Final report for LS22-366
Project Information
The Southeastern U.S. is the second-largest peach-producing region in the country. However, producing peaches in the southeast is challenging due to the climate favorable for pest and disease development. In addition, orchard soils have low soil organic carbon content, meager soil fertility, and poor soil structure, which inflicts tree stress that negatively impacts pest and disease tolerance and may lead to reduced yields. Current commercial practices do little to improve the soils.
Bacterial diseases intensify from both the favorable climate and stress-induced predisposition to infection. Bacterial spot (caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni) and bacterial canker (caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae) are the two most important bacterial diseases of peach and cause significant direct annual losses - up to $22 million in South Carolina and Georgia alone (estimates from SC/GA Peach Councils). Bacterial spots on peach leaves could lead to severe defoliation, and spots on fruit significantly reduce the marketable yield. Bacterial canker on woody tissues leads to shoot death and tree death. Managing these two diseases is very challenging. There are no cultivars with absolute resistance to either of the two diseases; only a few cultivars are tolerant to bacterial spot and no cultivar has tolerance to bacterial canker. Currently, no chemical control options are available for bacterial canker, and bacterial spot management mainly relies on weekly sprays of copper and antibiotics during the growing season. These chemicals could negatively impact the environment and have led to emergence of copper-tolerant and antibiotic-resistant pathogens, as recently found in SC, indicating an even greater need for new management options.
Our goal was to improve sustainability of the southeastern peach production systems by developing holistic strategies to improve disease management and tree health. In collaboration with peach producers, a multi-disciplinary team of plant pathologists, horticulturist, soil biogeochemist, economist, and entomologist conducted systems research to: 1) develop sustainable tree spray programs with biopesticides to reduce bacterial diseases; 2) assess sustainable soil management practices and their integration with spray programs on reducing bacterial diseases; 3) evaluate the spray programs and soil practices and their integration on tree health/performance, soil health, and management of other diseases and pests; and 4) develop an enterprise budget for organic peach production. In this project, we identified the best biopesticide spray program in both dormant and growing seasons that consistently reduced spring canker and bacterial spot on both leaves and fruit without causing phytotoxicity. We found that addition of organic materials could enhance soil ecosystem function, reduce tree nutritional stress, improve tree health, activate tree self-defense, improve water retention and nutrient cycling, thereby reducing bacterial disease pressure and improving fruit marketable quality. The first enterprise budget for organic peach production in South Carolina was developed. We conducted outreach activities to disseminate project results to producers, agricultural professionals, the scientific communities, and general public. We expect our findings to benefit the entire production system of peach as well as other stone fruits affected by the same diseases, and to contribute to the long-range improvement of U.S. agriculture.
- Develop sustainable spray programs with biopesticides to reduce bacterial diseases;
- Assess sustainable soil management practices and their integration with spray programs on reducing bacterial diseases in research orchards;
- Evaluate the independent spray programs and soil practices and their integration on tree health/performance, soil health, and management of other diseases and pests;
- Develop an enterprise budget for organic peach production.
Cooperators
Research
Objective 1: Develop sustainable spray programs with biopesticides to reduce bacterial diseases.
In the growing season, spray treatments were evaluated annually for managing bacterial spot in the research peach fields during 2022 to 2025 and in the commercial peach orchards during 2024 to 2025. The spray treatments were applied every 7-10 days, with four replicates/trees per treatment. Trees not receiving any bactericide treatments in the research field and trees receiving the growers’ standard spray programs in the commercial orchards served as controls. Copper spray was included as the growers’ standard treatment for comparison. Disease incidence and severity were rated biweekly on the leaves of randomly chosen five shoots and 50 fruit per tree in the research field, and 100 fruit per tree in growers’ orchards.
During the dormant season, spray treatments were evaluated for reducing spring canker in the research orchards during 2022 to 2024 and in the commercial peach orchards during 2023 to 2024. The biopesticide spray treatments were applied three to four times before forecasted rain events during the leaf drop period. There were four replicates/trees per treatment; copper and untreated control was included as control. In the following spring, incidence and severity of spring canker were recorded from ten randomly selected twigs per tree.
Biopesticide spray treatments for managing bacterial canker through pruning wounds were evaluated in potted tree trials during 2022 to 2023 and in detached twig assays during 2024 to 2025. In the potted tree trial, there were four replications/twigs per treatment. One-year-old peach twigs were pruned and sprayed immediately with biopesticide treatments, copper, and sterile water (control) followed by two more spray applications before forecasted rain events. Canker lesion lengths were measured in early spring. For the detached twig assay, one-year-old dormant peach twigs were collected from peach trees and inoculated after biopesticide or copper spray treatments. Canker lesion lengths on the twigs were measured in 5-6 weeks after inoculation. Each experiment was repeated at least twice. All the disease data from the above trials were analyzed with a generalized mixed effect linear mixed model in R.
Objective 2: Assess sustainable soil management practices and their integration with spray programs on reducing bacterial diseases in research orchards.
The impact of sustainable soil management practices on the incidence and severity of bacterial diseases was evaluated over the course of three years (2022 to 2024) in South Carolina peach orchards. This study comprised field trials with different soil amendment programs, amongst which includes a study in 2022 where: 1) Municipal mulch was added to a young orchard that had previously received composted mulch before planting (incorporated); 2) Mulch (with or without chicken manure) was added to a mature orchard; and 3) Compost was added to a young orchard that received compost from food waste before planting (incorporated). The mature orchard (#2), known to have a natural presence of bacterial spot every year, was spray-inoculated with a local Xap strain of bacterial spot (10^6 CFU/ml) alongside the other three orchards used in this study (mature and young orchards).
In 2023, we maintained the same number of orchards as in 2022. Xap canker was rated in the spring. The best biopesticide from the 2022 trials was sprayed on a subset of mature trees from each treatment in orchard # 2. The effect of the soil amendment programs on the bacterial spot incidence and severity was re-evaluated in 2023, but with higher strength/doses of bacterial spot inoculum. Specifically, in May 2023, 5× 107 cfu/ml of a local Xap strain was foliarly applied in all three orchards. Leaf and fruit incidence and severity of bacterial spot were assessed in all orchards; leaf evaluations took place monthly during spring and summer, and fruit evaluations were carried out on samples of 25 fruit/tree harvested three times during harvest season. Fruit was harvested at commercial ripeness. Bacterial spot severity on fruit was evaluated with a visual scale (0-5).
In 2024, we repeated the 2023 trials. Maintaining the same sample size and disease evaluation protocols, leaf and fruit bacterial spot incidence and severity from all orchards were assessed. Over time, the disease severity on leaves was determined by calculating the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). The leaf data from all orchards were processed in Microsoft Excel and, where necessary, transformed and analyzed using the repeated measure analysis in the 2025 Students’ Edition of JMP statistical package. In contrast, fruit data was analyzed using a two-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) of a linear model in the 2025 Students’ Edition of JMP statistical package.
Objective 3: Evaluate the independent spray programs and soil practices and their integration on tree health/performance, soil health, and management of other diseases and pests.
Soil samples were collected twice a year from depths of 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm, and then analyzed for soil health parameters. Collected soil samples were sieved (2 mm) and stored at 4 °C until use. Soil samples were analyzed for water content by oven-drying at 60 °C until the weight was constant. Soil pH and electrical conductivity were measured by mixing soil with deionized water at a 1:1 ratio and equilibrating for 30 min before taking the reading with an Orion Star A325 pH/conductivity meter. Soil inorganic nitrogen pools were estimated by extracting available ammonium and nitrate from the soil using 1 M potassium chloride. Nitrogen mineralization was estimated by incubating the soil under anaerobic conditions for seven days, followed by the extraction of the available ammonium in the soil and comparison with the initial ammonium concentration. Microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen in soil were estimated using the chloroform fumigation method. Soil microbial enzyme activities, i.e., β-glucosidase (carbon cycling) and leucine aminopeptidase (nitrogen cycling), were estimated through the fluorescence method. Active carbon was estimated by reacting 0.2 M potassium permanganate with the soil. Microbial respiration was measured by incubating soil in the dark for 24 hours at room temperature to estimate the short-term carbon mineralization. Tree horticultural performance such as gas exchange, tree water status, yield, marketable yield, fruit quality were also measured. Other diseases and pests were monitored in the field trials.
Objective 4: Evaluate the profitability of the new spray programs and soil practices and develop an enterprise budget for organic peach production.
In collaboration with the organic producer, we developed the first enterprise budget for organic peach production in the southeast. The budget included the traditional sections [revenue, establishment cost, and cost for harvesting (e.g, labor cost)] and fixed costs. The profitability of the organic peach orchard was evaluated using Net Present Value under the assumption of a 14-year tree life, for different price levels.
Objective 1: Develop sustainable spray programs with biopesticides to reduce bacterial diseases.
Theia was found to be the best biopesticide treatment that its dormant season sprays reduced spring canker consistently and its growing season sprays reduced bacterial spot on both leaves and fruit without causing phytotoxicity. LifeGard and Agriphage reduced bacterial spots on fruit, but their efficacy on leaves was lower. Application of copper caused more damage to leaves than bacterial spot, but it was still the best treatment reducing bacterial spot on fruit. Agwash (quat ammonium) was another treatment reducing bacterial spot on both leaves and fruit, but it also caused phytotoxicity on leaves. The treatments alternating copper, Theia, and Agwash performed similarly as the copper alone treatment on bacterial spot management, but they reduced the amount of copper phytotoxicity on leaves. In the potted tree trials for bacterial canker, three biopesticide treatments showed efficacy reducing canker lesion length compared to the untreated control. The new spray treatments with biopesticides will benefit the peach production by providing more sustainable options for management of peach bacterial diseases.
Objective 2: Assess sustainable soil management practices and their integration with spray programs on reducing bacterial diseases in research orchards.
The results showed that even though the impact of soil management practices depends majorly on the weather and varies between orchards, the addition of organic materials, either by direct incorporation prior to tree establishment or surface application through soil covering, could contribute to bacterial spot incidence and severity reduction and improvement of fruit marketable quality.
Objective 3: Evaluate the independent spray programs and soil practices and their integration on tree health/performance, soil health, and management of other diseases and pests
Soil amendment with organic mulch material increased the electrical conductivity of the soil but did not alter the soil pH. In addition, soil ammonium and nitrate concentrations were higher at both the 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depths when the soil was amended with mulch compared to the grower standard. Similarly, active carbon, microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen and enzyme activities (β-glucosidase and leucine aminopeptidase) were also higher in both mulch and poultry-amended treatments compared to the grower standard. Both composted mulch and poultry litter amendments increased the organic nitrogen mineralization potential in soil; however, carbon mineralization was similar to that of the grower standard.
The results pointed that 1) organic material amendment (composted mulch and poultry litter) in soil improved soil organic carbon and nutrient availability by increasing the microbial biomass and enzyme activities 2) the improvement in soil health parameters is dependent on substrate quality and can be observed till 30 cm depth, and 3) increasing the amendment rate might not have a proportional effect on soil properties due to the saturation effect. Furthermore, improved soil health parameters resulting from soil amendments altered soil microbial diversity, enhanced tree health by reducing nutritional stress, and activated the tree's self-defense mechanisms by improving water and nutritional availability. No other diseases an of spray programs and soil practices on other diseases and pests was observed.
Objective 4: Evaluate the profitability of the new spray programs and soil practices and develop an enterprise budget for organic peach production.
The first enterprise budget for organic peach production in South Carolina (SC) was developed through close collaboration and discussions with Watsonia Farms. This effort provided valuable insights into the cost structure, production practices, and market considerations specific to organic peach operations in the SC. A Monte Carlo simulation was applied to the enterprise budget to evaluate profitability under scenarios with stochastic prices, interest rates, and yields, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of risk and uncertainty. The analysis confirmed that profitability is highly sensitive to price fluctuations, underscoring the importance of market stability and risk management strategies for organic producers. Additionally, this project contributed to graduate student training, providing hands-on experience in enterprise budgeting, data analysis, and simulation modeling for agricultural decision-making.
Together, this project provided training opportunities for four graduate students, four research associates, and at least six summer interns. One peer-reviewed research manuscript has been published and five more manuscripts are being prepared for submission.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
Year 1:
- Surveyed underrepresented minority producers for needs assessment through Sierra Club, SCNBFP, SC WAgN, and our collaborator Julian Nixon. Surveys were also given out at the Appreciation Festival for Farmers and Farmworkers in Rembert, SC.
- Presented a poster about this project at the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference. Over 200 farmers and agricultural professionals attended this conference.
- Wang, H., G. Schnabel, J.C. Melgar, R. Ye, M. Vassalos, and B. Blaauw. 2023. Development of sustainable strategies for managing bacterial diseases and improving tree health in the peach production system. Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference, Savannah, GA, January 2023.
- Presented a talk about this project at the Peach Production Meeting in Edgefield, SC. About 40 farmers and agricultural professionals attended this meeting.
- Schnabel, G. Peach Disease Management. Peach Production Meeting, Clemson Extension, Edgefield SC. February 2023.
- Presented a talk about this project at the Clemson Plant Pathologist Meeting. About 15 students and 5 faculty members attended this meeting.
- Ahmed, J. Development of novel spray programs to improve management of bacterial diseases in peach trees. Clemson Plant Pathologist Meeting, March 2023.
- Presented a talk about this project at the Materials Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) symposium. About 50 agricultural professionals attended this meeting.
- Wang, H. Management of bacterial spot in the southeastern peach production. 2022 MISA Symposium, Orlando, FL, October 2022.
- Presented a poster at the 2022 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. About 3100 people attended this meeting.
- Parajuli, B., Hopkins, J., Poudel, P., Ye, R. 2022. Compost application improved microbial activity and nutrient availability in southeastern piedmont soils. ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD. November 2022. https://scisoc.confex.com/scisoc/2022am/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/146246.
- Presented an invited seminar about this project at the Presbyterian college. About 30 students and 10 faculty members attended this seminar.
- Wang, H. Towards a better understanding and improved management of plant bacterial diseases. Seminar, Presbyterian College, Clinton, SC, April 2022.
- Presented a round table on soil health of peach orchards that included a discussion on field studies part of this project at the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference. About 20 farmers and agricultural professionals attended the discussion.
- Presented about peach production at the SCNBFP annual workshop. About 40 farmers attended this workshop.
- Presented a talk at the SE Professional Fruit Workers Conference. About 70 agricultural professionals attended this meeting.
- Lykins, S., Lawrence, B.T., Melgar, J.C, and Schnabel, G. 2022. Bronzing and bacterial spot in peach trees under municipal mulch and chicken litter soil amendments. Southeastern Professional Fruit Workers Conference, Lake Alfred, FL, November 2022.
- Established a Clemson blog https://blogs.clemson.edu/pbds/ for this project.
- Gave four tours of the experimental orchards to six stakeholders (from compost/mulch and fertilizer companies); the different soil management treatments, and the impact on reducing synthetic fertilization and on tree health were discussed with them.
- Recruited and trained three graduate students under this project. Trained five undergraduate interns.
- The PIs and students on the project presented annual progress to the farmer cooperators, collaborators, and advisory board at the annual project team meeting in January, 2023. The meeting notes were sent to the whole project team afterwards.
- A news article was published about this project.
- Attaway, D. 2022. Grant helps Clemson researchers fight peach bacterial diseases, support underserved producers. https://news.clemson.edu/grant-helps-clemson-researchers-fight-peach-bacterial-diseases-support-underserved-producers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=grant-helps-clemson-researchers-fight-peach-bacterial-diseases-support-underserved-producers
Year 2:
- Published a paper.
- Lawrence, B., and Melgar, J. C. 2024. Efect of Municipal Mulch and Poultry Litter Amendments on Soil and Tree Parameters of a Mature Peach Orchard in a Humid Subtropical Climate. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutri. Doi: 10.1007/s42729-024-01666-4.
- Conducted three on-farm spray trials during the dormant season.
- Published two YouTube videos.
- Presented two posters about this project at the Second (2nd) Annual CAFLS Graduate Research Symposium, Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science. About 140 Graduate students and professors attended this event.
- Ahmed, J., G. Schnabel, and Wang. Evaluation of organic pesticides against bacterial diseases of peach trees in dormant season. CAFLS Graduate Research Symposium, Georgetown, SC, October 2023.
- Idowu, A.P., Schnabel, G., Hopkins, J. and Melgar, J.C. 2023. Impact of soil amended with compost on orchard nutritional dynamics and horticultural performance, October 2023.
- Presented two talks at the SE Professional Fruit Workers Conference. About 80 agricultural professionals attended this meeting.
- Ahmed, J., A. Hill, E. Noh, G. Schnabel, and H. Wang. Evaluation of organic pesticides for managing bacterial spot of peach. SEPFWC meeting, Quincy, FL, November 2023.
- Idowu, A.P., Schnabel, G., Hopkins, J. and Melgar, J.C. 2023. Nutritional Status, Yield and Fruit Quality of a Peach Orchard in Response to Compost Application, November 2023.
- Presented a poster at the annual American Phytopathological Society (APS) Meeting. About 2,000 agricultural professionals attended this meeting.
- Ahmed, J., E. Noh, G. Schnabel, and H. Wang. 2023. Evaluation of organic pesticides against bacterial diseases of peach trees in dormant season. APS Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, August 2023.
- Presented a talk at the annual APS-Southern Division Meeting. About 100 agricultural professionals attended this meeting.
- Ahmed, J., G. Schnabel, and H. Wang. Evaluation of biopesticides for managing bacterial spot of peach. Southern Division APS Meeting, Columbia, SC, February 2023.
- Presented an e-poster for the young scholar internship program.
- Goergen, A., J. Ahmed, A.S. Hill, E. Noh, and Wang*. 2023. Development of sustainable strategies for managing bacterial diseases and improving tree health in the peach production system. Southern SARE Young Scholar Program, Virtual, September 2023.
- Presented a poster at the CU-CAT Ag Tech Spotlight Event.
- Ahmed, J., E. Noh, G. Schnabel, and H. Wang. Evaluation of organic pesticides against bacterial diseases of peach trees in dormant season. CU-CAT Ag Tech Spotlight Event, Clemson, SC, September 2023.
- Presented a talk at the CREF Research Session of the USCC Compost Conference 2024, in Florida. About 1600 professionals, including agricultural researchers, engineers, microbiologists, environmentalists, policymakers, and industries, including attended this conference.
- Idowu, A.P., Schnabel, G., Hopkins, J. and Melgar, J.C. 2023. Impact of soil amended with compost on orchard nutritional dynamics and horticultural performance, February 2024.
- Presented a talk about this project at the Peach Production Meeting in Walhalla, SC. About 15 farmers and agricultural professionals attended this meeting.
- Melgar, J.C. Peach Nutrient and Soil Management Trial Updates. Upstate Fruit Meeting, Clemson Extension, Walhalla, SC. March, 11, 2024.
- Presented a talk about this project at the Clemson Plant Pathologist Meeting. About 15 students and 5 faculty members attended this meeting.
- Ahmed, J. Development of novel spray programs to improve management of bacterial diseases in peach trees. Clemson Plant Pathologist Meeting, March 2024.
- Presented at the EREC Fall Field day. About 15 farmers and 15 Extensional personnel attended the Field day.
- Wang, H. Management of peach bacterial diseases. EREC Fall Field Day – Row Crops and Fruits/Vegetables, September 2023.
- Presented about peach production at the SCNBFP annual workshop. About 40 farmers attended this workshop.
- Maintained a Clemson blog https://blogs.clemson.edu/pbds/ for this project.
- Trained three graduate students under this project. Trained three undergraduate interns.
Year 3:
Oral presentations at Scientific conferences:
- Ahmed, J., and H. Wang. Assessment of biopesticide efficacy for year-round control of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni on peach. Southern Division APS Meeting, Gainesville, FL, March 2025. Over 100 attendees.
- Parajuli, S., Melgar, J.C., Hopkins, J., Parajuli, B., Ye, R. 2025. Food waste compost improved the sandy soil supporting peach orchards. 12th Annual Southeastern Biogeochemistry Symposium, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, April 2025. About 100 graduate students and faculty attended the event.
- Idowu, A. and Melgar, J.C. 2025. Horticultural performance and physiological responses
of a mature peach orchard to mulch and poultry litter application. American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference. July 28 – August 1. New Orleans, LA. Over 1,000 attendees. - Idowu, A., Schnabel, G. and Melgar, J.C. 2024. Nutritional dynamics and horticultural performance of peach orchards in the United States in response to different soil amendment programs. American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference. September 23-27. Honolulu, HI. Over 1,000 attendees.
- Idowu, A.P., Schnabel, G., Hopkins, J. and Melgar, J.C. 2024. Impact of soil amended with compost on orchard nutritional dynamics and horticulture performance. CREF Research Session. USCC Compost Conference. Daytona, FL. Over 1,000 attendees.
Poster presentations at scientific conferences:
- Ahmed, J., and H. Wang. 2024. Exploring novel chemical control options for managing bacterial spot of peach. MISA symposium, Orlando, FL, November 2024.
- Ahmed, J., G. Schnabel, and H. Wang. Evaluation of biopesticides for managing bacterial spot of peach. CAFLS Graduate Research Symposium, Clemson, SC, August 2024.
- Ahmed, J., G. Schnabel, and H. Wang. Evaluation of biopesticides for managing bacterial spot of peach. 15th International Conference on Plant Pathogenic Bacteria and the 5th International Symposium of Biological Control of Bacterial Plant Diseases, Blacksburg, Virginia, July 2024.
Poster presentations for the Southern SARE Young Scholar Program:
- Nickens, M., J. Ahmed, A.Sherratt, and H. Wang. 2025. Development of sustainable strategies for managing bacterial diseases and improving tree health in the peach production system. Southern SARE Young Scholar Program, Virtual, September 2025.
- Nickens, M., J. Ahmed, A.Sherratt, E. Noh, and H. Wang. 2024. Development of sustainable strategies for managing bacterial diseases and improving tree health in the peach production system. Southern SARE Young Scholar Program, Virtual, September 2024.
Extension talks:
- Wang, H. Sustainable management of peach bacterial diseases. Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference, Savannah, GA, January 2025. Over 200 farmers and agricultural professionals attended this conference.
- Ahmed, J., and H. Wang. Management of peach bacterial spot with biopesticides. EREC Fall Field Day – Row Crops and Fruits/Vegetables, Blackville, SC, September 2025. Over 40 growers and agricultural professionals attended the field day.
- Wang, H. Sustainable management of peach bacterial diseases. SC Peach Production Meeting, Edgefield, SC, February 2025. Over 50 growers and agricultural professionals attended the meeting.
- Ahmed, J., and H. Wang. Management of peach bacterial spot. EREC Fall Field Day – Row Crops and Fruits/Vegetables, Blackville, SC, September 2024. Over 40 growers and agricultural professionals attended the field day.
- Melgar, J.C. 2024. Nutrient and orchard floor management. Upstate Fruit Grower Meeting. March 11. Walhalla, SC.
- Melgar, J.C. 2025. Innovative pathways: addressing the economics and ecology of food waste management. FRESH: Food, Packaging and Sustainability Summit. Clemson, SC.
- Schnabel, G. 07/2025. Introduction to Disease Management for Fruit and Vegetable Crops. IPM systems workshop for beginning farmers. Zoom Presentation.
- Schnabel, G. 09/2024. Introduction to Disease Management for Fruit and Vegetable Crops. IPM systems workshop for beginning farmers. Zoom Presentation.
Extension publications:
- Schnabel, G., Wang, H., Melgar, J.C., Idowu, A., Ahmed, J., Ye, R., and Vassalos, M. 2025. Can biological products and soil amendments help with bacterial disease management in peaches? The South Carolina Grower (a blog with over 700 grower and industry professional subscribers), Feb. 18.
Seminar:
- Wang, H. Foundational and applied bacteriology research to improve plant disease management. Seminar. Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, September 2024. Over 60 attendees.
Learning Outcomes
New biopesticide spray programs and soil practices
Project Outcomes
The new sustainable spray programs and soil practices with eco-friendly materials developed in this project were shown to reduce bacterial disease pressure, reduce phytotoxicity from the current copper spray programs, and improve the overall tree health. These new strategies will provide economic benefits by reducing losses from bacterial diseases while improving tree health/performance, thus increasing dollar return for peach producers. The enterprise budget developed for organic peach production also will contribute to the economic benefit. They will also provide environmental benefits by increasing soil health in peach orchards, and reducing use of pesticides (e.g., copper and antibiotics) that could have harmful effects on the environment. Furthermore, these project results will also provide social benefits by reducing the potential negative impact of applying synthetic antibiotic and copper in agriculture and human health by reducing their usage, thus, reducing antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the environment and providing food with less chemical residues to the consumers, leading to healthy farmers and livestock which produces healthy communities and healthy consumers.