Research Accomplishment Reports 2007

New Crop Opportunities, Phase VII

D. Ingram, D. Van Sanford, C. Dillon, R. Fleming
Department of Horticulture

 

Project Description

Thirteen projects were initiated in 2006.

In the Developing Optimized Organic Production Systems for Leafy Greens in Kentucky project, both organically and conventionally produced greens performed very well with few problems. The use of row covers for insect exclusion in the organic trials protected the plants long enough that the worst insect pest, flea beetles, did little overall damage. Insect attack by cabbage looper and cabbage worm were managed effectively with Dipel 150. The spring-planted trials appeared to have slightly more insect pressure than the fall-planted trials, but the pressure was controllable when careful and attentive management practices were followed. Disease pressure was slight in both the spring and fall trials due possibly to the use of long fallowed ground and/or the fact that greens have not been grown on this farm for quite some time, thus providing a long crop rotation period.

In the Nitrogen Fertility and Performance of Hulless Barley project, variety VA05H-158 had the highest yield at 66.74 bushels per acre in 2007.

In the Development of Organic Blueberry Production and Value-Added Products project, a taste test of value-added organic blueberry products has been conducted with farmers market customers to determine willingness to buy these products.

Impact

New Crops Phase VII research includes projects on leafy greens, pot-in-pot nursery production, organic blueberry production and value-added products, and hulless barley. The potential impact of the research on leafy greens is significant as several Kentucky growers are involved in contract trial production of romaine lettuce. Development of a production system for romaine could lead to a substantial market for Kentucky growers. The 2007 Produce Planting and Marketing Intentions Survey indicated a 184 percent increase in field-grown lettuce acres in the state (from 18 acres to 51 in 2007). The leafy greens project includes research on organic production systems that could help Kentucky's organic growers earn premium prices. Organic food sales in the U.S. represented a $16.7 billion market in 2006.

The Produce Planting and Marketing Intentions Survey showed continued expansion of 12 percent for blueberries with 134 acres. Demand for fresh blueberries has been high, and favorable responses to a taste test indicate high consumer interest in value-added blueberry products.

The pot-in-pot nursery project could help Kentucky growers capture part of a state market that reached approximately $80 million in sales in 2006.

Hulless barley has the potential to become an important winter crop in Kentucky's double-crop system. The development of new high yielding hulless barley lines with high protein/low fiber content offers the potential to reclaim a portion of barley's market share in the animal feed industry, as well as the development of new markets in the food and fuel industry.

Publications

Law, D., Rowell, B., Snyder, J., and Williams, M. 2006. Leafy Greens RACE Variety Trial (Conventional and Organic). 2006 University of Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Crops Research Report PR 538:49-52.

Bruening, B., Tutt, C., Swanson, S., Connelley, J., Olson, G., Mundell, N., Clark, A., and Van Sanford, D. 2007. 2007 Kentucky Small Grain Performance Test. PR-551: 15.