Project Number: 1915-62660-002-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Sep 09, 2008
End Date: Aug 31, 2013

Objective:
1) To identify and establish the relative contribution of factors that limit potato system sustainability in the Northeast, and 2) to develop production strategies and management practices that reduce constraints, increase productivity, and enhance sustainability of potato and other production systems in the Northeast.

Approach:
Research will be conducted to 1) identify the constraints to potato system sustainability and 2) develop practices and management strategies to overcome or reduce those constraints. Limitations to sustainability will be identified through interdisciplinary evaluation of cropping systems designed and managed as a) Status Quo, b) Soil Conserving, c) Soil Improving, and d) Pest Suppressive Systems under both irrigated and rainfed management. Each system will be evaluated for its impacts on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties; plant growth; plant diseases; profitability and risk; nutrient availability; and their interactions. Simultaneously, research will be conducted to overcome or reduce these limitations through enhanced plant disease control, management options to increase productivity and improve economic viability, and by incorporating bioenergy crops into the cropping systems. The sustainability of each system and alternative management practice will be evaluated and transferred to growers in a decision support system through multiple avenues, including distribution on compact disks, hands-on demonstration at grower meetings, and on-farm trials. The research and technology transfer endeavors proposed in this project are expected to enhance potato system sustainability, thereby improving agricultural viability and rural economic vitality in the Northeast.