Cover Crops for Sustainable Pest Management and Soil Quality in Production Nurseries

Cover Crops for Sustainable Pest Management and Soil Quality in Production Nurseries

Summary

In the first year of this project (2008) project leaders met face to face at nurseries, and corresponded by phone and email with 3 nursery growers to refine the research and demonstration protocol aimed at identifying and implementing the use of cover crops in field production nurseries to determine their benefits to pest management and soil quality. Three production nurseries were identified as locations to conduct research / demonstration experiments, and cover crop species and treatments were determined based on needs of cooperating nursery growers. Trials were set up at the 3 nurseries and the first year of data were collected in the fall (2008) and are currently being analyzed. One Nursery Field Day, “Staying Profitable Through Sustainable Field Nursery Production Practice”, was held in the fall at one of the cooperating nurseries and was attended by approximately 70 stakeholders representing nursery growers, IPM consultants, government agencies, Extension, University administration, and green industry associations. A survey was given to grower participants on there current production practices and their use of cover crops.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Of the 150 MD growers trained at field days and other events, a minimum of 25 that have never used cover crops in their nursery will use cover crops in at least one production field, and five nurseries will adopt one new ecologically based pest or soil management practice to reduce pest pressure or improve soil quality.

Accomplishments/Milestones

In the first year (2008) of the proposed project the first 2 milestones were addressed. Three nursery growers committed to conduct the research / demonstration on their nurseries and be part of the Project Beneficiary Committee (PBC). In addition, one other grower committed to be a member of the PBC. The project participants further developed the research / demonstration protocol. In the fall (2008) project members set-up and conducted the research / demonstration protocol on the three cooperating nurseries.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Approximately 70 stakeholders attended a nursery field day, “Staying Profitable Through Sustainable Field Nursery Production Practice”, at one of the cooperating nurseries and were informed on the use of cover crops and their benefits to pest management and soil quality and other sustainable nursery production practices. Nursery growers were surveyed at the end of the event. This survey determined that participant awareness on cover crops and their benefits was considerably increased. Out of 19 stakeholders responding to the survey, 13 obtained “considerable” new information, 3 obtained “some” new information, and 3 had information they new reinforced. Project presenters provided “excellent” to “satisfactory” information and were able to “create interest” on the topic (17 of 17 respondents rated satisfactory to excellent).

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