Assessing the Effects of Trellising and Compost Tea on Soil Health and Production in High-Tunnel and Orchard Systems at Shalomba Farm

Commodities

• Fruits: apples, apricots, peaches, nectarine
• Vegetables: cucurbits, tomatoes

Practices

• Crop Production: fertilizers, high tunnels or hoop houses, nutrient management, organic fertilizers, Trellising, compost tea
• Education and Training: farmer to farmer, on-farm/ranch research
• Pest Management: compost extracts

There is a growing need for sustainable agricultural practices that improve soil health and reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers, while enhancing crop yields. Conventional farming practices degrade soil fertility, leading to decreased productivity and increased dependency on chemical inputs. Our project assesses the combined effects of compost tea and vertical axis tree trellising on soil health and crop production, offering a solution that supports both regenerative soil practices and increased agricultural productivity.

Previous research has demonstrated the benefits of compost tea in enhancing soil microbial activity, improving nutrient availability, and suppressing soil-borne diseases (Scheuerell, 2004; Pilla et al., 2023). Additionally, trellising has shown promise in increasing space effectiveness and supporting plant health, particularly in high-density systems (Heilman et al., 1996; Sanchez-Rodriguez and Bellato Sposito, 2020). However, we are not aware of studies exploring the combined effects of these two practices on soil health and crop production. By combining compost tea with trellising, we hypothesize that this integrated approach can enhance both soil fertility and plant growth, reduce the need for external inputs, and create a stronger farming system. Our project builds upon existing research and aims to fill critical gaps in our understanding of these practices’ combined potential.

Proposed Solution: We will use an experimental design to test the effectiveness of compost tea as a sustainable and viable fertilizer alternative to conventional fertilizer for high-tunnel vegetables/fruit and orchard fruit trees and trellising practices as methods to improve production effectiveness.

Through our research design we aim to achieve the following objectives:

1. Evaluate the Impact of Compost Tea on Soil Health:

• • Measure changes in microbial life, activity, and soil nutrient levels in treated vs. untreated plots.
    • Analyze soil organic matter and its potential to enhance soil fertility over time.

2. Assess the Effects of Vertical Axis Trellising on Tree and Vegetable Growth:

• • Measure tree and plant growth metrics such as plant height, leaf area, chlorophyll content, and overall health in trellised vs. non-trellised plots.
  • Evaluate how vertical axis trellising influences tree health, tree structure, and fruit quality, compared to conventional tree training systems.

3. Investigate the Combined Effects of Vertical Axis Trellising and Compost Tea on Crop Yield and Quality:

• • Compare crop yields and the quality of produce (size, weight, and Brix value, cosmetic appearance, firmness, and uniformity) between treated and untreated systems.

4. Evaluate Disease Resistance and Pest Management:

• • Track pest and disease incidence to determine the effects of compost tea and vertical axis trellising on disease suppression and pest control.
  • Use disease severity scales to quantify disease damage and pest resistance.

5. Assess Water Use:

• • Measure water use in both the high-tunnel and orchard systems, comparing the impact of vertical axis trellising and compost tea on soil moisture retention and water consumption.
  • Quantify the long-term sustainability of these methods by evaluating their impact on soil health, water use, and overall farm input costs.

6. Share findings through a farm field day, newsletter, and social media posts:

• • Host one farm field day with pre/post surveys in partnership with our local Sustainable Farming Association chapter.
  • Post quarterly newsletter article on project goals and progress on our website.
  • Post monthly updates on our Instagram and Facebook accounts, during growing season from spring to autumn.

We will used the following experimental design to achieve our objectives:

• Tree Trellising & Tea:
  • Vertical axis trellising involves supporting trees with a central vertical post and training them to grow along the post and horizontal wires. We will use steel posts, galvanized wire, and tree clips to train the trees into a vertical structure.
  • We will use the Aerated Tea Compost Field guide from SARE project FW15-037 to ensure FSMA safe tea and consistent quality compost tea.