Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education

Grants And Education To Advance Innovations In Sustainable Agriculture

Project Overview

FNE01-397
Project Type: Farmer
Funds awarded in 2001: $2,707.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2001
Matching Non-Federal Funds: $1,440.00
Region: Northeast
State: West Virginia
Project Leader:
Susan Truxell Sauter

Two Approaches to Farm-Grown Nitrogen

Commodities

  • Agronomic: other, grass (misc. perennial), hay
  • Vegetables: sweet corn
  • Additional Plants: herbs

Practices

  • Animal Production: feed/forage
  • Crop Production: intercropping, organic fertilizers, tissue analysis
  • Education and Training: on-farm/ranch research
  • Pest Management: mulches - living, mulching - vegetative
  • Production Systems: general crop production
  • Soil Management: soil analysis

Proposal summary:

Nitrogen from legumes, grown both between the rows of organic vegetable and as a mulch hay, will be tested for its efficacy. The farmer will use a side-discharge mower to cut and spread alfalfa and red clover on her vegetable rows, and will establish a plot of alfalfa on a future garden patch for use as a mulch hay. Regular soil testing should reveal whether nitrogen is released quickly enough for the technique to be used as a low-cost approach to soil fertility.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.