Project Overview
Information Products
Commodities
- Vegetables: cucurbits, tomatoes
Practices
- Crop Production: beekeeping, greenhouses, high tunnels or hoop houses, pollination, pollinator habitat, pollinator health
- Education and Training: demonstration, display, on-farm/ranch research, technical assistance, youth education
Abstract:
Crop pollination is one of the most important aspects of agriculture, both economically and ecologically; however, many pollinators are known to be decreasing worldwide. Anecdotally, many Alaskan farmers have observed similar trends which may affect both pollination and supplemental pollination techniques. It is common to rely on either the importation of commercially-reared pollinators or hand-pollination for successful crop production. This is especially true for greenhouses and high tunnels, as they act as an additional barrier to insect pollination.
With a short growing season, indoor crops are a necessity for Alaskan producers, which can result in the importation of honeybees (Apis melliflera) or bumble bees (Bombus spp.) to supplement pollination. This is of concern because of the possible presence of novel pathogens or parasites which may be transmitted to local native bumble bees. In addition, the cost of bee packages has soared due to the destructive presence of the Varroa mite (Varroa spp.), colony collapse disorder, and the great shipping distance to Alaska. Hand pollination is an alternative to purchasing pollinators, but this is a time-consuming and tedious process for farmers.
Blue vane traps are tools that entomological researchers use to attract and study pollinators. Their success at attracting bees in particular raises the question if they could be utilized to attract insects for agricultural purposes. Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) and tomatoes (Solanum spp.) are warm-season plants that exhibit high variability in pollination success and benefit from supplemental pollination techniques. In Alaska, many zucchini and tomatoes are grown in high tunnels to extend the growing season and increase temperatures. The high tunnel environment does aid heat capture but it may also inhibit insect travel further complicating pollination success. While there are several other factors that influence pollination such as nutrient availability and weather, this study seeks to understand one aspect of pollination – attracting pollinators, and if growing certain crops such as zucchini and tomatoes in a high tunnel affects their pollination.
Our multi-year study assessed whether modified blue vane traps could be used to attract pollinators to increase pollination success in high tunnels. We worked with farmer producers to implement on-farm research for increasing pollination of tomatoes and zucchini and conducted a paired comparison study for increasing pollination of tomatoes. We found no significant differences in pollination success between plants that used modified blue vane traps to attract pollinators and control plants. It’s possible that these traps may truly have no effect on pollination but it is also possible that we had too small of a sample size to detect any differences – or even that the techniques we used with the traps were not the best ones. While there were no significant findings, this study has reinforced the concept that farmers still need simple and effective ways to increase pollination in their greenhouse and high tunnel structures.
To meet educational objectives, we provided on-farm consultations about native pollinators and their habitats, conducted a survey of producer pollinator habits and knowledge, and wrote articles for newsletters. We spoke with students and children about pollinator identification. Lastly, we developed detailed and engaging educational materials about native pollinators, their habitats, and the critical roles they play in crop pollination. We presented this educational material at outreach events throughout Interior Alaska and installed a permanent exhibit at the Georgeson Botanical Garden on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Project objectives:
1. Assess a simple method of attracting native pollinators to high tunnels with modified blue vane traps to enhance pollination success.
a. Evaluate in a paired comparison experiment whether native pollinators are drawn and attracted into high tunnels by comparing small high tunnels with and without modified blue vane traps near their entrance. Monitor and quantify pollination success through the successful production of tomato fruit at the Georgeson Botanical Garden with the use of four small greenhouses in 2019-2020.
b. Conduct producer farm trials and work with farmers to evaluate pollination success differences between tomatoes and zucchini with and without blue vane traps within high tunnels in 2020-2021. Monitor the effect of modified blue vane traps under different growing conditions on zucchini harvest in 2021.
2. To engage local partners, farmers, and the public in discussions related to the importance of pollinators to agriculture and factors affecting pollinator health.
a. Outreach events throughout interior Alaska including the Tanana Valley State Fair, Alaska Pollinator Week at the Georgeson Botanical Garden, Interior Alaska Home Show, the annual meeting of the Alaska Farm Bureau, and one national event – the Great Lakes Expo and Conference.
b. Design and create engaging educational material in collaboration with entomologist and artist Renee Nowicki that highlights Alaska pollinators. Create an interpretive exhibit at the Georgeson Botanical Garden to permanently install interpretive signs of the Alaska pollinator artwork in the habitats which those pollinators reside.