{"id":439,"date":"2014-12-11T23:54:23","date_gmt":"2014-12-11T23:54:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/puyallup.wsu.edu\/soils\/?page_id=439"},"modified":"2025-12-19T10:09:22","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T18:09:22","slug":"organicfarmveggies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/puyallup.wsu.edu\/soils\/archive-wsu-puyallups-legacy-of-urban-and-organic-systems-research\/organicfarmveggies\/","title":{"rendered":"Past Organic Farming Systems Research"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"wsu-article-header \">\r\n\t<h1 class=\"wsu-article-header__title\">\r\n\t\tArchive: Past Organic Farming Systems\t<\/h1>\r\n\t\t<\/header>\r\n\n\n<div class=\"wsu-card-wrapper wsu-card-wrapper--per-row-2\" >\r\n    \n<article class=\"wsu-card\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-image-frame wsu-image--ratio-16-9\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/Org_FarmingCoverCropVetch.jpg\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsrcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/Org_FarmingCoverCropVetch.jpg 765w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/Org_FarmingCoverCropVetch-396x285.jpg 396w\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsizes=\"(max-width: 765px) 100vw, 765px\"\r\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Vetch cover crop\"\r\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"object-position: 50% 50%\"\r\n\t\t\t\/>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-card__content\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"wsu-title \">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPast Cover Crop Research\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wsu-caption\">\r\n\t\t\t\tOur research has been focused on fall-planted and relay-planted cover crops.\u00a0 We have evaluated the effects of different fall-planted rye vetch blends, planting dates, and incorporation dates on ground cover, winter weed competition, and nitrogen supply to the subsequent crop.\u00a0 Relay planting is the planting of cover crops between rows of the cash crop during the summer or early fall. Our relay cover crop research was focused on establishment, survival, ground cover, and N supply capability of legumes interseeded into standing vegetable crops.\u00a0 Recent research is focused on cover crop management in reduced tillage organic systems.<br><br><strong>Interseeded cover crop demonstrations over various dates<\/strong>:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/Paper_OrgFarmCC_sweetcorn.pdf\"><strong>Hairy vetch relay planted in sweet corn <\/strong>(photos, PDF-Online<\/a>)<br><a href=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/Paper_OrgFarmCC_snappea.pdf\"><strong>Hairy vetch relay planted in snap bean <\/strong>(photos, PDF-Online<\/a>).<br><a href=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/Paper_OrgFarmCC_sumcarrot.pdf\"><strong>Hairy vetch relay planted in summer carrot <\/strong>(photos, PDF-Online<\/a><br><br><strong>Organic Systems Experiment over various dates<\/strong>:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/Paper_OrgFarmCC_ryevetch.pdf\"><strong>Fall planted rye-hairy vetch <\/strong>(photos, PDF-Online<\/a>)<br><a href=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/Paper_OrgFarmCC_ryegrassclover.pdf\"><strong>Fall planted Italian ryegrass-crimson clover <\/strong>(photos, PDF-Online<\/a>)<br><a href=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/Paper_OrgFarmCC_vetch.pdf\"><strong>Relay planted hairy vetch <\/strong>(photos, PDF-Online<\/a>)\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/article>\n\n<article class=\"wsu-card\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-image-frame wsu-image--ratio-16-9\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2018\/07\/FarmersMarket.jpg\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsrcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2018\/07\/FarmersMarket.jpg 640w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2018\/07\/FarmersMarket-396x276.jpg 396w\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\"\r\n\t\t\t\talt=\"\"\r\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"object-position: 54% 73%\"\r\n\t\t\t\/>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-card__content\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"wsu-title \">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/Paper_FarmerFocusGrp.pdf\">Farmer Focus Groups: Soil Fertility and Water Quality<\/a><\/strong>\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wsu-caption\">\r\n\t\t\t\tSummary of three focus groups with organic and conventional Western Washington Farmers held in 2002.\u00a0 The objective of a focus group is not to reach consensus or make decisions, but to simply gain the greatest possible understanding of the topic from the perspective of all participants.\u00a0 Topics included Soil Fertility, Cover Crops, Soil Testing, Stream Bank Management and Water Quality.<br><br>\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/article>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wsu-row wsu-row--halves\" >\r\n    \n<div class=\"wsu-column\"  style=\"\">\r\n\t\n\n<h2>Organic Farming Systems Research, 2003-2015 Project Overview:<\/h2>\n<p>In 2002 we established an organic farming systems experiment for vegetable production on organically certified research land at WSU Puyallup. The experiment compared 12 organic management systems, including three cover cropping systems, 2 tillage treatments, and 2 amendment types, arranged in a split-split plot design. Treatments were chosen based on input from local farmers through workshops, farm visits, surveys, and focus groups. \u00a0The experiment was terminated in 2015.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left\">Treatments:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left\"><span style=\"color: #a60f2d\"><strong>A-Three cover crops<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><strong>B-Two tillage systems<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left\"><span style=\"color: #006400\"><strong>C-Two organic amendments<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #a60f2d\"><strong>A-Three cover crops (main plots):<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><strong>1-Post harvest\u00a0cover crop: <\/strong>fall planted cereal-legume mix after the vegetable crops were harvested.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><strong>2-Relay cover\u00a0crop: <\/strong>summer planted legume, as a relay crop planted between rows of the cash crop before they were harvested.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><strong>3-Pasture\u00a0crop,\u00a0f<\/strong><strong>all planted grass-legume mix:\u00a0<\/strong>managed as pasture for one (prior to 2007) to\u00a0two\u00a0(following 2007) growing seasons before incorporation the following growing season. This treatment was planted to cash crops in 2003, 2005, and 2007, 2010, 2013. Pastured poultry were raised on these plots in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012 and sheep were raised on these plots in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2014.\u00a0 Additional organic matter beyond chicken and sheep manure was not added to plots following 2007.<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><strong>B-Two tillage systems to prepare ground (split plots):<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><strong>1-Conventional<\/strong>: major tillage done with plow, disc, and rototiller as needed.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><strong>2-Modified:<\/strong> major tillage done with a spader. This usually prepares a seedbed in a single pass.<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #006400\"><strong>C-Two organic amendments (split-split plot):<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><strong>1-Low carbon amendment: <\/strong>broiler litter,\u00a0low C:N ratio, low application rate (average 2 dry tons\/acre). The broiler litter is piled, self-heated to at least 131 F and turned 5 times to meet organic standards for pathogen reduction.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><strong>2-High carbon amendment: <\/strong>compost made on-farm compost, medium C:N ratio, high application rate (average 15 dry tons\/acre). The on-farm compost consisted of broiler litter, yard debris, separated dairy solids, and sawdust\/straw bedding from the local fair. It was composted in a static pile (actively aerated for 4-6 weeks), then passively cured for 5 months, with temperatures monitored to meet organic standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/IFSYS_PlotmapB.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"700\" height=\"367\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/IFSYS_PlotmapB.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-441\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n<div class=\"wsu-column\"  style=\"\">\r\n\t\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Crop rotation<\/strong>:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Single crops (outlined in red below) were grown the first three years of the experiment, including snap bean, fall spinach following summer cover, and winter squash. Beginning in 2006, each plot was planted to 4 rotation crops each year, with&nbsp;one bed having two consecutive crops.&nbsp; Crops included snap bean, winter squash, broccoli, and lettuce.&nbsp; In 2011 and 2015 winter wheat was grown in the relay and post harvest plots to break up disease cycles.&nbsp; Pasture plots were in pasture 1 year followed by 1 year of vegetable cropping prior to 2007, then 2 years of pasture followed by one year of vegetable cropping thereafter.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/OrgFarmMap2a.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"792\" height=\"612\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/OrgFarmMap2a-792x612.jpg\" alt=\"Overhead photo of Organic Farming Systems field showing different crops outlined by red lines.\" class=\"wp-image-919\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/OrgFarmMap2a-792x612.jpg 792w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/OrgFarmMap2a-396x306.jpg 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/OrgFarmMap2a-990x765.jpg 990w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/OrgFarmMap2a-1188x918.jpg 1188w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/OrgFarmMap2a.jpg 1650w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 792px) 100vw, 792px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/OrgFarm_Veggies.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"396\" height=\"242\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/OrgFarm_Veggies-396x242.jpg\" alt=\"Organic Farming Systems photo of plots, one replicate outlined in purple.\" class=\"wp-image-457\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/OrgFarm_Veggies-396x242.jpg 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/OrgFarm_Veggies.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 396px) 100vw, 396px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">Above, one Replicate (outlined in purple)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Measurements:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Crop yield and quality<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Soil organic matter, pH, soil test nutrients<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Soil nitrate (early season, mid-season, and post harvest)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cover crop yield<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Soil physical measurements (aggregate stability, bulk density, compaction, infiltration)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Soil biological quality (collembola, nematodes, PLFA, selected enzymes and substrate-induced respiration)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Weed ecology (weed biomass and\/or counts and major species)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Production costs and value<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Results<\/strong>:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dl.sciencesocieties.org\/publications\/aj\/pdfs\/108\/3\/1142\"><strong>Soil Physical Properties, Nitrogen, and Crop Yield in Organic Vegetable Production Systems (PDF-Online).<\/strong><\/a> Cogger. C.G., A.I. Bary, E.A. Myhre, A. Fortuna, and D.P. Collins. 2016. Agron. J. 108:1142-1154. doi:12.2134agronj2015.0335<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"mailto:myhre%40wsu.edu?subject=Reprint Request:%20Management%20effects%20on%20soil%20quality%20in%20organic%20vegetable%20systems%20in%20western%20Washington\"><strong>Management Effects on Soil Quality in Organic Vegetable Systems in Western Washington<\/strong> (Request pdf e-copy).<\/a> Pritchett, K., A.C. Kennedy, and C.G. Cogger. 2011. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 75:605-615.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Links:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/csanr.wsu.edu\/\"><strong>WSU Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources<\/strong><\/a>, information, publications, links, events, programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cultivatingsuccess.wsu.edu\/\"><strong>Cultivating Success<\/strong><\/a>, sustainable small farm information for Washington and Idaho.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/foodsystems.wsu.edu\/\"><strong>Food Systems (integrates former Small Farms)<\/strong><\/a>, information, calendar, resources, programs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Slideshows, Photos,&nbsp;and Webinars:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/puyallup.wsu.edu\/soils\/organicfarmphotogallery\/\"><strong>Photo Gallery from certified organic research land<\/strong> (HTML-Online<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/SS-Soils_Ferts_MG11_Jan11.pdf\"><strong>Soils and Fertilizer (72 slides, PDF-Online)<\/strong><\/a>, <em>use browser down scrollbar to advance slides<\/em>).&nbsp; Soil physical properties, fertilizers, soil amendments, cover crops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-puyallup\/uploads\/sites\/411\/2014\/12\/SS_Intro_Summer_CC_School.pdf\"><strong>Introduction to Summer Cover Crops <\/strong>(16 slides,&nbsp;PDF-Online<\/a>, <em>use browser down scrollbar to advance slides<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/breeze.wsu.edu\/p24498027\/\"><strong>Closing the Recycling Loop Through Organic Amendments in Agriculture and Gardens<\/strong> (Webinar-Online<\/a><em>, Original broadcast date 5 Jan 2011. Slow loading, please wait till after &#8220;check our troubleshooting&#8230;&#8221; goes away.&nbsp; Needs Flash Player&nbsp;to run which is not available on&nbsp;Apple products).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Current &amp; Past Project Support:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usda.gov\/\"><strong>USDA Integrated Organic Program CSREES<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/csanr.wsu.edu\/\"><strong>WSU Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resource Organic Program<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.westernsare.org\/\"><strong>Western Region SARE<\/strong><\/a> Grants No. GW06-011, SW03-040<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nifa.usda.gov\/grants\"><strong>USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture<\/strong><\/a> IFAFS Grant No. 2001-52101-11349<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Links: WSU Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, information, publications, links, events, programs. Cultivating Success, sustainable small farm information for Washington and Idaho. Food Systems (integrates former Small Farms), [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":681,"featured_media":0,"parent":2311,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[],"wsuwp_university_location":[55,49],"wsuwp_university_org":[396],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/puyallup.wsu.edu\/soils\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/439"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/puyallup.wsu.edu\/soils\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/puyallup.wsu.edu\/soils\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puyallup.wsu.edu\/soils\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/681"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puyallup.wsu.edu\/soils\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=439"}],"version-history":[{"count":64,"href":"https:\/\/puyallup.wsu.edu\/soils\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/439\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2639,"href":"https:\/\/puyallup.wsu.edu\/soils\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/439\/revisions\/2639"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puyallup.wsu.edu\/soils\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2311"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/puyallup.wsu.edu\/soils\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=439"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puyallup.wsu.edu\/soils\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=439"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puyallup.wsu.edu\/soils\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=439"},{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puyallup.wsu.edu\/soils\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_location?post=439"},{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_org","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puyallup.wsu.edu\/soils\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_org?post=439"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}