High nutrient solution fertilizers derived from local organic inputs for field and greenhouse application in the tropics

High nutrient solution fertilizers derived from local organic inputs for field and greenhouse application in the tropics

Summary

Replacing imported fertilizers with local resources is the highest research and educational priority identified by stakeholders throughout the Pacific at multiple meetings. While progress is being made in developing recommendations for locally produced solid fertilizers, the need for solution fertilizers derived from local resources has not yet been adequately addressed. This is especially true for growers of long term food crops, such as taro and fruit trees, who need to provide supplemental nutrition throughout the cropping cycle. The production of locally derived nutrient solutions for fertigation will keep local farmers competitive, reduce water-use and loss, and protect the environment by reducing chemical use. Anecdotes from innovative growers and preliminary findings in the lab has shown that locally produced tankage (rendered meat, 9% N) was a good source of soluble nitrogen (NO₃-N and NH₄-N). At lab scale, some treatment effects on nitrogen release from tankage were tested. The preliminary results are promising, although there is a need to evaluate more treatments and increase scale in order to come up with recommendations for local farmers. The goal of this project is to develop capacity among Pacific Island growers to cost effectively produce concentrated nutrient solutions from local materials, accelerating current efforts to reduce grower reliance on imported fertilizers.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Objective 1: Identifying optimal temperature, time, chemical, and biological factors to maximize mineralization and aqueous extraction of N from tankage.

Activities: Develop and validate procedures to enhance the extracts of nitrate (NO₃-N) and ammonium (NH₄-N) from tankage using factors, such as:

1) Chemical and Biological (Baking soda, vermicompost, molasses, yeast).

2) Covering and aeration (cover/no cover, and aeration/no aeration).

3) Time and temperature (Time intervals 0-48 hours and 20-35^oC).

Objective 2: Developing yield response curves and recommendations to optimize aqueous solution for greenhouse and field applications.

Activities: Develop and validate greenhouse and field application recommendations to local farmers and producers through:

1) Series of greenhouse trials (to test quality of highest nitrogen soluble solution).

2) Series of on-farm trials (to evaluate laboratory and greenhouse trials results).

3) Evaluation of results (Develop greenhouse and field application recommendations).

Objective 3: Disseminating the project findings among local producers, extension agents, and other university professionals, through a series of workshops and field days, extension bulletins, production procedure manual, and other online resources.

Activities include: Transfer the project findings among local farmers and other professionals through:

1) At least three on-farm workshops and field days to be conducted on different Hawaiian Islands (Oahu, Molokai, and Big Island).

2) At least two Extension bulletins and a short manual for solution fertilizer production procedures.

3) At least two scientific peer reviewed publications.

Note: Cost analysis of solution fertilizers production will be conducted throughout all activities.

Accomplishments/Milestones

• Completed replicated field trials for pak choi, lettuce, daikon, kai choi and turnip crops. All crops were replicated twice.
• Chemical analysis for plant tissue were conducted through ADSC (Agricultural Diagnostic Services Center) at the University of Hawaii.
• Two greenhouse trials were completed for sweet corn and tomato seedling using the organic liquid and synthetic (comparison) fertilizer to improve seedlings quality. Still ongoing using different crops.
• On-Farm field trials with the collaborator Mohala Farms (Makr Hamamoto) for two-acre application of liquid organic fertilizers under different vegetable crops. Still ongoing.
• Book chapter (in press) for the use of liquid organic fertilizer and other organic in Hawaii.
• Three field days were conducted with other Western SARE funded field days lead by Theodore Radovich and Jari Sugano.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Impact:

1-Long term crops farmers are incorporating the project produced recipe in order to meet the immediate need of crops to nutrients (especially nitrogen).

2-Increase awareness of local ag-production companies and training organizations (Go-Farm) are incorporating the liquid fertilizer recipe into their operations.

Public talks:

Amjad A. Ahmad, Theodore J.K. Radovich, and Hue V. Nguyen. 2016. Pros and Cons of Locally Produced/Available Organic Fertilizers. Cover Crops and Soil Health Field Day, June 21^st, Waimanalo Research Station, Oahu, HI.

Amjad A. Ahmad, Theodore Radovich, Jensen Uyeda, Nguyen Hue, Alton Arakaki, Jari Sugano, Glenn Teves, Chandra Gangiah, Ian Gurr, and Arnold Berek. 2016. Improving Soil Health, Plant Growth, Yield, and Quality with Local Fertilizers. Go-Farm Training, June 7, Waimanalo Research Station, Oahu, HI.  

Theodore Radovich and Amjad A. Ahmad. 2016. Soil Health and Organic Practices. Organic Farming & Soil Health Workshop. Kahumana Center, June, 4, Waianae, HI.

Amjad A. Ahmad, Theodore Radovich, Jensen Uyeda, Jari Sugano, and Alton Arakaki. 2016. Soil Health and Locally Produced Fertilizer Inputs. Edible Crops Conference. May 24. Turtle Bay, Kahuku, HI.

Amjad A. Ahmad, Theodore Radovich, Jensen Uyeda, Nguyen Hue, Alton Arakaki, Jari Sugano, Glenn Teves, Chandra Gangiah, Ian Gurr, and Arnold Berek. 2016. Local Inputs for Organic Farming in Hawaii. Master Gardener Training. April 13. Kauai, HI.

Amjad A. Ahmad, Jensen Uyeda, and Theodore J.K. Radovich. 2015. Local Organic Fertilizers for Better Yields and Fertile Soils. AgPro Workshop. Western-SARE/USDA/CTAHR. Oct. 13-14, Maui College/Cooperative Extension Services, Maui, Hawaii.

Amjad A. Ahmad. 2015. Locally Available Organic Fertilizers in Hawaii. Guest Speaker for the Organic Crop Production Course (TPSS 220), Oct. 5, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawaii.

Amjad A. Ahmad and Theodore J.K. Radovich. 2015. Producing Liquid Fertilizers from Solid Organic Sources. Organic Agriculture workshop on Oahu (Aug. 29) and Maui (Sept. 19), Hawaii.

Amjad A. Ahmad, Hue V. Nguyen, and Theodore J.K. Radovich. 2015. Enhancing Nitrogen Availability in Liquid Fertilizers Derived from Solid Organic Sources for Fertigation. HorScience 50(9): S222. ASHS Annual Conference, Aug. 4-7. New Orleans, Louisiana.

Amjad A. Ahmad, Theodore J.K. Radovich, Nguyen V. Hue, Alton Arakaki, Glenn Teves, Jari Sugano, and Jensen Uyeda. 2015. Local Sources of Soil Fertility. Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Agroforestry Workshop Series. June 12-13 on Maui, and 20-21 on Kona, Hawaii.

Amjad A. Ahmad, Theodore J.K. Radovich, and Nguyen V. Hue. 2015. Local Inputs to Enhance Soil Fertility and Plant Growth in Agroforestry Systems. Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Agroforestry Workshop Series. March 21 on Molokai and April 25-26 on Kauai, Hawaii.

Book chapter:

Amjad A. Ahmad, Theodore J.K. Radovich, Hue V. Nguyen, Jensen Uyeda, Alton Arakaki, Jeana Cadby, Robert Paull, Jari Sugano, and Glenn Teves. 2016. Use of Organic Fertilizers to Enhance Soil Fertility, Plant growth and Yield in a Tropical Environment. Book Chapter In: Organic Fertilizers-From basic concepts to applied outcomes. Marcelo Larramendy and Sonia Soloneski (eds.). Intech Publisher, ISBN 978-953-51-4701-5. (In Press).

Collaborators: