Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD) to Control Verticillium and Weed Seed Germination

No-Till Agriculture in Organic Specialty Crops

This 5-year project will examine the impact of no-till agriculture on crop productivity, carbon sequestration, and farm revenues. CASFS has an opportunity to take a lead role in research and leadership around no-till practices for specialty crops. Given that 53% of the nation’s organic fresh fruits and vegetables are grown in California, moving towards sustainable no-till practices here could have a significant national impact on agriculture and food production, while reducing agriculture’s negative contributions to climate change (Klonsky, 2010). Beginning in 2018, this project will proceed over five years and in two phases. Phase 1, beginning in year 1 and lasting 30 months, entails a thorough analysis of no-till experiments in organic specialty crops on commercial farms around the country and a review of relevant literature on no-till projects in specialty crops. Data will be collected on soil and input characteristics on 6-10 no-till, specialty crop microfarms across the country. These data would look at traditional soil analyses (soil organic matter [SOM]%, N, P, K, pH, cation, % saturation) at varying depths, and nutrient analysis of inputs to assess the nutrient production potential of these soils and the nutrient load applied. These data will be compared to the same values in native soils and other tilled farm operations in their respective regions to assess carbon sequestration potential. This quantitative analysis will be paired with in-depth grower interviews to understand the specific production practices on each farm. Farm agronomic and economic data will also be collected, including crop yields, debt-to-income ratios, gross sales and expenditures (including labor costs), and net income. Practices from the case-study farms will be used to design and implement Phase 2 of the project, using innovative new practices from across the country as well as implementing a transition period for the soil before the actual planting of a no-till crop. In Phase 2 of the study, Wong will compare the effects of three treatments in a replicated field trial on a quarter-acre plot at the UCSC Farm: no-till, reduced tillage, and the standard CASFS tillage practices, using mustard as a winter cover crop prior to a romaine crop, and buckwheat as a summer cover prior to a broccoli crop. Data collected will include soil carbon at various depths, SOM%, and soil bulk density, as well as crop yields. For details of the study design, see the 2018 year-end report. This phase will continue for 3 cropping seasons, beginning in winter 2018. CASFS/UCSC participants: Darryl Wong Funding: Ida and Robert Gordon Family Foundation Related articles

• Grant supports farm research

• No-till study underway at the UCSC Farm

Phylogenetic Disease Ecology of Plants

Pathogens can often attack multiple species. This could affect how pathogens spread and the impact of the diseases they cause. Two host species are more likely to share a pathogen when they are closely related to each other. This multi-year research project explores three important predictions that follow from this simple idea. The first is that in nature, the complex networks of plants and their pathogens will be structured in predictable ways that reflect the evolutionary relationships among the species. Second, when a new plant species (such as a crop) is introduced into an area, pathogens will “spill over” from close relatives already growing there. Third, because pathogens are less likely to spread between species that are not closely related, mixtures of crop species could be designed to suppress disease pressure in agriculture. In the process of testing these predictions, the we will develop new analytical tools for the study of plant disease and for the protection of agriculture and other plant resources. The large training component of this project will include high school classes, college classes, senior thesis students, and PhD students. Participating students will engage in active, experiential learning in forest ecology, ecological monitoring, agroecology and ecological horticulture, and both laboratory and bioinformatics aspects of metagenomics. For each of the three components of the project, we will take advantage of a quantitative model previously developed and validated that predicts how pathogen host ranges are constrained by the evolutionary relationships among host plants. In a novel application of network theory, we will incorporate phylogenetic structure into network models for plant-pathogen interactions. We will use a metagenomics approach (identifying all fungal species growing inside plants by extracting and sequencing their DNA, sometimes called an eDNA approach) to characterize the plant-pathogen networks of three plant communities and will test predictions against the empirical networks. Novel hosts will be used in a transplant experiment in the field and an inoculation experiment in the laboratory to measure which local fungi colonize novel hosts, and how the phylogenetic structure of local plant-fungus networks affects fungal spillover to novel hosts. Finally, collaborating with the CASFS certified organic research farm, we will test whether the “Dilution Effect” lowers disease pressure in cover crop mixtures, and whether greater phylogenetic distance among intercropped species suppresses disease. CASFS/UCSC participants: Ingrid Parker, Greg Gilbert, Darryl Wong. Funding: National Science Foundation (NSF DEB-1655896) 2017-2020 Selected related publication –

Diverse campus landscapes are ideal outdoor laboratories—and classrooms, UCSC News

Implementing Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation for Soilborne Disease Control in Strawberries and Apple Nurseries

Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) controls soilborne disease by acid fermentation process through anaerobic decomposition of incorporated carbon sources (see above). Rice bran is the most typical carbon source for ASD in California. However the cost of rice bran is increasing and the use of cover crop as a carbon source may be able to reduce the cost and the carbon footprint of the practice. This 3-year grant supports an ongoing pilot study iat the CASFS/UCSC Farm comparing Sudan grass or wheat as cover crop, each cover crop plus reduced rate of rice bran, rice bran only, and un-treated check. Soil N dynamics and strawberry yield are being monitored. CASFS/UCSC participants: Carol Shennan, Joji Muramoto Funding Source: US Department of Agriculture Methyl Bromide Transition Program

Insect Biodiversity in Santa Cruz Area Urban Gardens: Baseline Date and an Opportunity for Undergraduate Research

Urbanization threatens biodiversity, but urban gardens may provide an oasis for biodiversity while also providing social and economic benefits. Anecdotal and empirical evidence suggests that urban gardens provide habitat and improve air quality and protect nearby residents from flooding. Gardens can increase multiculturalism, cross-cultural exchange, and provide spaces for meetings and recreational activities. Gardens have been linked to increased health of residents and garden produce can sometimes be sold, contributing to local economies. Insects are diverse and abundant organisms. In agroecosystems, including urban gardens, insects provide important services, such as pollination and pest control. However, few studies have examined the drivers of insect biodiversity in urban gardens, and the implications of this diversity for pollination and pest control services. This project examines insect biodiversity in 19 urban gardens in the Central Coast region, including the handworked gardens at the UCSC Farm and UCSC’s Alan Chadwick Garden. Garden study sites capture a range of landscape diversity (e.g. forest, farmland, pasture, or urban sprawl), a range of economic status, and a large degree of cultural diversity. Insect sampling focuses on 5 groups including one group of pollinators (bees), and four groups of organisms that provide pest control services (ants, spiders, wasps, and ground beetles). UCSC undergraduates are assisting with sampling insects and plants, and students with interest in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are examining the landscapes surrounding each study site. Project goals include collecting preliminary data on insect biodiversity in gardens in communities that differ in surrounding landscape, economic status, and ethnic backgrounds; laying the groundwork for a research program investigating biodiversity and ecosystem services in urban habitats; and providing a research umbrella under which UCSC undergraduates can complete senior exit internships and theses. CASFS/UCSC participants: Stacy Philpott, UCSC Research Specialist Peter Bichier, UCSC undergraduate students Simone Albuquerque, Stephanie Coronado, Michelle Otoshi, Robyn Quistberg, and Casey Wing. Cooperators: City of San Jose Community Gardens, City of Santa Cruz City Gardens, Salinas Chinatown Garden, ME Earth, Our Green Thumb at Monterey Institute of International Studies, Seaside Giving Garden, Mi Jardin Verde, Homeless Garden Project, Live Oak Grange, Aptos Community Garden, Salinas Community Garden, The Forge at Santa Clara University. Funding: UCSC New Faculty Research Grant.

Natural Enemies in the Garden