November 2023 - 47

ORGANIC GROWER: WEED CONTROL
is primarily studying nitrogen, but also plans to look
at phosphorus and potassium and wants to see how
different cover crops, including legumes versus
nonlegumes, affect soil nitrogen, carbon pools and
weed communities. Researchers are studying warm and
cool season cover crops.
Understanding southern soils
" If we can better understand those pools of fertility
in our soils and how organic matter interacts with that,
we can reduce fertilizer applications and increase
the efficiency of organic production, and gain a better
understanding of our southern soils, " she said. " How
we build soil health in our southern soils has potential
to scale-up organic production. It will also benefit our
conventional growers. "
In what Cassity-Duffey calls a " black box, " because
of nitrogen's complexity, it's difficult for scientists to
consistently predict soil nitrogen availability.
" Many times, we just put out enough nitrogen to
hit crop yields without seeing if there is any in the
soil, " she said. " But, if we can figure out what the
soil is contributing and what that organic matter is
contributing, we can encourage people to build those
nutrient pools and then cutback
on fertilizer costs. "
Growers who purchase
fallowed pastureland or
know little of its history may
be unsure of water trough
locations or cattle movement
areas that may have led to soil
compaction. Understanding
how cover crops can quickly
break-up compaction layers
and improve soil structure
could hasten organic transition
(the three-year transition
process is set by the USDA)
to profitable yields, CassityDuffey
said.
After the Love is Love
Cooperative Farm, a study
collaborator in Mansfield, an
hour east of Atlanta, recently
procured a no-till drill, one of
its growers noted how quickly
he could plant cover crops seed
using the implement.
" That's another benefit of it,
trying to show this tool that's
used in row crop production
can be a tool for vegetable
growers because he could plant
cover crops much quicker than
with other cover crop planting
methods, " Cassity-Duffey said.
HIWASSEE
PR ODUCTS
423 436 0502 * www.hiwasseeproducts.com
ORGANICGROWER.INFO | 47
IF WE CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND THOSE
POOLS OF FERTILITY IN OUR SOILS AND
HOW ORGANIC MATTER INTERACTS
WITH THAT, WE CAN REDUCE FERTILIZER
APPLICATIONS AND INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY
OF ORGANIC PRODUCTION,
AND GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING
OF OUR SOUTHERN SOILS.
- Kate Cassity-Duffey
A grower can get into land that doesn't require
prepping and seeding, she said.
" With organics, it's super complicated because they're
getting their nutrients from the soil from the cover
EQUIPMENT TO IMPROVE SOIL BIOLOGY
Vermicomposting systems * Compost extractors * Bio-safe
transfer pumps * Soil biology verification * Mixing systems
Amending soil microbiology improves
nutrient uptake, weed suppression, pest
and disease resistance, and crop health.
VermiFlow
Bio-Extractor
NEW!
http://www.hiwasseeproducts.com http://www.ORGANICGROWER.INFO
November 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2023
