Research Projects for 2009
ME08305-08H J. Smagula
Physiology and culture of the lowbush blueberry
Plant cover in some blueberry field is poor, especially in newly developed field. Nutrional deficiencies are
limiting yield of lowbush blueberry. The tissue culture projects examine ways of more effectively propagating
selected clones and increasing establishment through rhizome development. Nutritional status may be improved by
lowering soil pH, and through proper timing of foliar nutrient sprays. Gypsum may allow the use of lower rates
of chemical fertilizer to correct nutrient deficiencies.
ME08313-08H R. Moran
Improving economic and environmental sustainability in tree-fruit
production through changes in rootstock use
The apple industry requires highly adapted and productive rootstocks to maintain competitiveness in a
global market. To remain competitive, Maine growers must have up-to-date information to make appropriate
choices of rootstocks for their orchards. Appropriate selection of rootstock can have a large impact on
profitability. New rootstocks, recently released from breeding programs, require testing to determine
adaptability to Maine╞s climate and productivity. This project will evaluate size-controlling rootstocks
for their suitability for commercial apple production in Maine.
ME08314A D. Yarborough
A national agricultural program to clear pest control agents for minor uses
Growers of minor crops have fewer pesticides available to them compared to major crops. The IR-4 program
is aggressively funding research and residue studies on reduced risk alternative pesticides, so that safer
alternatives will be available as those pesticides that present the greatest risk are withdrawn for use on minor
crops. This will allow wild blueberry and cranberry and other minor crop growers to have the minor use pesticides
they need to efficiently produce their crops.
ME08362-07H D. Zhang, M. Rumpho, L. Stack
Managing noxious invasive plants in Maine
Noxious invasive plants cause more than $40 billion loss per year to the U.S. economy; a figure that is increasing
at a rate of 10% annually. This project investigates the current status of invasive plants in Maine and manages
to better control their overall damages.
ME08365-08H G. Porter, P. Ocaya, D. Lambert, A. Bushway, R. Bushway, M. Camire
Potato breeding, selection, and variety development for Maine and the eastern U.S.
Currently available potato varieties are susceptible to one or more important diseases or pests. They are also
often lacking in several important quality factors. Improved disease resistance and marketability would improve
profitability for Maine potato growers and others in the eastern U.S. This project is focused on the breeding,
selection, and commercial development of improved new potato varieties to solve production and marketing problems
for Maine growers and those in other eastern U.S. states.
ME084617-07 D. Lambert, S. Johnson
Biology and control of soil-borne diseases of potato
Powdery Scab - a) The effects of rotation crops and potential for biofumigation for management of powdery scab
will be assessed. b) A long-term potato cropping study will be monitored to determine the degree to which various
rotation crops, management techniques and edaphic factors affect powdery scab. Pink Rot - a) Potato varieties will
be evaluated for comparative susceptibility to direct tuber infection and the more common indirect stolon infection.
b) Sensitive and resistant populations mixes will be monitored in the absence of fungicide selection pressure to assess
long-term fitness. Powdery scab - a) A crop study (potato, mustard for green manure, canola, oat, barley) in a 5 X 5
design inoculated with infected potatoes was established in 2005. These plots will be bioassayed for differential
changes in the pathogen population by tomato root assays and planting of strips of potatoes over a perid of several
years. b) Treatments in a 15 A cropping study include manure/compost amendments and 2 or 4 year potato rotations.
Powdery scab incidence, soil properties and crops vary considerably within this trial. Additional edaphic properties
(texture, pore space, structure) will be determined and correlated with powdery scab incidence as indicated by root
galling. Pink rot - a) The relative susceptibility of 20 potato varieties to pink rot is being assessed under inoculated
field conditions and by direct zoospore inoculation of detached tubers. These two methods will be compared to determine
how well they correspond and to indicate tissue-specific differences in varietal susceptibility. b) In the absense of
fungicide selection pressure, mixed populations of strains sensitive or resistant to mefenoxam will be monitored for
long-term sifts in composition. At harvest, all infected tubers will be recovered and isolates will be characterized
for mefenoxam resistance
ME08802-05 G. Porter
Refinement of soil and nutrient management systems for irrigated and non-irrigated potato cropping systems
Potato producers in the Northeast require management practices that will provide a high quality product for new
and expanding markets, while also optimizing yields under the region's variable soil and climatic conditions.
This project will develop new information on supplemental irrigation, nutrient, soil amendment, and storage
management practices to improve potato yield and quality in the Northeast.
ME08806-08H D. Yarborough
Weed and pest management in wild blueberries
Weeds, diseases and vertebrate depredation reduce the yield and quality of wild blueberries. The purpose of
this study is to develop chemical and cultural weed management techniques, to determine the most effective
disease control and to understand the level of vertebrate depredation in order to allow wild blueberries to
maintain production efficiency.
ME08814-08H M. Erich
Effects of alternative fertilizer materials on soil quality and nutrient availability
Most Maine farms are small, and many are diversified, supplying niche markets such as organic produce and milk.
These diverse producers employ a diversity of products and strategies for controlling pests and supplying plant
nutrients to their crops. Maine farmers are innovators, particularly those in the organic farming community. Few
producers, organic or conventional, use only proven management strategies. Many alternative management practices,
although often innovative and environmentally benign, are time-consuming and thus expensive to implement. Some
management practices include expensive purchased inputs, such as specialty composts or rock powders, which supply
mineral nutrients in compliance with organic restrictions. There is a need for research-based information evaluating
the effectiveness of alternative soil amendments. The over-arching goal of the proposed project is to generate
research-based information on alternative soil amendments. This information is necessary in order to evaluate the
effectiveness of products and management strategies designed to improve soil quality, supply plant nutrients, and
suppress plant pests.
ME08818-06 T. Ohno
Chemical characterization of the hydrophilic fraction of organic matter
isolated from soils and organic amendments
The hydrophillic fraction of organic matter has not been investigated in detail by soil chemists. This project
will determine the characteristics of the hydrophillic fraction of organic matter and how it reacts will soils.
ME08823-05 M. Sarrantonio
Cover Crops for Soil Quality Enhancement in Maine Cropping Systems
Cover crops are commonly used for soil improvement, and nitrogen additions, but there is little information
guiding farmers about the effects of timing or species choice in fulfilling their goals. This project looks at
a wide range of cover crop management and species choices to recommned the best combinations to accomplish various
famring systems goals.
ME08825-07 M. Hutton, D. Handley, B. Calder, M. Camire
Evaluation of vegetable varieties and improvements in vegetable crop management for Maine
Maine vegetable growers face several difficult challenges to economically viable vegetable production, not least of
which, is Maine's short growing season. Vegetable growers are also confronted with declining numbers of vegetable
varieties developed for short cool growing seasons. This project seeks to develop practical solutions to economically
viable vegetable production in Maine by identify vegetable varieties suitable for production in the region and through
development and refining cultural management practices.
ME08828-06 S. Burnett
Developing and integrating components for commercial greenhouse production
systems
Some greenhouse irrigation practices use water inefficiently and increase the potential for leaching of water
soluble nutrients. This project will determine whether irrigation and fertigation efficiency may be improved by
automating irrigation using substrate moisture sensors.
ME08834-06 E. Gallandt
Soil-improving practices for ecological weed management
Throughout the Northeast, weeds are a recurrent and ubiquitous problem on organic and diversified vegetable farms.
These two groups share the need for ecologically-based weed management strategies, the former because herbicides are
not permitted, and the latter because relatively few herbicides are labeled for the so-called "minor use crops."
Although alternative systems may successfully limit crop yield loss to comparable levels obtained with conventional
management, weed control efficacy may be lower and more variable than in conventional systems, resulting in larger
annual inputs into the weed "seed bank," i.e., the quantity of viable seeds present in the soil and on its surface.
To assure success of alternative systems, biological and cultural weed management methods must be accompanied by efforts
to reduce weed seed banks and maintain them at low levels. Higher weed densities and weed seed inputs associated with
alternative management strategies may not have negative long term economic consequences if seed bank densities can be
maintained at low levels. This project aims to develop soil-improving management practices that impose multiple stresses
at key life-stage transitions in annual weeds, including germination and establishment, growth and reproduction, and
persistence in the seed bank. Three field projects addressing distinct but related objectives will be conducted to
determine the potential weed management contributions of cover cropping practices.
ME08852-08MRF G. Porter, A. Bushway, M. Camire, V. Wu, D. Lambert, G. Sewell
Collaborative potato breeding and variety development activities to enhance farm sustainability in the eastern U.S.
Currently available potato vareties are susceptible to one or more important diseases or pests. They are also often
lacking in several important quality factors. Improved disease resistance and marketability would improve profitability
for Maine potato growers and others in the eastern U.S. This project is focused on the breeding, selection, and commercial
development of improved new potato varieties to solve production and marketing problems for Maine growers and those in
other eastern U.S. states.
ME08912-09 M. Erich, G. Porter, A. Alyokhin, E. Gallandt, D. Lambert, E. Mallory
Plant productivity, nutrient cycling, and pest ecology in carbon-enriched potato cropping systems
Management strategies that reduce agrichemical use while maintaining or improving yield, crop quality, and net
returns are needed to satisfy broad goals related to stewardship and profitability in crop production systems.
The Maine Potato Industry is the largest potato industry in the eastern U.S. The Maine potato industry is extremely
important to Maine's overall economy with the following estimated impacts: $540 million in sales, 6,100 jobs, over
$230 million in personal income, and over $32 million in state and local sales tax. Information gained on potato
cropping systems in Maine can be extended to much of the potato industry of the eastern and northern regions of the
U.S. and Canada. One drawback of conventional potato production systems is their heavy reliance on purchased inputs
of synthetic fertilizers, fuels, and pesticides. As concerns have mounted regarding the impacts of agricultural
practices on the environment, especially water quality and greenhouse gas emissions, agricultural researchers are
being asked to take a more holistic perspective. Research objectives are no longer a matter of maximizing yields or
minimizing costs, but instead focus on prevention of environmental degradation while maintaining reasonable profitability.
Results from this research will support efforts to produce potatoes in the most economical, least environmentally
damaging way possible.
ME09803-05 I. Fernandez
Forest soils of Maine--Responses to environmental alterations
Long-term, chronic deposition of atmospheric nitrogen and sulfur from air pollution, combined with a changing climate,
are changing forest ecosystems. This research provides information on how forested ecosystems function in these
changing pollution and climatic regimes. This will help us predict future conditions in forests, develop policy to
limit negative effects on forests and surface waters, and development management strategies to adapt.
