Sustainable Vegetable Production in Rural Mississippi

Sustainable Vegetable Production in Rural Mississippi

Summary

Conventional monocroppoing system supports higher yields of bell pepper, collard green, sweet potato and tomato crops compared to transitional and organic intercropping systems. However, sales from the herb companion (sweet basil, sage and dill) when considered made transitional and organic cropping systems more comparative to conventional monocropping. Compared to other treatments the organic cropping system indicated: (a) significant reduction in nitrate-nitrogen and orthophosphate level and (b) increased fruit K, Ca, Fe and Zn and soil extractable P, K, and Mg.

Objectives/Performance Targets

1. To determine the growth, yield potential and nutritive quality of fresh vegetable crops grown in a sustainable farming system.

   To determine the effect of sustainable crop production practices on the soil, physical and chemical properties and water quality.

   To determine the requirements, costs and returns for vegetables produced in a low-input sustainable farming system and to compare these costs and returns with those coventionally grown.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Work has been completed on the three objectives. However, with the completion of the current growing season more data with photo documentation will be generated.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Findings were presented at the Small Farm Conference where over 200 hundred farmers were in attendance. Many small farmers at the conference indicated their support of the study and their willingness to engage in such farming practices. Also, workshops on sustainable agriculture were conducted for Alcorn State University Extension Personnel to enable them to support their extension programming in this area.

Collaborators: