Publication Type: Abstract
Abstract: To meet the projected needs for biofuel feedstocks in the future, cropping systems will likely need to be intensified. One tactic that could be used is more aggressive use of double cropping systems that include winter crops. Winter crops such as rye, wheat, barley, triticale or canola can reduce soil erosion and nutrient leaching. Double cropping with corn, soybeans or sunflowers is possible in many areas. The objective of our studies has been to evaluate potential winter crops such as winter barley or canola as potential biofuel crops. Winter barley trials were conducted at total of five locations during a two year period in 2004 and 2005. These trials included both hulled and hulless varieties, bred specifically for ethanol production. Winter canola trials were conducted in both 2006 and 2007. Winter barley yields averaged 5628 kg/ha for the hulled varieties and 4771 kg/ha for the hulless lines. This is equivalent to approximately ethanol yields of 2000 or 1701 l/ha for the hulled and hulless lines respectively. Double cropped soybeans following barley yield about 2350 kg/ha. Winter canola yields averaged 2944 and 2514 kg/ha in 2006 and 2007, respectively, equivalent to oil yields of 1140 or 972 l/ha. Winter canola could also be double cropped with soybeans or sunflowers. More research is needed to improve the potential of these practices on issues such as early maturing varieties, use of silage crops for ethanol production and development of integrated bioprocessing facilities for recycling plant nutrients to production fields.

Publication Type: Poster Presentation
Abstract: Intensive crop rotations that leave small amounts of crop residue over the surface can increase the field’s susceptibility to erosion. This is the case in potato rotations grown in south central Colorado on sandy coarse soils with low organic matter content that are susceptible to wind erosion. We have been conducting cover crop and crop rotation studies in this region for over a decade. Our results show that winter cover crops, summer cover crops with limited irrigation, and rotations with deeply-rooted small grains are good management alternatives to reduce wind erosion, increase nutrient cycling of macro and micro nutrients, increase nutrient use efficiencies, and reduce nitrate leaching to groundwater in this region. Summer cover crops with limited irrigation can also increase water use efficiencies. Additionally, preliminary results show that the total marketable tuber yield, was increased by 12 to 30% when potatoes followed a sorghum-sudan green manure instead of wet fallow plots. The tuber quality for the potatoes following sorghum-sudan was superior, with 40% higher production of tubers greater than 8 ounces. We will present our results from these studies, including the use of isotopic 15N label fertilizer to trace the nitrogen cycling from a sorghum-sudan summer crop into the potato crop. These studies are helping NRCS personnel, extension agents, and CSU personnel to improve best management practices and nutrient recommendations for this region.

Publication Type: Oral Presentation
Abstract: Project Purpose: To advance and increase the adoption of cover crop technology by:
1) demonstrating the impact of sunn hemp, oats and buckwheat on the rotational commercial crops: seed corn, tomatoes, papaya, sweet potato, pineapple, row vegetables and coffee and
2) overcoming implementation barriers by quantitatively addressing grower concerns about pests, soil fertility and economic costs and benefits.

Project Deliverables:
1. Fourteen demonstration plantings on the five major agriculture islands.
2. One or more Field Days held at each of the fourteen demonstration sites.
3. Field demonstration of applied cover cropping technology, agronomic and economic assessment of field scale demonstrations, and coordination with the plant materials center to provide materials usable in the FOTG.
4. As the demonstration come on line and data and analysis, posters detailing objectives, status and, outcomes will be available at the Field Days).
5. Publish educational materials and project results at the UH CTAHR’s Sustainable Agriculture website, flyers for Field Days, articles for trade publications/newsletters, and presentations at the biannual AG Conference meeting. Materials from the demonstration will be presented to Pacific Island Area NRCS agronomist and plant materials specialist for inclusion in FOTG as technical reference for practice standards/jobsheets such as Cover Crop, Mulching, Nutrient Management, Pest Management
6. Simplified English technical materials to be translated into Ilocano, Laotian, Tagalog, Chinese, and Korean to support outreach to limited resource and beginning farmers (UH Cooperative Extension publication translated to reach immigrant farmers
7. Video record two Field Days and edit for DVD use at trainings and workshops and at the Hawaii Ag Conference

Project Scope/Location: State of Hawaii: 14, 2-10 acre demonstration sites in various locations on the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Molokai, Kauai and Maui with balanced emphasis on commercial and family cropping operations.

Publication Type: Oral Presentation
Abstract: Introduction of cover crops into potato production sequence in northeast Florida has shown promising results with regard to minimizing residual soil nitrate losses. Use of subsurface seepage irrigation system as a predominant method, and sandy textures combined with high temperatures and rainfall render nitrogen management difficult in these systems. Strategies to improve nitrogen use efficiency and reduce environmental losses should therefore include slow release sources, efficient irrigation water use, and a cover crop to capture the residual soil nitrogen if any, subsequent to potato harvest.
Experiment will be laid out with the general objectives of determining the efficiency of nitrogen availability and uptake with control release N sources in comparison with readily soluble sources, determining the suitability of drip irrigation for optimum potato production and identifying an appropriate non-leguminous catch crop. These objectives will be determined individually and in combination starting with the spring 2007 potato season.
Results from the first season and perspectives on potential success of the nutrient management strategies for resources conservation will be presented.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript