2006 Annual Report 1.What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? Why does it matter? Mainstream or conventional farming systems are accelerating the degradation of our soil and water resources, and are creating food quality and both food and farm worker safety issues due to excessive tillage, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides. To overcome these problems, both growers and consumers are looking more to the production and consumption of organically grown food products. Today, the production of food carrying the USDA organic label is based primarily on a trial-and-error approach conducted on small family farms and is not as based on the scientific approach of hypothesis testing as warranted. Furthermore, starting from October 2002, the USDA has implemented national organic labeling standards for the production and sale of all organic foods. Guidelines, based on scientific research and economic analysis, for developing farming systems that meet organic standards would greatly minimize the risk of converting from conventional to organic farming systems. This project proposes to develop organic management systems that meet USDA guidelines for the production and sale of selected organic fruits and vegetables. To accomplish our research objectives, we have developed a comprehensive program that takes the holistic approach of combining both basic and applied research from a variety of disciplines such as agronomy, plant physiology, biochemistry, soil science, and food technology. First, we will attempt to understand the dynamics of converting conventional farms into organic farms. Second, we seek to understand the biochemistry of plant phenomena as they interact with soil conditions, cultural practices, and the environment under conventional and organic production. Third, we will investigate how different cover crops (grasses and legumes) contribute to soil organic matter, soil nutrient status, and microbial populations. Fourth, scientific studies will be conducted to evaluate food quality under organic and sustainable management, compared with quality of food produced under conventional farming systems. This information will be invaluable for adjusting cultural and management practices to produce healthy and nutritious food effectively and economically under the conditions that have low environmental quality impacts. The problem of pollution of our water resources (surface and groundwater), the problem of poor food quality and nutritional value, the problem of farm worker safety due to toxic chemicals, and the problem of contaminated foods from pesticides, all are viewed differently by the scientific community and the public at large; but we believe that problems caused by today's conventional farming systems may contribute to serious health and environmental problems and that organic production systems are a potential solution to many of these problems. This project falls within the mission of National Program 207, "Integrated Farming Systems", to develop sustainable and organic farming systems. 2.List by year the currently approved milestones (indicators of research progress) Year 1 (FY 2005) 1. Soil fertility/soil health/cover cropping - Second cycle cover crop/vegetable study. Plant/soil analyses. Greenhouse experiment moisture stress/microbe responses. 2. Olives - none for current year. 3. Crop Production - none for current year. 4. Pecans - none for current year. Year 2 (FY 2006) 1. Soil fertility/soil health/cover cropping - Plant/soil analyses. Report first 2 years. Continue greenhouse studies - biochemistry. 2. Olives - start experiments with cuttings; initiate grafting and temperature control experiments. 3. Crop production - Report establishment, mortality, and early growth characteristics of orchard crops. Report spring/fall 2005 results on particle film application to peppers. 4. Pecans - Complete analyses: effects of soil amendments, foliar sprays on pecan production following 2005 harvest. Reevaluate treatments and modify, as required. Year 3 (FY 2007) 1. Soil fertility/soil health/cover cropping - third cycle cover crop/vegetable study. Plant/soil analyses. Report findings. Continue greenhouse studies -microbiology. 2. Olives - study flowering experiments under controlled conditions. Perform reciprocal grafting experiments between early and late varieties. 3. Crop Production - none for current year. 4. Pecans - none for current year. Year 4 (FY 2008) 1. Soil fertility/soil health/cover cropping - fourth cycle cover crop/vegetable study. Plant/soil analyses. Report findings. Continue greenhouse studies. 2. Olives - Complete experiments on flowering under control conditions. Assess performance of L712 clones at or near Carrizo Springs. 3. Crop Production - Report early peach, orchard performance. Report on the use of particle film on pepper/melon crop performance and citrus yield and quality. 4. Pecans - Complete analyses: effects of soil amendments, foliar sprays on pecan production following the 2006 harvest. Year 5 (FY 2009) 1. Soil fertility/soil health/cover cropping - Fifth cycle cover crop/vegetable study. Plant/soil analyses. Report findings. Continue greenhouse studies. Technology transfer. 2. Olives - Record and analyze data. Transfer technology. 3. Crop Production - Report on the orchard performance of 3 peach fruiting seasons. 4. Pecans - Complete analyses: effects of soil amendments, foliar sprays on pecan production following the 2007 harvest. 5. Complete studies and transfer technologies. 4a.List the single most significant research accomplishment during FY 2006. Flowering in 'Arbequina' olives can be achieved in the absence of typical chilling conditions. Cultivation of olives in southern and coastal Texas was previously considered not feasible because these areas do not provide enough chilling in the night required for flowering and fruiting in Texas. An environmental growth chamber was designed to study regulation of flowering in olives. Scientists at the Kika de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research Center led the research on temperature-induced regulation of flowering and fruiting in olives and discovered that in Arbequina, typical chilling was not required for flowering and fruiting. Based on these results, a new concept regarding regulation of flowering in 'Arbequina' olives was proposed. (This project directly supports ARS National Program 207, Integrated Farming Systems.) 4b.List other significant research accomplishment(s), if any. Soil Fertility/Soil Health/Cover Cropping Benefits of cover crops are apparent sooner than expected. Crops yield poorly in soils that are deficient in organic matter. Economically, cover crops are the best tool to increase soil organic matter. Scientists at the Kika de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research Center carried out research on cover crops used for horticultural crops (tomato, watermelon, onion, and pepper). Cover crops increased yields of horticultural crops due to multiple benefits on soil fertility, including carbon sequestration, and weed control after only two production cycles. Results pave the way for developments of organic vegetable production systems. Organic vegetables attract premium prices for growers. (This applies to National Program 207, Integrated Farming Systems and National Program 202, Soil Resource Management.) Crop Production New, low-chilling-requirement peaches may offer another crop alternative for hot climates. Scientists at the Kika de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research Center carried out research on establishment and management of peaches. Organic and conventional fertility and weed management practices were carried out on two low-chilling-requirement peaches. Transplanted in the fall of 2005, the trees were found to be uniform in phenology and flowering in spring 2006. Weed control mulches have elicited differences in soil temperatures and soil moisture content for some treatments. No establishment differences in plant trunk diameter, canopy volume, and flowering have yet occurred. Fruit flowering was not concentrated as in temperate growing areas. Results are promising for development of both conventional and organic peach production in hot climates. (This applies to NP 207.) Pecans Organic treatments increased pecan yields compared to synthetic fertilizers. Scientists at the Kika de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research Center carried out research on organic production systems for pecans. Yields were increased with organic management after several production cycles. Due to poor results, two conventional treatments were eliminated, leaving two to serve as controls for the more effective organic treatments. These experiments will be used to optimize organic production systems for pecans, which are highly-valued in the marketplace. (This applies to NP 207.) 4c.List significant activities that support special target populations. None 4d.Progress report. None 5.Describe the major accomplishments to date and their predicted or actual impact. We found that flowering in 'Arbequina' olives can be achieved without typical chilling requirements that were the basis for discouraging olive cultivation in Texas. This is a new paradigm for flowering in olives; instead of discouragement, it offers hope for olive cultivation in Texas, despite its mild winter. Other new concepts have been developed about regulation of flowering in olives. Hopefully, these findings will lead to commercial olive cultivation on millions of acres along the Texas coastline. This applies to NP 207 6.What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end-user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? None 7.List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). Malik, N. 2005. Olive cultivation in Texas. Olive Orchard Growers Conference, August 6, 2005, Elmendorf, Texas. Malik, N. 2006. Growing olives. Southwest Reginal Hispanic Farmers' and Ranchers' Conference, April 30-May 3, 2006, Edinburg, Texas. Zibilske, L. 2006. Native plants need soil microbes. South Texas Natives Newletter. 4(1):1-2. Review Publications Makus, D.J. 2005. Effect of kaolin (Surround) on pepper fruit and seed mineral nutrients. Subtropical Plant Science. 57:5-9. Lester, G.E., Jifon, J.L., Makus, D.J. 2006. Supplemental foliar potassium application with or without a surfactant can enhance netted muskmelon quality. HortScience. 41(3):741-744. Malik, N.S., Bradford, J.M. 2004. Reciprocal grafting between early maturing and normal maturing olive varieties: preliminary effects on the nature of juvenility and flowering. International Journal of Food, Agriculture, and the Environment. 2:197-200. Malik, N.S., Bradford, J.M. 2004. Genetic diversity and clonel variation among olive varieties offer promise for selecting cultivars for Texas. Fruit Varieties Journal. 58:203-209. Malik, N.S., Bradford, J.M. 2006. Regulation of flowering in 'Arbequina' olives under non-chilling conditions: the effect of high daytime temperatures on blooming. International Journal of Food, Agriculture, and the Environment. 4:283-286. Malik, N.S., Bradford, J.M. 2005. Design and construction of an inexpensive plexiglas chilling chamber to study flowering in olives (Olea europaea L.). HortScience. 40(2):496-497. Malik, N.S., Bradford, J.M. 2005. A simple protein extraction method for proteomic studies on olive leaves. International Journal of Food, Agriculture, and the Environment. 3:246-248. Malik, N.S., Bradford, J.M. 2006. Is chilling a prerequisite for flowering and fruiting in olives? International Journal of Fruit Science. 5(3):29-39. Malik, N.S., Bradford, J.M. 2006. Flowering and fruiting in olives in subtropical climate where olives normally grow vegetative. International Journal of Fruit Science. 5(4):47-56. Makus, D.J. 2005. Effect of mulch, mycorrhizal inoculation, and Surround on late fall pepper production [abstract]. Hortscience. 40(4):999.