Vegetable Crop Production Evaluation II
Growing Systems (Cultural systems) Solution culture: re-circulating vs. single flow (aka "drain to waste")
- Hydroponics Sand, gravel, and vermiculite Bag culture - Aeroponics • Aquaponics (aquaculture + hydroponics) - Nutrient film (film of water moving over the rootzone) - Deep flow technique (DFT)/Deep water culture pH considerations: 5.5-6.5, salt build-up, etc. (rafts of crop floating on nutrient solution)
Underground Vegetables: Characteristics related to postharvest
- In soil contact which requires cleaning and removal of soil and associated rot microorganisms - Usually mechanically harvested= more damage - Should be cured before storage to minimize wounds and water loss - For storage organs (e.g. potatoes, meant to regrow), renewed growth= loss in long-term storage, we do lots of things to prevent re growth
5. Agricultural water used during growing, harvesting, packing, and holding produce: (Key elements of the PSR)
- Irrigation practices that lead to contact between the edible portion of the veg. and water is subject to PSR monitoring
HYDROPONIC GREENHOUSE-GROWN STRAWBERRIES: LED
- LED lighting from the top during times of year to supplement natural light can be VERY effective - during day and at night
The Importance of Stand (Establishment)
- Seed (esp. hybrid) is very expensive - Production costs (fertilizing, cultivating, spraying, etc.) are greater on a per-plant basis with an incomplete stand --> putting the same inputs in regardless of # of plants per acre, best to max it out - Increases yields - Reduces weed competition - Stand = how uniformly your rows are established, without skips!
Open-pollinated Cultivars definition
- Self- or cross-pollinated species - Sometimes require Strict isolation (distance, maturity or planting date differences, or isolation cages) to produce seed - Only requires isolation, less expensive- additional purchases? - extra measures, but not as much as a hybrid - cheaper than hybrids - can save seed from year to year as long as you prevent crossing
2. Biological soil amendments: (Key elements of the PSR)
- Soil amendments (raw manure) can introduce biological risks to fresh produce Farm requirement:Proper training of employees who handle soil amendments
Lettuce: Cultural Management: CEA
- THE most successful crops in CEA - Cultivars: Looseleaf, butterhead, some crisphead and Romaine - Stages: --> Germination -----Rockwool cubes at 68 degrees F -----18 hours of artificial lighting, 10-14 days --> Transplant development: 10-14 days - Grow-out (time from transplanting to harvest) --As little as 28 days vs. 42-60 outdoors --24 days in summer vs. 48 in winter --Supplemental light in winter reduces this to 30-36 days - Some of crop is marketed with roots, "living lettuce"
Environmental conditions must be constantly monitored and controlled:
- Temperature - Humidity - Radiation - Carbon dioxide concentration Things we can control in a greenhouse
Temperature in CEA
- Tolerance is wide, but optimum is very narrow Lettuce nutrient film system example: - Daytime air temp: 60-65oF - Night temp: 45-50oF - Root-zone: 60-75oF - Temps for top three: Table 29.2, p. 588 - If roots are warm or cold, can buffer air temperatures that are beyond the optimum Page 588 in the book (temp ranges) - optimum is narrow but tolerance in wide - as long as roots stay warm/ cold/ optimal, air temperature can fluctuate more
Onion Salmonella Newport Outbreak 2020
- Total number of reported cases: 1,012 - Total number of hospitalizations: 136 - Range of ages infected: 1-102 years, median age 40 - Total number of death: 0 - Total number of affected States: 47 - Total number of bacterial isolates: 732, only two with Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). - Outbreak in Canada is related to the one in the USA. - Most impacted States: CA, OR, IL, MI, UT, WA, MT, ID, AZ > 35 cases. - food borne illness can impact people of all age!
Tomatoes: Cultural Management: CEA
- Transplants: 4-8 weeks, 4-6" tall - High pruning and training cost, indeterminate cultivars Perfect flowers, but lack of wind or pollinators: (but pollination in greenhouses it actually pretty easy to achieve) - Mechanical vibration - Air-blast blowers Fruit: - Usually harvested 46 days after pollination - Can be allowed more color than field (full pink stage) - Cultivar and environment still play a role in flavor Longevity: - Can be managed for 9 months or more
Trend reversal:
- Vegetable greenhouse acreage has increased again - Mostly in the south and southwest - More economical due to lower labor and energy costs - Low land costs depending on location Worldwide: - Spain, Italy, Portugal, and northern Europe= industry growth - Persian Gulf and other desert coastal regions - Japan, Singapore (250 acres of arable land TOTAL for the entire nation) : limited arable land
The Fresh Herb Company: Longmont, CO -Ornamentals, cut flowers, herbs
- one of the first baby greens (cut lettuce) producers in the market, until California got big and pushed them out - split between herbs and ornamentals - split between organic herbs and conventional cut flowers
Plant Growth Inhibitors, through the seasons, ABA vs. Cytokinins
- relationship with plant growth regulators and inhibitors Spring = low ABA and high Cyto. Fall = high ABA, low Cyto.
Biological Control
- releasing a bug that is predatory towards problematic pests in the greenhouse environment (insect eating insect)
Eurofresh farms system in production
- removing bottom leaves allow for more light are airflow - really intense training system
Ethylene Scrubbers
- removing gaseous ethylene from storage facilities - important in commercial settings
Types of Organic Certification
- separate OSP and separate inspection for all of the types - Crops* (e.g. SEG) - Livestock - Processed/multi-ingredient (processing plants must be certified) - Wild crops (collecting in the wild)
Chiles are "semi-climacteric"
- some crops are kind of inbetween, with ethylene treatments - will only ripen a little bit, ethylene applications make more of a difference when it is already a little bit ripe
hoop house construction cont.
- these require maintenance, brushing snow off, making sure the wind doesn't blow them over, they can collapse easily ** don't leave the west door open and the east door closed on the windy day, winds from the west will fill it up and blow it away
Calculation
- to make up for 90% germination rate - want to plant 10% extra per linear foot (want to plant 10 per foot, 9 will germinate, plant 11) - if germ. rate is below 90% find different seed
Does LED interlighting have an effect on the growth and productivity of hydroponically grown greenhouse tomatoes?
- to supplement day length - not lighted, styrofoam used to block the light - 90 days after transplanting
Packaging of tomatoes, Eurofresh
- tomatoes constantly ripening
Other plant growth inhibitors: Maleic hydrazide (MH) and CIPC (description: p. 478)
- used on onions and potatoes - before or after harvest - prevents growth after harvest, eyes on potatoes, sprouts on garlic etc.
Individual leaf photosynthesis
- using portable photosynthesis system - yes! more PS in leaves that are closest to the lighting, BUT it didnt effect overall plant productivity - didnt see higher yields or quality
HIgh Blue lighting increased BRIX, increased sugars, made them sweeter!
- wasn't expecting this
Pathogens associated with fresh produce outbreaks in the United States
Cantaloupes in 2011, Listeria - this is why the produce industry is implementing the produce safety rule
ABA Abscissic acid
Characteristics: •Stress PGR •Response to pathogens and wounding •Discovery in 1963, abscission of cotton •Transport in xylem and phloem (moves up and down) •Associated with dormancy and germination inhibition Effects •Abscission and dehiscence of fruits, promotes metabolism of ripening •Bud dormancy •Inhibits elongation
Coriander is the seed/spice from what leafy vegetable/herb crop of the same species?
Cilantro
CDA
Colorado Department of Agriculture - USDA accredited certifying agency - https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/agplants/organic - No longer accepting new applications for certification, must go with another certifier: - https://www.ams.usda.gov/resources/organic-certifying-agents
Seed Quality Characteristics
Commercial seed should: 1.) Be "true to type" - you should get what you are paying for (cultivar) 2.) Have high germination percentage (>90% for vegetable crops, percent of seedling that should emerge) 3.) Have high vigor - vigor = post emergence, grow quickly and be tough 4.) Have no dormancy - dormancy is rare now in veg. seeds, but sometimes lettuce or asparagus seeds could have dormancy 5.) Be free of foreign matter/material - dirt 6.) Have no disease or insect contamination - "clean"
Commercial uses and removal of Ehtylene
Commercial: •Stimulation of ripening- In the field- Post harvest •Abscission induction prior to mechanical harvest Commercial removal: •Long term CA(controlled atmosphere) storage - Low temperature - Low oxygen - Controlled humidity • Hypobaric (low air pressure) storage of many vegetables •Potassium permanganate or other filters to absorb ethylene, scrubbers!
Ornamental Chillies
naturally less gibberellins, keeps them short and cute
you can grow almost anything inside of a greenhouse if you have the $$$$
often not economically viable
Monroe Organic Farms:
one of the oldest organic farms in Colorado, possibly US (1936): Weld County, near Greeley - Underground storage of root vegetables - created a man made cave, kinda underground. all winter, stays just above freezing and doesnt warm up above 40 degrees F
Affordability and accessibility
organic is kind of elitist, but it is getting better Examples: - Aurora Organic Dairy= one of the largest organic dairy operations in the country. They sell to store brands "Kirkland" etc. - they can be organic but really big. 50,000 organic cows getting milked 24/7??? tf (milk = common gateway product of buying organic) - in FoCo and Loveland --> Vindeket --> Lucky's "organic for the 99%" --> Esh's --> Natural Grocers, feed 4 people a chicken dinner for under $11
Factors Affecting Seed Germination (Moisture)
pg. 83 of book, table 5.1 = effect of soil moisture on germ. of different vegetable seeds - PWP to field capacity - Intermediate moisture content - Near field capacity - Lower soil contents
bush vs pole beans
pole beans = selection for naturally higher gibberellins
Definition of Available Water
range between field capacity and PWP •Soil texture (sand, silt, clay) will influence field water dynamics •Volumetric water content (% soil moisture) easier to interpret than bars
Bio Controls Sold in Satchels
sawdust or other medium mixed with eggs inside pouch, eggs hatch and then crawl out and disperse - need to be mindful, dont want to spray something that could kill the biocontrols
Deterioration in Quality : Biological : Condition of crop
should be free of bruises, mechanical injury (avenue for decay organisms), etc.
Definition of Field Capacity
soil pores filled with water and free water is allowed to drain away by gravity, how much water the soil can hold within itself after its drained (double check) • Between field capacity (0) and 1.0 bars of pressure, roots can easily remove water from the soil. •Higher bars = more force to remove water
Food Borne Illness:
symptoms you experience after exposure to a pathogen that causes food borne illness
Factors that Influence Veg Crop Growth and Development 2. Nutrients and Water
• Both needed directly and indirectly for growth •If water is limited, stomates relax (close)--> reduced photosynthesis •Water needed for cell division and enlargement: turgidity - If water is not readily available, it may cause a decrease in growth even without obvious wilt - Absorption through the root tips by osmosis (high to low concentrations through a membrane)
Leafy and Succulent Vegetables: Characteristics related to postharvest
High water content, large surface-to-volume ratio leads to water loss and physical damage "Light and fluffy" and should be handled inexpensively and sold quickly (except cabbage) Tend to be cool season and not subject to chilling injury - definition of chilling injury: Physiological disorder caused by subjecting a crop to temps above freezing, but below a minimum threshold (don't keep basil in the fridge! it will turn black/ brown bc of chilling injury)
Factors determining When to harvest maturity
Horticultural: stage at which a commodity has reached a sufficient stage of development that after harvest and postharvest handling (including ripening), its quality will be at least the minimum acceptable Full maturity: seeds have matured and fruits begin to senesce, dehisce, and abscise. Maturity indices: Table 10.2, p. 188 in book Hand vs. mechanical Packing: - Receiving - Cleaning - Pre-sizing - Trimming, sorting, waxing, sizing, curing, grading, packaging, packing, ripening initiation
IBA
"Slips" sweet potato asexual prop
Post Harvest Center (University of California) post harvest physiology resource
Green Onion Example: specifies - harvest maturity - quality indices and grades - optimum storage temps - thresholds for O2 and CO2 - Relative humidity - Responses to Ethylene etc.
Seedless Watermelon Production
Normal seeded watermelons = 2n, diploid, 2 sets of chromosomes Seedless= we take the 2n, diploid, and treat it with Colchicine (naturally occuring) and create a 4n watermelon = tetraploid - then we cross 2n and a 4n watermelon, through pollination of flowers = offspring = 3n, triploid = sterile plant triploid seeds, which then cannot produce viable seed ^ we interplant with diploids for pollen to stimulate fruit development process for triploids
Ethrel, Ethephon
Liquid Ethylene forms
Food Safety Modernization Act Compliance Dates
depending on how much money you make, different implementation
Cranberries:
- native to this part of the world - good vs bad cranberries: Good ones will Bounce, a bouncing board is used to sort them, bright red on the outside and bright white on the inside
Washington Potato Pictures
- kinda gently, - air tubes through the pile of potatoes all are living structures! not photosynthesizing, just respiring, creating a little bit of heat, need to actively cool " vital heat"
Photosynthetically Active Radiation Map
- mapped radiation that came off of the plant, plant had to be VERY close to the light to get the benefit (1 or 2 inch)
middle of the winter
- measured fruit size and quality, also amount of runners produced
Quality Factors:
Appearance (visual): size, shape, color, gloss, defects Texture (feel): external and internal Flavor (taste and smell): sweet, sour, bitter, umami, salty, off flavors Nutritive value: carbohydrates, fiber, proteins, lipids, vitamins, minerals, pigments Safety: naturally occurring toxins, chemical residues, biological
Certified seed tag/ label/ package: Should include:
Cultivar name Lot number and/or origin Purity (usually about 99%) Germination percentage Date of germination test Amount of inert material Identification of any disease or insect control treatments (not allowed in certified organic)
Germination testing is done by
International Seed Testing Association Private labs Vigor: Rapid, complete, and uniform seed germination and subsequent development of crop (definition of vigor) ^ Can be enhanced by various treatments
CEA at CSU
Organic Greenhouse Production • HORT 344 • Emphasis on food crops • Spring of even years • 1 credit hour and half semester course (second eight weeks) • Next offering Spring 2022 "New" hire in HLA: Dr. Joshua Craver • Controlled environment horticulture specialist • Vegetable and floriculture crops • Horticulture Center near SEG (pictures later in the slide deck)
Grade: the idea of standardizing the produce industry
Potatoes 1917, now 150 standards for 80 fruits and vegetables - before 1917, anyone could sell anything "U.S. Fancy", "U.S. No. 1-3" (pg. 207 in book) - No. 3 goes to prisons Wonky vegetables and "Spuglies" - in the UK, it used to be illegal to sell vegetables that were too wonky
Deterioration in Quality : Biological : Growth and development
Sprouting of potatoes, onions, garlic, root crops= treat with MH-30 Rooting of onions, basal plates can start to grow roots Asparagus and gravitropism (elongation, curvature, toughness) Precocious germination tomatoes and peppers
Deterioration in Quality : Biological : Transpiration and Water Loss
Surface to volume ratio, surface injuries, maturity stage Humidity, temperature, air velocity Root crops with tops on transpire much more quickly Water loss= weight= yield Vitamin C lost quickly under wilting conditions
Onions
Undercut Inhibitor applied Field drying Remove tops/roots Packing, curing Grading Re-packing Storage
Seed treatments (Chemical protectants)
Usually brightly colored, standard practice since the 1960s Disinfects the surface of the seed from seed-borne fungi, bacteria (bacterial leaf spot), and some viruses Protects the seed from soil-borne fungi in the seed bed Protects the seedling from damping-off organisms, organisms that kill young seedlings - most chemical treatments are not allowed in certified organic treatment
Quality
"...degree of excellence, relative nature, attribute, or faculty" Oxford Dictionary - Combination of characteristics, attributes, and properties that give a commodity value to humans for food. Quality differs by who you are: Growers: disease resistance, high yields, uniform maturity, less emphasis on postharvest but increasing Shipper and handlers: shipping and market quality. Tougher they are, the lower the cost (who cares about flavor?!) Consumer: appearance, price, table quality= texture, flavor, color, and nutrition
Worlds Hottest Pepper
"Bhut Jolokia" type of Scorpion Pepper 2 million Scoville Heat Units - jalapeno = 2-5,000 scoville heat units - capsaicin produced 2 locations!! on placenta, and on the inside walls of the pepper pod - superhots have a low germination rate, because they are spending so much energy producing capsaicin
Cytokinins Characteristics and Discovery
"Fountain of Youth" - young, actively dividing tissues - makes cut stems stay green longer Characteristics: •Non-acidic, relatively immobile •Stimulates cell division and diff •Cut stems stay green longer: •Retain proteins •Causes mobilizing effect and sugar accumulation Discovery: •Endogenous-zeatin 1961, $$, first cytokinin extracted in large quantities (endogenous) - extracted from blanching of sweet corn, boiled down blanching water, very reduced, very very expensive. These PGRs are present in only very small amounts. • also present in Coconut milk, liquid endosperm has quite a few cytokinins
USDA Definition of Organic
"Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled 'organic,' a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too." - from the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA), 1990 Farm Bill
Estimated postharvest losses of fresh produce in developed countries
- From production to retail sales: 12% - At retail, food service, and consumer sites: 20% - Cumulative total: 32%! food waste also generates methane gas as it breaks down Better postharvest knowledge => better transport => larger markets
Deep Water Culture Example
- must aerate with a bubbler to provide oxygen to plant roots - also really must prevent water borne pathogens
Seed Coatings
- Fungicides: Used to prevent fungal growth - Insecticides: Protects seeds from insect damage - can help a lot Mechanical Planting: Machines require consistent, specifically sized seeds. Coating can provide this consistency, often a clay coating. - Special elements: Adding particular elements can improve and enhance the growth. An example of this would be using the element molybdenum (Mo). This metallic substance works well in low pH soils and stimulates nitrogen fixing enzymes.
Watermelon Results
* cultivar was biggest driver * interlighting didn't have a very big effect
In order to justify cost...
- Greenhouse must produce 10x more lettuce than the field - Completely enclosed facility must produce 5-10x more than the greenhouse (when you are also supplementing light)
Factors that Influence Veg Crop Growth and Development 3. Plant Growth Regulators
- "Phytohormones", signal molecules that regulate plant growth ---- hormone is not an appropriate term - Very low concentrations, generally, except EX: Ethylene - Not produced in glands (animals) like actual hormones, rather in specific cells and used locally and/or transported throughout the plant to regulate growth - Endogenous (plant produces and uses it) and exogenous (synthetically make or extract as PGR and apply) (animal sources, synthetics, collected, etc.) - 4 groupsClassical PGRs: •Auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, inhibitors
History: of CEA
- 14-37 B.C.E.- Romans used talc (semi transparent mineral that acts like a pane of glass) window coverings to extend season - Middle ages- Italians grew citrus year-round, putting them in pots, keeping them alive during winter - End of 15th century- Maritime areas (Dutch) developed year-round production to make most of arable land. (water logged soils, not suitable for crop production, soaked with salty water) - Mid 1800s- US adoption of hotbeds for seedling production. - Early 1900s- ~100 acres of protective greenhouse coverings were used to produce winter vegetables (US). (humans have always been interested in changing the environment)
EVALUATION 1 NOTES
- 17 essential elements: Manganese = Mn Magnesium = Mg - Sugar Beets in Colorado: sugar beets are white, large, extracted for sugar, agronomic crop, not vegetable crop. - full scientific name for sweet corn: Zea mays var. sachorata 'Sweet Candy' - don't use wikipedia bruh
CEA Overview:
- Aim: independence from climate and weather in areas where the natural environment limits growth. includes: - Greenhouses most common, but also includes hotbeds, high and low tunnels, hydroponics, and growth rooms. - Includes fully enclosed "plant factories" that never see the sun (i.e. sole source), but emphasized by NASA. (freight farming) - For commercial production: Large investment in capital, labor, and grower skill Therefore, must be high value crop and/or higher yields than field-grown. Intense and challenging.
Controlling Carbon dioxide:
- Ambient= Now >400 ppm - Above that stimulates (fertilizes) plant growth, most cases - CO2 enrichment stimulates growth in lettuce and tomatoes in low light; cucumbers in high light - can bring levels up to 1000 ppm and most crops can use it all - Herbs (basil) may be sensitive to >1000ppm CO2 (normal CEA) Sources: - Compressed gas - Dry ice - Combustion (with considerations to other bi-products)
Controlling Radiation: (lighting)
- Artificial lighting is often cost prohibitive - Midwest grow-out time (# of days from transplant to harvest): - grow out time for lettuce 24 days in summer (6 oz head) vs. 48 days in winter (8 oz) - Winter: grow-out time= 30-36 days with HID sodium vapor lights •Newer LED technology is changing this
Direct seeding: Types
- Broadcast: more seed required, birds, not typical for vegetable production - Drill: places seed thickly in a sliced bed, field. Expensive due to seed and thinning costs, putting out a lot of seed - Plant to stand: places one seed at every point where a plant is desired. Reduces thinning and seed cost, but very risky - Precision seed: Spaces seeds more thickly than plant to stand, but intermediate in seed cost and thinning costs. Coated seed improves accuracy of placement (depth and spacing)
Certifiers - Federal Oversight = use of the SEAL
- COOF (California Certified Organic Farmers) - you can also use the label of the certifier ^^ - can use one or the other, or both
US History and Fluctuation
- Cleveland, Ohio circa 1900: - Major center of greenhouse veg. production - Most of fresh tomato production for eastern US in fall and winter - Mid 1900s- 700 acres of greenhouse tomatoes in Ohio alone - 1969: over 1,000 acres - 1974: 855 acres - 1982: less than 500 acres (why?? interstates allowed for shipping of produce produced in the more feasible field environments of the southwest. shipping was less expensive than building a greenhouse.) - Why? CA, FL, TX, AZ, NM, and Mexico - Switch to ornamentals from vegetables and back again •In CO, switch from carnations to veg. Other crops, too. greenhouses go back and forth - also "other crops" = pot, legalization in CO made greenhouse space very very competitive for a long time
Commercial strawberry production system
- EX: of who could actually use the research - elevated off the ground to make the working environment more comfy - energy consumption of LEDs is much less than incandescent light bulbs.
Pg 182 in book, Classification - determines postharvest requirements
- Entire plant (roots and shoots): sprouts - Root: (Swollen taproot: Carrots, turnips, radishes, chicory) (Other roots: sweet potatoes, cassava, yams, jicama) - Bulbs: onions, garlic - "Stem tuber": potatoes, Jerusalem artichoke (use the word tuber instead) (Jerusalem artichoke can cause indigestion) - Stem: asparagus, kohlrabi, microgreens - Leaf: blade, petiole, buds, shoots - Floral parts: artichokes, broccoli, cauliflower - Fruits: immature (green peppers), mature (tomatoes)
Land Mines in Organic Production
- Fertilizers and other inputs labeled "organic" are not necessarily allowed in organic production (organic doesn't mean its approved) (always check with certifier if you're unsure) - Any formulated products—look for approval from Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI: www.omri.org) (changes often! check back often) - Natural products that have been processed (fish emulsion ex., they might have an additive that will make it not allowed to use) - Paint, treated lumber, irrigation system cleaners (depends on soil contact) - Mosquito repellent example (can't even use bug spray, example of residues) - Biosolids (maybe good from environmental standpoint, NOT allowed in Organic systems) - Treated or genetically modified seeds (including CRISPR/Cas 9, not allowed) - Plastic mulch (have to remove plastic at the end of the growing system) biodegradable mulch- still no biodegradable plastic mulches that are certified O, because the milches are usually made from GM corn
Alternative Storage
- Field storage: cabbage, potatoes, most root crops- trenches, pits, mounds, clamps --> dig a trench, cover with a layer of straw, - Common or unrefrigerated storage: potatoes, onions, winter squashes, and some root crops heavily insulated rooms, cellars, human-made caves, etc. - Night air storage: potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, hard-rind squashes and pumpkins - High altitude storage: 5.5oF for every 1,000 ft - Air conditioner units in a well insulated room - CoolBot: window air conditioner "hack" - Refrigerated tractor trailers
Organic high tunnel tomato cluster pruning impacts on size & quality
- high tunnel tomatoes, with minimal protection, but just like you would in a commercial GH operation
Things to remember
- Land must be free of prohibited substances for 3 years before certification - Natural inputs allowed except for listed exceptions, synthetics prohibited except for listed exceptions - Water and soil must be conserved (must demonstrate in OSP) - Compost, seed and starts, manure use (wait 90 (crops that dont touch the ground) and 120 days (crops that do touch the ground) after raw manure applications before harvest (same as FSMA) - have to have records for that, better to call it "broken down plant material) - Farm planning - Retain seed packets and/or receipts for records - Transitioning to organic is a fundamental change in practices not a matter of input substitution - manure does not have to be organic, and generally water doesn't have to be certified
Deterioration in Quality : Biological : Compositional Changes
- Loss of chlorophyll= good in tomatoes, pumpkins, etc. Negative in leafy greens - Conversion of starch to sugar at low T = good for parsnips and sweet potatoes, negative for potatoes - Conversion of sugar to starch= bad for sweet corn and peas - Increased lignin= tough asparagus - Loss of vitamin content (Vitamin C) important in processing and leafy crops
Factors Affecting Seed Germination
- Moisture - Temperature - Oxygen - Light - Depth of planting Germination definition: appearance of radicle, NOT emergence from soil
3. Domesticated and wild animals: (Key elements of the PSR)
- Monitor, report, and mitigate the biological risk of animal intrusion Farm requirement:Produce must be visually monitored for signs of animal intrusion Example) - Keep trays off of ground (SEG), monitor field - Flag the intrusion, report to supervisor - And mitigate the risk by setting up a no-harvest buffer zone
Warm and Fuzzy, and Facts about Organics
- Organic can truly mean an integrated, holistic approach, but sometimes the "spirit" of organic is lost or overlooked - Colorado has 165,000 acres of certified organic crop, pasture, and ranch lands - 15th in the nation for organic crop production, 9th for consumption of certified organic products - Very inconsistent evidence supporting the claim that organic is more nutritious ^ organic products aren't necessarily better for you! - If properly managed, organic farms strive to create a system on the farm. Internalizing costs rather than externalizing them. Can also be true of conventional. ^ hopes to utilize internal inputs
Onion Salmonella Newport Outbreak 2020 (continued)
- Origin of the Outbreak: Bakersfield area, CA. - Likely source of contamination: red onions, BUT - "Due to the way onions are grown and harvested, other onion types, such as white, yellow, or sweet yellow, are also likely to be contaminated, due to the risk of cross-contamination = transfer of pathogens from one product to another (meat to veggies ex.)" - FDA is collecting and analyzing product, water, and environmental samples. - "Suppliers and distributors that re-package raw onions should use extra vigilance in cleaning any surfaces and storage areas..........." - they don't really know WHAT happened, onions generally considered uncovered produce under the PSR
Other Factors Affecting Seed Germination
- Oxygen, relates to water and seed coat thickness - Depth of planting - Seed storage: p. 86, Table 5.3 - Other: (germination happens, but what about emergence?) - Soil crusts (anti-crustants= phosphoric acid) - Salts (legumes, chile and interaction with temp.) - Solutions, to provide optimal mix of temp, moisture, (with germination) etc.: transplant or "capping"
Growing Systems (Cultural systems) Substrate Culture
- Perlite - Vermiculite - Rockwool (strung together like cotton candy, pictured) - Polystyrene - Coco coir - requires a certain volume of rooting media - the problem with Peat: non-renewable ^ Coco coir is often used as a substitute, for peat because properly managed coconut groves can be done
Seed Quality
- Production and marketing of high quality seeds are regulated by each state. - The Colorado Certified Seed Lab has moved from Shepardson to ARDEC N./ main, just north of Fort Collins. - Mission statement of Colorado Seed Growers Association "The Colorado Seed Growers Association is a non-profit educational and service organization, authorized by Cooperative Extension of Colorado State University as the official seed certifying agency in Colorado. The Colorado Seed Growers Association is a member of the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA)." - http://seeds.agsci.colostate.edu/seedlab/home-2/ ^ Colorado Seed Lab home, located in Fort Collins
Seed storage
- Read the packet - Cool temperatures (~40 degrees F) -Dry conditions (10% humidity) -Mouse-proof room! -A year or more of storage time (p. 86)
7. Record keeping: (Key elements of the PSR)
- Records are required for compliance Example) Maintain computer or paper records (for two years)! - need to be able to produce records within 24 hours of asking for them. - digital platforms exist Examples of Records you want to keep: A.Farm's coverage or exemption status B.Worker training C.Water system inspection D.Water treatment monitoring record (packing house) E.Agricultural water die-off corrective measures record F.Compost treatment record G.Cleaning and sanitizing record
4. Equipment, tools, buildings, and sanitation: (Key elements of the PSR)
- Reduce biological risks through appropriate cleaning and sanitizing of equipment - cleaning vs sanitizing: cleaning = removing debris (soap and water), sanitizing = removing germs, reduction of pathogens, happens after cleaning Example) clean and sanitize recycled plastic containers, harvest knives, packing lines etc.
Definition of Hybrid
- Result of crossing two genetically distinct parental inbred lines - Parents can be secret ('Rutgers' x '?'), and then they can patent the cultivar, but the patent will run out over time, but you can still keep it a secret without patent protection - Inbreds must be maintained and crossed each year (expensive) - Improved crop uniformity - Expensive, each year you have to purchase more seed, leaves the consumer at the mercy of seed companies - seeing more and more hybrids on the vegetable crop market - a good thing in many ways, uniformity
Organic high tunnel tomato cluster pruning impacts on size & quality 3
- increase size of individual fruits, overall yield is not affected with at least 2 of the cultivars tested.
Insects and Diseases
- Very concentrated crop -> very concentrated pest issues - High value crop,therefore economic threshold is lower than in the field: (thresholds are lower for when you need to start treating for pest issues) - Insects: (common and specific to greenhouses) Whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) Aphids (several species) Spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) Largest pest,especially on cucumbers Other: leafminers, caterpillars, thrips, black flies,etc. Diseases: Fusarium and Verticillium Pythium spp. - wet and warm/cool conditions - Of particular concern in re-circulating systems - Must be excluded through meticulous sanitation protocols
Cucumbers: Cultural Management: CEA
- Very sensitive to low light, cool temps, pollutants, low humidity, low carbon dioxide, poor root aeration, and salts - 14 days for germination, then trained onto an overhead wire Fruits: - Most gynoecious (only produce female flowers) and seedless (parthenocarpic)- no pollination required to form fruit - Disallow bees since pollination can cause deformation of fruits - Harvested at 12-18" - Fruit production for 50 to 75 days, then replant - European vs. North American slicers
Eurofresh Farms:
- Willcox, AZ - 240 acres under "glass" - European ownership: (Holland & USA) - bees for pollination: tomato fruit set is enhanced by pollination, blower/ fan system or bees!
Transplanting: (Factor Affecting Stand)
- allows for more control in tricky stand establishment issues - Extend short season for late maturing crop - Improve land use efficiency - Save money on hybrid seed - Force early production Table 5.4, p. 93- relative ease of transplanting vegetables, doesn't explain why - Must be produced in a greenhouse, hardened off, and transported and planted quickly to minimize stress --> can move transplants into a Lath house for hardening off - Can incorporate plastic mulch, transplants, and drip irrigation for "integrated stand improvement"
2,4-D
- an artificial Auxin • 2,4-D for weed control = really concentrated Auxins --> selective towards broadleaf species, kills broadleaf plants -Sweet corn (monocots) -Asparagus (monocots) -Why? 2,4-D doesn't kill monocots •Transport in parenchyma cells
Inhibitor PGRs
- anything that will produce plant growth, or cause a stress response that will reduce plant growth Examples: •Ethylene •Abscisic acid (ABA) •Maleic hydrazide (MH) and others Effects: •Restricted growth •Dormancy •Abscission (formation of corky layer on a leaf, shedding of plant parts, leaves or fruits) •Senescence
Odd Box company, sells wonky Veg
- buys up wonky produce and sells it in kinda CSA boxes (not locally grown)
More effects of Gibberellins
- can induce maleness in dioecious plants (sex expression) - Can cause Parthenocarpic fruit development (development of fruit without pollination and seed development (seedless)) - some inhibitors "stunt" growth by blocking GA synthesis --> more common in the ornamental world, to shorten internodes
Strawberry results
- cultivar is a huge driver - individual fruit weights increased with supplemental top lighting - avg # of fruit also increased dramatically - also BRIX!
Spectroradiometer Scans
- different lines for different hue colors
Hydroponic watermelons
- drain to waste systems - comparing grafted watermelons, and how helpful LED intercanopy lighting is "interlighting"
Rocky Mountain Fresh near Longmont, CO
- greenhouse infrastructure converted to vegetable production Coco coir slabs, drain to waste, then used outside (strawberries), then in field - re-use bags for strawberries outdoors in the next year, after used for a season with tomatoes - next season, after strawberries, bags were broken open and coco-coir is dumped into field (garlic)
Dooley Farm: Firestone, CO-Tomatoes!
- growing out of media in crops ^ steam sterilizes it, keeps it year to year, ammends - use stilts to stand taller
Precocious germination
- has seen it in greenhouse grown tomatoes - some imbalance in the way the tomato grew or the fruit development
Post Harvest Storage Damage as it relates to Ethylene
- head lettuce can get brown pitting, shown in picture, from ethylene damage - avoiding ethylene with plastic and physical barriers
Modifying the Environment
- heating system - wet wall (cooling and humidity) - CO2 generator (blue thing)
Mini polytube on ground Introduction of carbon dioxide
- high end operations - pumping CO2 through ducts -
In the table below, list the top three most common and successful crops in CEA. Then, fill out the rest of the table: Crop: Day temperature (degrees F): Night temperature (degrees F):
1. 2. 3.
Calculate Growing Degree Days Example BASIC
1. Wed 10/14 = High of 70, low of 50 2. avg = 120/2= 60 = avg 3. 60- 55 = 5 GDDays accumulated 1. Friday 10/16 = High of 63, low of 47 2. avg = 110/2 = 55 3. 55-55 = 0 GGDays ^ plant isn't growing much (warm season crop) 1. Sat 10/17 High 72, low of 36 2. avg = 108/ 2 = 54 3. 54-55 = 0 GDD Accumulated (not -1!!!) ^ over the 3 day period, 5 GDD accumulated. - can do a calculation for every single day, and add them all together cumulatively for the whole season!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Hot Day 105/85 = 190 /2 = 95 is greater than 86 so 0 degree days
Evaluation.....
1. barely any lighting, just to meet day length requirements 2. white hue 3. red hue 4. blue hue - plants look kinda black, they arent reflecting back green wavelengths that they arent using, they are using all of the light pretty efficiently, not reflecting back much at all.
The Nitty Gritty of the Organic Certification Process
1.) Application phase- Organic system plan (OSP) submitted after three year transition period and record keeping - for the first 3 years, you're on your own! - after 3 years, write up an OSP 2.) Inspection phase: on-site visit from an accredited certifier - looks at OSP, visits chemical storage areas, etc. 3.) Approval phase: -Approve and grant certification -Approve and grant with conditions -Conditionally approve pending additional documents -Reject certification - Every year, on site inspection and submitting an OSP
Auxins Effects
1.) Cell elongation 2.) Inhibits growth of axillary buds 3.) Differentiation 4.) Rooting 5.) Apical dominance, phototropism, and geotropism
Calculate Growing Degree Days
1.) Determine minimum and maximum temperature thresholds - (e.g. 55-86 degrees F = for warm season crops) 2.) Determine average daily air temp. 3.) Average - minimum threshold= HUs (Heat units/ GGD) - should give a positive # or zero 4.) If the average never reaches above the minimum, no HUs accumulate - no negatives, just zero 5.) If average exceeds upper threshold, no HUs accumulate
Effects of Gibberellins
1.) Internode elongation (bolting) 2.) Development of dormancy, flowering, responses to light and temp 3.) Produced by seeds
Produce Safety Take home messages:
1.Safely growing, harvesting, packing, and storing fresh produce requires a plan 2.Note whether you are exempt or covered under the PSR 3.Map the path that inputs and produce take during production and harvest 4.Identify and mitigate your physical, chemical, and/or biological risks 5.Keep accurate records (plot notebook) 6.Develop an on-farm food safety plan
Processed organic products vs. whole vegetables
difference between "Organic" "100% Organic" "Made w Organic Ingredients"
Wholesum Harvest: Amado & Nogales, AZ- est. 2012
12 acres as first phase- up to 60 in subsequent phases
Most crops can be grown in CEA, but must be high $$ and high yielding:
150 tons/ac greenhouse vs. 12 t/ac for field-grown tomatoes ^ More than 10x the production than field production of tomatoes must produce this much to justify the cost
Broccoli and Cauliflower in Southern NM with minimal coverage/ protection in the winter!
2 different thicknesses of row cover, soil covered in different ways (experiment!) Broccoli did better - row covering yielded a much better crop
Produce Safety Rule Qualified Exemption
A farm may be eligible for qualified exemption if it meets the necessary requirements: 1.Food sales <$500,000 a year, for the past 3 years 2.Sells directly to the qualified end user, for the past 3 years a)Consumer of the food b)Restaurant or retail establishment c)Located in the same state or <275 miles away
Seedless Watermelon :
Aborted Seeds = less GA = smaller fruit - seeded water melons = larger - non-viable seed coats, that are white.
Tomato Dormancy Example
Abscisic Acid: inhibitor in jelly stuff around the seeds, will prevent them from germinating ^ can get rid of it through eating the seeds, or let the jelly stuff ferment / sit for a few days and then wash it off (natural process of cleaning the seeds)
CEA Manipulates
Air and root-zone temps Relative humidity Radiant energy (PAR) Air velocity CO2 concentration Root zone oxygen concentration Nutrient and moisture supply Creates a "microenvironment"
Germination:
All the steps from water absorption (imbibition) until photosynthesis begins • WATER helps make enzymes and PGRs soluble within the seed • OXYGEN is required for the sugars to be converted to energy • TEMPERATURE must be correct for these reactions to take place
Covered Produce under the Produce Safety Rule: LIST
Almonds, apples, apricots, apriums, artichokes-globe-type, Asian pears, avocados, babacos, bananas, Belgian endive, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, brazil nuts, broad beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, burdock, cabbages, Chinese cabbages (Bok Choy, mustard, and Napa), cantaloupes, carambolas, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chayote fruit, cherries (sweet), chestnuts, chicory (roots and tops), citrus (such as clementine, grapefruit, lemons, limes, mandarin, oranges, tangerines, tangors, and uniq fruit), cowpea beans, cress-garden, cucumbers, curly endive, currants, dandelion leaves, fennel-Florence, garlic, genip, gooseberries, grapes, green beans, guavas, herbs (such as basil, chives, cilantro, oregano, and parsley), honeydew, huckleberries, Jerusalem artichokes, kale, kiwifruit, kohlrabi, kumquats, leek, lettuce, lychees, macadamia nuts, mangoes, other melons (such as Canary, Crenshaw and Persian), mulberries, mushrooms, mustard greens, nectarines, onions, papayas, parsnips, passion fruit, peaches, pears, peas, peas-pigeon, peppers (such as bell and hot), pine nuts, pineapples, plantains, plums, plumcots, quince, radishes, raspberries, rhubarb, rutabagas, scallions, shallots, snow peas, soursop, spinach, sprouts (such as alfalfa and mung bean), strawberries, summer squash (such as patty pan, yellow and zucchini), sweetsop, Swiss chard, taro, tomatoes, turmeric, turnips (roots and tops), - generally consumed without a "kill step", heating/ boiling/ cooking
Pathogens associated with fresh produce
Bacteria: Salmonella, toxigenic E. coli, Shigella, Listeria monocytogenes
What animal cannot detect capsaicin
Birds
Home produce storage solutions
Bluapple = ethylene absorbing packet to keep where you store produce ethylene absorbing bags
different levels of seed quality/ generational timeline of seed production
Breeders Seed = Seeds produced under the direct supervision of the plant breeder and is the initial source of the cultivar. Foundation Seed = Seeds maintained by private companies, and agriculture experiment stations. Registered Seed = The offspring of foundation seed, when it achieves a registered status it can be used to mass produce certified seed. Certified Seed = Offspring of registered seed, the type of seed recommended for commercial use. - this formal process is necessary to insure quality of seed
Two Pumpkin Types
Carving Pumpkins, Canning Pumpkins
Ethylene Discovery and Characteristics and chemical structure
Characteristics: •Gas *** very different characteristics •Unique in its class •Not actively transported or degraded •Concentration is dependent upon rate of biosynthesis and diffusion •Synthesis signaled by auxin release or wounding •Autocatalytically enhanced --> ethylene itself causes stress response which causes more ethylene production - generally ethylene release is a stress response, ripening sooner Discovery: •Egyptians/Chinese for figs and pears •1864 street light gas leaks
Economics of CEA
Construction costs: - Hoop house- $1-5 per square foot - Greenhouse- $4-30 per square foot - Completely enclosed system: $150 or more per square foot Operating costs: - Fixed costs- equipment, interest, taxes, insurance - Variable expenses- utilities, fertilizers, pesticides, labor, etc. - Utilities + labor= most expense - Example: 3,000 square foot house in NM annual operating cost of >$12,000. - Offset with automation, novel energy sources (e.g. geothermal, etc.) Offset with higher yields: - Cucumber in CEA= 150-175 t/ac vs. 9 t/ac in the field - Tomatoes in CEA= 120-150 t/ac vs. 15 t/ac in the field - Have alarms to tell you if systems fail! Don't rely on timers
Gibberellins (PGRs)
Discovery: •Acids •>110 GAs (GA1, GA2...) •Gibberella fujikuroi •1926 Japan, 1956 USA Michigan State University Experiment Station 1957 Location: •Young, growing meristematic tissue, embryos, apical root cells, young fruits, unripe or germinating seeds
Forces ripening in climacteric crops
ETHYLENE - can spray plants and fruits of climacteric crop in the field (tomatoes) which will cause all fruit to ripen at the same time
Almost no available literature about certain crops and how to best handle them postharvest
EX: Microgreens - Research needed! - You can help! - UG research
Cytokinins Effects and Location
Effects: •Cytokinesis (cell division) •Release of apical dominance "work against apical dominance and auxins" •Leaf expansion due to cell enlargement •Stimulate dark-germination of light -dependent seeds such as lettuce - treatment with cytokinins can be used to overcome dormancy and get seeds to germinate •Delays senescence Where: •Root meristems, young leaves, young fruits, seeds •Xylem loaded and translocated
Deterioration in Quality : Biological : Ethylene
Ethylene: usually deleterious effects, but can help ripening - Increases with: maturity at harvest, physical injuries, increased T, water stress
Asexually reproduced crops (as they relate to stand establishment)
Examples: - Horseradish - Potatoes (from seed potatoes, chunks with at least 1 eye) - Sweet potatoes (from slips) - Garlic - Asparagus - Rhubarb - True seed vs. "seed" Must be: - Pathogen-free (vs. disease-free) - Vigorous - Have desirable characteristics (uniform, male, etc.) - Free of inhibitors (natural or applied such as MH)
Is SEG exempt from the produce safety rule?
Farms with average sales <$25,000, for the past 3 years, are not covered under the regulation Clarification: In this case, covered means that a farm is not officially included in the regulation
What is Sustainability?
Managing a system in a way that allows for productivity in the present without impacting future generations' ability to do the same thing. Encompasses three aspects of equal importance: • Economic • Environmental • Equity, social ADD: human health and well-being (United Nations' Sustainability Goals Framework, 2015)
Flaccid vs.Turgid Stomates based on water availability,
Flaccid = reduction in photosynthesis
6. Mitigate physical risks in a packinghouse : (Key elements of the PSR)
Follow the path of produce on your farm and identify physical risks - lightbulbs that don't have protective covers to keep them from breaking = physical glass risk
RESULTS SUMMARY TABLE
INCREASED INDIVIDUAL LEAF PHOTOSYNTHESIS DID NOT TRANSLATE TO INCREASED YIELDS.
MISC inhibitors:
Juglone - home garden application - present in trees like walnut trees, (Juglans sp.) ^ all plant parts in this genus produce Juglone - doesn't really break down in compost - particularly inhibitory to Solanaceae sp. Advice: eventually breaks down (after a season or 2) any way to dilute the concentration, addition of material etc.
"Sole source" (i.e. only LED lighting) microgreens production at Hort Center:
LED = Light Emitting Diode
#1 Crop grown in Controlled Environment
Lettuce - Very quick turn around, 30 days
Three main crops: that can support CEA financially
Lettuce: - Butterhead and looseleaf with shorter seasons vs. crisphead cultivars Tomatoes: - Beefsteak-type and highly indeterminant Cucumbers: - Mostly European type with smooth & thin skin, mild flavor, seedless (contrast to North American slicers)
How are microgreens different from sprouts?
Microgreens are grown in a solid medium while sprouts are seeds germinated using water alone.
onion example
Onions are Day Neutral Plants for flowering and Long Day Plants for bulbing (obligate) ^bulb production? must line up with environmental conditions for long day plants. without the correct day length, bulbs will just be very small - Daylength is an essential growth input - Bulb initiation is not affected by plant size •Within the category of LongDP, we have critical minimum day lengths(12-16 hours for "short, intermediate, and long") ^ categories within LD for onions •Onions bulb more quickly under higher temperatures •Onions will flower prematurely (bad thing for bulb production) due to low temps (<50oF), NOT due to daylength, due to vernalization
NOP Enforcement Dashboard
Organic Integrity Database: https://organic.ams.usda.gov/integrity/ - there are active enforcement attempts! - you can look up any operation and see who their certifier is, what they are certified to sell etc. -can search if some inputs are okay or not, eg. newspaper - there are also separate state lists, OMRI isn't the only one
Rockhouse Farms NM
Outside and inside, conventional operation - cherry tomatoes have shorter cycling
The surprising impact of row covers February 3, 2011:
Outside temperature: -6oF Single layer (SL): 5oF Double layer (DL): 10oF Double layer plus barrels (DL+B): 18oF Total temperature difference: 24oF! - with just passively heated structures, none of the crop was lost
Definition of Permanent Wilting Point
PWP: >15 bars - so much force to remove water from the soil, the plant cannot do it - PWP = death
Microgreens anatomy
you are eating hypocotyl and cotyledons
Cooling
Pre-cooling: to remove "field heat" and reduce work load for storing - Room cooling: field bins placed in a cold room - Forced-air cooling: pressure cooling creates a slight gradient through the bins to cool faster - Hydrocooling: Water cools faster than air -- Immersion -- Spray -- Product must be tolerant of wetting (lettuce, celery, spinach, muskmelons, sweet corn) -- Chlorinated water - Package icing: -- Finely crushed, flake, or slurry of ice and water (liquid ice) -- Broccoli and wax-impregnated boxes - Vacuum cooling: -- High surface-to-mass ratio, 1% water loss= 11oF temp drop
Not Covered Produce under the PSR?
Produce that is rarely consumed raw: Asparagus, black beans, kidney beans, cashews, chickpeas, cocoa beans, collards, cranberries, dates, eggplants, figs, ginger, hazelnuts, horseradish, lentils, okra, potatoes, pumpkins, winter squash, sweet potatoes. - as a producer, growing a combo of covered and non covered produce: you should keep all records and take all steps to treat your uncovered produce as covered
Fruit Vegetables: Characteristics related to postharvest
Products of ripening ovaries and their associated tissues Most fruit vegetables are warm-season: not suited to longterm storage and can be subject to chilling injury Exceptions: sweet corn (generally the colder the storage the better, close to freezing actually), fresh peas (cool season), winter squashes, pumpkins, and dry legumes Immaturity= less developed cuticle which leads to losses Physical damage is the most common cause for losses
Myths about Organic Certification
RECORDS - Farm activity log, file of farm expenses and sales, list of approved products that could be used on-farm, production records, maps, etc. - there are records but they arent too overwhelming ! ^ records are a good thing, you should be doing it anyway COST - Annual assessment fees depend on size of operation, in-state vs. out of state certifier (travel fees), and number of locations for farm enterprise being certified, etc. - CSU Farms (10 acres & six high tunnels at ARDEC S., SEG, and Hort. Center greenhouse): $800 for 2018 - Federal cost share of up to 75% or $750, whichever is lower (CSU=$600) ^ get refund!!!!!! - Time: 3 years of transition before certification, annual reviews thereafter COMPLIANCE - Use of the word "organic." (was solidified in the year 2000) If gross sales are <$5,000, must follow all the rules, but can use the word. - Cannot be used as ingredients in other products, no animal feed - Stiff fees if selling as organic, but not certified. Relies on filed complaints. Fine of several hundred to thousands of dollars per unit!!!! TESTING - 10% of all organic produce is taken and tested for residues - Residue (pesticide) testing (10%): ^ how did these residues end up in the organic food chain? no one gets in trouble - Spot checking- integrity - Drift management- iterative (buffer from neighbors fields)
Deterioration in Quality : Biological : Respiration
Respiration: stored plant reserves (carbos, fats, proteins) are broken down to release energy (heat= vital heat). Uses oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. - Inherent respiration: Asparagus (actively growing stem) has respiration rates approx. 10x faster than tomatoes. Storage organs (potatoes, onions, etc) have lower rates than other crops (immature flower) like broccoli. (each crop has a different inherent respiration rate) - Temperature: head lettuce respires 3x faster at 50oF than at 32oF Cultural and marketing impacts: - Roots crops with tops (radishes will store much better with tops off) - New potatoes (respire 2x) vs. mature (new potatoes = grown up to flowering) - Cured sweet potatoes vs. non-cured (curing: 80 degrees for 1 week to heal wounds, also causes respiration rates to slow down)
USDA National Organic Program (NOP):
Robust National Oversight "Develops, implements, and administers national production, handling, and labeling standards for organic agricultural products." NOP also accredits the certifying agents (foreign and domestic) who inspect organic production and handling operations to confirm that they meet USDA standards. - NOP does not provide organic certification to farms, they credit the certifying agents
Gibberellin Treatment of Seeds
Seedless, larger grapes
CEA Can protect against
Snow Insects Hail Pathogens (human), etc.
Other Crops that can be grown in CEA
Specialty greens: - Dandelions, watercress, and Swiss chard, edible flowers Other vegetable crops: - Green peppers - Eggplant - Microgreens Herbs: - Basil, mint, rosemary, thyme, chives, sage, parsley, tarragon, dill ^ need to sell at 10-15$ per pound Transplants: - Focused in southern and western states - can be $$$, can sell for 2-3$ per plug
Winter production, leafy greens, no supplemental heat
Technologies: - Black barrels filled with water, absorb solar radiation during the day and warm it up at night (some temp. benefit) - Temp, monitoring for air and soil - 2 layer of plastic on the outside of the high tunnel - row covers
Deterioration in Quality : Biological : Environmental
Temperature: - Cooling and storing, pg. 197-198 Table 10.3 in book * Single most important factor, 18oF above optimum= 2-3x faster deterioration Humidity: - 90-100%, avoid condensation (sweating) to avoid decay - but want to avoid standing water Atmospheric composition: - 1-3% oxygen as low as you want to go, anaerobic respiration results in off-flavors and odors - 1% (lettuce) to 20% (spinach) carbon dioxide - Ethylene comes from: internal combustion engines, ripening rooms, ripening fruits, decomposing produce, fluorescent ballasts, cigarette smoke, rubber materials exposed to UV or heat, and virus-infected plants. - Light: greening in potatoes (solanine) don't want tubers to photosynthesize and turn green, also builds up solanine which is mildly toxic - Sanitation: keep it clean - UC Davis Fact Sheets (examples next) "CA" = controlled atmosphere
Factors Affecting Seed Germination (Temperature)
Temperature: p. 84-85, Table 5.2 - Cool season (near 32 degrees F) vs. warm season (59 degrees F) -Celery - an example of one that can't germinate above 85 degrees ish - Peppers --> 'Bhut Jolokia'- needs soil temp >86 degrees F --> Example: Degrees F: 50 (no germ.), 59 (21 days, low germ), 68 (90% germ in 12 days), Usually far below that in the field - Thermodormancy- lettuce
CSU Certified Organic Research and Education: Celebrating seventeen years (2003-2020)!
Ten acres of certified organic research and teaching space at ARDEC S. (Hort. Farm).
Food Safety Modernization Act - under the produce safety rule
The first mandatory, federal standard for growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fresh produce (signed into law 2011) - created a need for produce safety consultants in the job market rn
Explain how vacuum cooling works to reduce the temperature of a vegetable crop postharvest:
The vacuum lowers the pressure within the storage chamber which allows the water to evaporate more easily and for rapid temperature reduction. For every percentage of water loss, there is an 11 degree temperature drop, allows freshness to be "locked in".
Phytochrome: how plants detect day length
• Blue protein, exists in two forms and can cause a series of chemical reactions when biologically active (Pfr) - switches between 2 forms depending on day length - active form = Phytochrome far red •Plants can "sense" day length - Day length/temp interactions - long, cool night are different than long, warm nights
Describe Capping and decapping ( a solution to deal with challenging stand establishment)
building up the row, planting 2" deep, once germination happens, come by with a bar and "de-cap" the mound, after about 2 weeks, so that the germinating seed can pop right up, while getting extra protection for germination requirements ------- Quiz Answer: When Seeds are planted more deeply in soil mounds than usual, to contribute to successful germination conditions including heat and moisture. Once the seeds have germinated, the top of the mounded bed is 'capped' mechanically, ex: with a bar on a tractor, to allow the seedlings to emerge easily
Bag culture with coco coir: Honeyacre Farms Wiggins, CO
Tomato
Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Definition
concept of modifying the natural environment for optimum plant growth.
Commodities within these groups have similar postharvest requirements/characteristics.
Vegetables are sources of: - Minerals, vitamins, and dietary fiber - Carbos, protein, energy, pigments, flavor, and aroma Vegetables are living tissues, subject to continuous change after harvest. - "They are dying; they just don't know it yet." - Our goal is to keep them from "realizing" that fact for as long as possible Postharvest shelf-life is impacted by/how: - Quality at harvest, harvested at the right stage of maturity, carefully handled and packed (e.g. bruised while being harvested, time of day, drought stressed at harvest?), and delivered to market.
5. Agricultural water used during growing, harvesting, packing, and holding produce: (Key elements of the PSR) Continued
Water is a potential source of chemical contamination if not monitored Example) A.Rinsing/washing B.Movement C.Cooling D.Ice making E.Postharvest fungicide/wax F.Handwashing G.Cleaning and sanitizing
1. Worker health and hygiene: (Key elements of the PSR)
Workers can introduce or spread contamination to fresh produce Ex) hand wash training and signs, report of injury or illness, farm visitor policies in place - Farm Visitor Guidelines (photo)
Seed Dormancy-
a situation where a seed or plant does not germinate due to various factors • Inhibitors (PGR) • Hard seed coat • Immature embryo • Poor environment (e.g. too warm) ^ certain types of lettuce are thermo-dormant, can sprinkler irrigate to cool soil surface and get rid of dormancy - generally rare in vegetable crops these days
Aquaponics greens production: Dahlia Campus for Health and Well-Being, Mental Health Center of Denver
aquaponics
Air conditioner unit + Override unit + pairing with smart phone
good way to save money and make a walk in cooler for cheap
Giant Vegetables!
grown in the right environment, with optimal inputs, many seeds = GIANT!
high tunnel + row cover experiments
in different parts of NM - simple technologies can go a long way, can produce lettuce and spinach all winter long with minimal technology
Produce safety is......
making risk assessments, and having corrective actions to mitigate the risks
EX Hail: 2018 High tunnel and insect netting= protection at ARDEC S.
metal structure with insect netting - functions as a slight shade cloth and hail protection
Eurofresh farms
tracks are for lifts and wagons, used to haul things and move workers around - greenhouses are very tall, to accommodate tall vining indeterminate crops - empty house getting ready for planting
CSU Hort. Center:
transplant production - also a split green house operation, org vs. conventional, put up a tarp for spraying and keep good records
Factors that Influence Veg Crop Growth and Development 1. Temp!!
warm vs. cold season crops. Heat Units: •Also called growing degree days (GDDs) •Developed in the 1940s to predict plant growth and developmental stages, taking into account the weather •Based on a low threshold (e.g. 35 degrees for onions and 50 for tomato), and an upper threshold (often 86 degrees F) - outside of this range, most veg crops aren't doing much growth... may be alive though • Based off of Air temperature- need nearby, reliable weather station •Good for predicting harvest, pests, etc.- compare to calendar •Many limitations and modifications for diff. models/crops
Drain to waste System Picture
water is not recycled - don't have to worry about recirculating pathogens or salt build up, but wasteful
SEG irrigation
weekly drip irrigation on fridays, 3 hours per week, unless an precipitation event occured - during the warmer parts of the semester, first 1/2 of semester
Alternatives to Organic
• Consumer: buy organic, buy local, know your producer and production area • Producers: conventional, natural (means nothing), Certified Sustainable, other "certification" programs with widely variable success and meaning "regenerative" = a new cool term that doesn't exclude GMOs, also lacks enforcement • Manage your operation in a way that allows you to make a profit, minimize risk to yourself, others, and the soil, and contributes to your quality of life. •Can and should include certified operations, operations that choose to no be certified, conventional operations, and "everything in between"
Auxins (PGRs)
• Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), endogenous •Present in all plants •Evenly distributed •First PGR to be discovered, 1880 •Levels controlled in plant by IAA-oxidase •Broken down in light - IBA = synthetic Auxin, most important one used in plant rooting
Other Groups of PGRs:
•Brassinosteroids •Salicylic acid •Jasmonates •Polyamines (can be insect feeding defense compounds)
Sanitation in a greenhouse
•Clean-up •Solarization •Replant •Repeat (photo, greenhouse at the end of the cycle (about 1 yr), remove all pant material and allow it to get SUPER hot to kill pathogens
Bolting:
•Flowering when young plants are exposed to night temperatures below the optimal range - elongation of internodes right before flowering - in response to cool temperatures •Table 3.1, p. 54 in book --> flowering response of veg. crops to exposure to low temps and vernalization ---> quantitative= does better but not necessary, Obligate = must get cold treatment •Even older plants can be affected (vernalization is bad for celery crops) Vernalization = low temperature treatment that stimulates flowering, generally a winter treatment, in the case of celery it can be a cold night or two
Cucumbers (characteristics needed for GH production)
•Gynoecious (form only female flowers) •Parthenocarpic (form fruit without pollination, therefore seedless) • No pollination necessary •Finicky: root aeration, disease, pests (good because they are short cycle but overall not the best crop to start CEA with)
Cytokinins Commercial Uses:
•Kinetin and 6-benzyl aminopurine (BA) =synthetics •Zeatin = endogenous •Antioxidant in cut salad mixes •Mixed with GA to control fruit size- watermelon
Light and photoperiod (day length and light intensity)
•Plant response to intensity and relative length of day and night •Light intensity available to a leaf depends on: -Season of the year -Latitude -Elevation -Shading (clouds, humidity, plant density, pollution, etc.) •Long Day Plants (SNPs): Onions require long days to bulb, but depend on the cultivar. Local adaptation is critical. •Short Day Plants (***Long Night Plants): flowering in sweet potatoes - Flowering vs. underground storage organs •Day Neutral Plants: most crops, will develop despite day length •Tables 3.2 and 3.3, p. 56
Ethylene Effects:
•Produced during ripening, flooding, stress, senescence, mechanical damage, infection, thigmotropism •Regulates apoptosis "programmed cell death" •Stimulates the release of dormancy •Regulates ripening of climacteric fruits ****** - some crops, watermelons, strawberries, zucchini, will not ripen after you harvest it "non-climacteric crops" - connected to ethylene response •Stimulates abscission •Inhibits flowering •Induces femaleness in dioecious flowers
More effects of Gibberellins
•Stimulates stem elongation by cell division and elongation. Elongates internodes of mature regions. •Flowering of biennials •Can break seed dormancy in crops that require stratification or light- e.g. lettuce & celery •Affects juvenility