Final report for FW16-029
Project Information
Summary:
This project is titled "Alternative Vegetable Crops and Production Methods for American Samoa." American Samoa imports most of the vegetables sold here. Local vegetable production suffers because of a lack of identifying the types of vegetables and their varieties that will grow easily in our local conditions. Another need here is to evaluate production methods that will increase local vegetable production, such as vegetable grafting, use of low cost covers to reduce damage from heavy rains and winds, utilizing locally sourced organic material for soil amendment, such as coconut coir, dry litter piggery compost and fishmeal.
Project Objectives:
Through randomized complete block design trials, we will identify new crops and their varieties that are heat, disease and pest tolerant in American Samoa's tropical conditions.
We will evaluate grafting of tomato onto eggplant rootstock and bell pepper onto chili pepper rootstock for production in bacterial wilt affected soils.
We will evaluate the effect of low cost rain covers, drip irrigation and bird netting (reduce damage from excessive rains, exclude fruit piercing moth and bird damage) on tomato yield compared to the traditional , non irrigated field production method.
Research
Materials and methods:
No RCBD trials conducted yet.
Research results and discussion:
No results.
Participation Summary
1 Producers participating in research
Research Outcomes
No research outcomes
Education and Outreach
Participation Summary:
Education and outreach methods and analyses:
2 neighboring farmers visited the farm and composting and soil amendments were explained to them.
Feb 2018. One demonstration of 16 varieties of Oriental Squash was conducted. Five varieties did not thrive in American Samoa climate and conditions. Eleven varieties showed heat and disease tolerance. One variety, Winter Squash Hybrid Taiwan Honey, from Evergreen Seeds (http://www.evergreenseeds.com/wisqhytaho.html) produced fruit.
May 31, 2019. No additional education or outreach conducted.
3 Farmers intend/plan to change their practice(s)
Education and Outreach Outcomes
Recommendations for education and outreach:
Project is not complete. Evaluation of other vegetable crops is still needed. Outreach is still needed.
3 Producers reported gaining knowledge, attitude, skills and/or awareness as a result of the project
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.