbs. per acre lbs. per acre/2 = ppm 2 million pounds of soil per acre in top 6 inches

46 Nutrient Balancing

47 Nutrient Balancing 304 Mg:48K = 6:1 ratio

48 Nutrient Balancing

49 Nutrient Balancing If 2 tons/acre applied Ca- 222 (111) S- 9.6 (4.8) Fe (26.8) Mn- 3.3 (1.6) Cu (0.09) Zn (0.33)

50 Nutrient Balancing Mineral-mineral-plant interactions

51 Nutrient Balancing - Fertigation Flowering: Cell Replication High Calcium needs Fruit Production: Cell Expansion High Potassium needs

52 Nutrient Balancing - Fertigation Potassium sulfate S Applied as a drench, weekly application throughout the season Need ~140 lbs./acre so 280 lbs. product 100 day crop / 7 = weeks as transplants and two weeks at end of crop = 10 weeks. So 28 lbs. per week Dissolve 1 lb. per 1 gal of water

53 Nutrient Balancing - Fertigation BORON COMPLEX 3.0% (OMRI) 1 U.S. Gallon Net Weight 9.22 lbs Liters 4.19 Kg. Specific Gravity 1.1 ph: 7.2 I want to add 0.8 ppm so 0.8 ppm x 2 = 1.6 lbs./acre

54 Nutrient Balancing - Fertigation BORON COMPLEX 3.0% (OMRI) 1 U.S. Gallon Net Weight 9.22 lbs Liters 4.19 Kg. Specific Gravity 1.1 ph: 7.2 I want to add 0.8 ppm so 0.8 ppm x 2 = 1.6 lbs./acre 1.6 lbs. B/Acre x Boron Complex/3% = 1.6 lbs B/ 0.03 = lbs. /acre

55 Nutrient Balancing - Fertigation BORON COMPLEX 3.0% (OMRI) 1 U.S. Gallon Net Weight 9.22 lbs Liters 4.19 Kg. Specific Gravity 1.1 ph: 7.2 I want to add 0.8 ppm so 0.8 ppm x 2 = 1.6 lbs./acre 1.6 lbs. B/Acre x Boron Complex/3% = 1.6 lbs B/ 0.03 = lbs. /acre lbs./acre x 1 gal./9.22 lbs. = lbs./9.22 lbs. = 5.78 gal./acre 5.78 gal./10 weeks = gal per week

56 Nutrient Balancing Average amounts of minerals in different manure sources (lbs/ton) Manure Source Calcium Magnesium Sulfur Iron Copper Zinc Boron Dairy Beef Swine Horse Sheep Chicken From The Biological Farmer, Gary Zimmer University of Wisconsin Extension Publication A1672

57 Brix: Mid-Season Monitoring

58 Mid-Season Monitoring Brix: Take samples in the middle of the day Always take samples the same time of day Don t sample on shady days Samples should be read at ~68 F or adjusted (see chart) Sharp line indicates high sugar Blurry line indicates higher mineral content Pike Agri-Lab - a good source for equipment and information

59 Mid-Season Monitoring Tissue Test:

60 Mid-Season Monitoring Sap Analysis:

61 Mid-Season Monitoring Sap Analysis: Mobile and Non-Mobile Plant Nutrients Mobile Limited Mobility Non-Mobile Nitrogen (N) Zinc (Zn) Calcium (Ca) Phosphorus (P) Boron (B) Silicon (Si) Potassium (K) Iron (Fe) Magnesium (Mg) Manganese (Mn) Sodium (Na) Copper (Cu) Chlorine (Cl) Molybdenum (Mo) Sulfur (S) Nickel (Ni)

62 Creating High Brix Crops 1. ph: Needs to be in proper range 2. Balance soil nutrients no limitations 3. Feed Potassium After flowering and during fruit development - Applied as drench or foliar!high Brix does not mean nutrient dense!

63 References The Biological Farmer, Gary F. Zimmer Science in Agriculture, Dr. Arden B. Anderson Albrecht s Foundation Concepts, William A. Albrecht by Charles Walters, ACRES, USA The Intelligent Gardner, Steve Solomon Pike Agri-Lab, for testing equipment and information