The use of management units for soil testing and nutrient application is an
effective strategy to increase accuracy in monitoring and managing nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and other nutrients. A management unit can be a group of fields, a single field, or an area within a field. To measure changes...
Ammonia (NH₃) volatilization and loss from nitrogen (N) fertilizer in agriculture negatively impacts crops, farm profitability, human health and surrounding ecosystems where it is deposited. A significant source of NH₃ volatilization occurs from surface application of urea on sandy soils with low pH buffering capacity such as those in the...
Ammonia (NH₃) volatilization can result in a substantial amount of surface applied nitrogen (N) being lost into the atmosphere, making it an environmental pollutant as well as reducing plant-available N. However, N can also be easily lost from the soil through leaching,
and nitrous oxide (NO₂). Enhanced efficiency N fertilizers...
Recommendations in this nutrient management guide apply to spring or winter canola (Brassica napus or Brassica rapa) grown under irrigated or dryland management in rotation with a variety of crops. Recommendations for nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, potassium, zinc, boron, and lime are covered in this guide.
Grass seed production in Oregon's Willamette Valley traditionally relied on open field burning for straw residue disposal and nutrient recycling. Changes in residue management from open field burning to methods that remove straw coincided with rapidly declining K soil test values. A survey of grass seed fields showed that many...
Nitrogen can be lost when the quantity of available nitrogen exceeds crop demand or nitrogen availability is not in synchrony with crop demand. Either situation results in accumulation of available nitrogen, primarily in the nitrate form, at the end of the growing season. Over-winter nitrogen loss occurs primarily as nitrate-...
Homeowners have a multitude of options for pest control. This guide suggests ways to control garden pests using safe and ordinary household chemicals. The good news is that the ingredients needed can be found in your kitchen or medicine cabinet. Examples include baking soda, beer, vegetable oil, chile peppers, vinegar,...
Christmas tree needle sampling to evaluate nutrient need is an established practice. Data to support the recommended fall sampling time in Oregon and Washington was not found. In addition, the recommendation for needle sampling of Fraser fir in North Carolina was made without data from winter months. The goal for...
Annual ryegrass varieties such as ‘Gulf’ are grown for seed on poorly drained soils of the south Willamette Valley, including Dayton, Concord, and Bashaw. Recommendations in this guide are based on research throughout this production area. Management practices from seedbed preparation to harvest must be performed in an appropriate and...
Recommendations in this guide apply tocontinuously cropped cereals in low-
precipitation zones. This guide is one of a set of publications that address the nutritional requirements of nonirrigated cereal crops in north-central and eastern Oregon. Recommendations for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, chloride, and zinc are covered in this guide. Soils...
Tall fescue is grown for turf or forage seed on a broad range of soils in western Oregon. Typical seed yield is 1,200 to 2,000 lb/acre. Higher yields do not require additional nutrients beyond amounts recommended in this guide. These recommendations, especially for nitrogen, are adequate for production of more...
Perennial ryegrass is grown for turf or forage seed on a broad range of soils in western Oregon. All perennial ryegrass varieties are similar in their nutrient requirements. Typical seed yield is between 1,400 and 1,800 lb/acre.
Higher seed yields (up to 2,500 lb/acre) may be produced on better soils,...
Potatoes require adequate nitrogen to produce quality tubers and high yields. Organic farming practices are designed to build soil nutrient levels
gradually. In organic systems, nitrogen (N) enters the soil in the form of crop residue and amendments (e.g., manures, composts, and specialty products).
Much of the N added to...
The purpose of this report is to document changes
resulting from long-term application of biosolids to
grazed dryland pasture. The report contains two chapters:
• Chapter 1: Biosolids Increase Grass Yield and Quality
in Dryland Pasture
• Chapter 2: Biosolids Increase Soil Fertility in Dryland
Pasture
Data summarized here was...
Liming is a new practice for the inland Pacific Northwest, necessitated by soil acidification caused by nitrogen fertilization. This publication provides guidance on how to evaluate cropping systems for lime need and how to determine lime application rate.
Soil acidification sometimes is necessary for optimum plant growth
west of the Cascade Mountain Range. Commercial producers of
blueberries, azaleas, rhododendrons, and other ornamentals may
need to reduce soil pH for optimum production.
Soil acidification is best performed prior to planting; it is much
more difficult in established plantings. No...
Many nutrients and lime are not mobile in the soil. When applied to the soil surface without tillage, these materials remain in the top 2 inches, especially in production systems that lack tillage. If a soil sample is taken at a standard 8-inch depth, the top 1 to 2 inches,...
Recommendations in this fertilizer guide apply to tillage fallow-winter wheat and chemical fallow-winter wheat cropping systems. This guide is one of a set of publications that address the nutritional requirements of nonirrigated cereal crops in north-central and eastern Oregon.
Recommendations for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, chloride, and zinc are covered...
This publication provides an overview of soil testing and general guidelines for interpreting soil test results for nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, potassium, calcium, magnesium, boron, zinc, copper, manganese, iron, molybdenum, chloride, sodium, soluble salts, organic matter, cation exchange capacity, pH, and lime. For each test, the document describes what is measured,...
Three types of fine fescue—Chewings, red, and hard— are typically grown for turf seed on Jory or Nekia soils in the foothills of the Willamette Valley. Recommendations in this guide assume production in this setting and are based on research from large and small plots throughout the area. During the...
Soil acidity, expressed by low soil pH, causes reduced crop growth and significant economic loss. It is the most commonly overlooked and poorly understood yield-limiting factor in western Oregon and a developing concern in eastern Oregon. This publication describes the concept of soil acidity and the limitations it causes for...
This publication describes how to estimate lime application rate and lists criteria for choosing liming materials (source), lime application method (placement), and how often to apply lime (frequency).
This nutrient management guide is designed to assist onion growers and crop advisors in producing a high-quality crop while protecting the environment from excess nutrients. Nutrient management strategies recommended here are based on data accumulated over many growing seasons with many different onion varieties in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. This...
This publication is a technical and practical guide for soil acidification in commercial fields. It explains the soil chemistry involved, how to determine whether pH adjustment is feasible, and methods for acidifying soil. This guide is divided into five sections:
• Understanding soil pH
• The problem—iron chlorosis
• Causes...
Accumulation of excessive salt in irrigated soils can reduce crop yields, reduce the effectiveness of irrigation, ruin soil structure, and affect other soil properties. This publication is designed to help you evaluate the kind and amount of salts present in soils and to select management alternatives. This publication describes the...
This publication focuses on using water analyses to choose appropriate water treatment and water management practices for irrigated agriculture. It will help determine:
• What tests are needed to characterize water quality
• How to collect water samples
• How to interpret analytical data from a laboratory
• How to...
Soft white winter wheat grown in western Oregon requires a spring application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer for optimum production. Determining the amount of N to apply has been a challenge for growers because wheat is produced in numerous rotations that provide varying amounts of N to the wheat crop. Inadequate...
Camelina (Camelina sativa L. Crantz) has received worldwide attention in recent years as a biofuel crop and as a broadleaf option in cereal-based cropping systems. The objective of our 3-year study was to determine camelina seed yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) as affected by six applied nitrogen (N) rates...
Credits for available N from past manure applications are often used in nutrient management planning. However, it is difficult to verify the accuracy of these credits. The major objective of this study was to estimate long-term effects of manure application on soil N mineralization. Specific objectives were to: 1) estimate...
Following the surface application of urea to soil, there is the potential for nitrogen (N) loss from ammonia (NH3) volatilization until sufficient rain or irrigation has moved it into the soil. Many studies measuring NH3 loss have used laboratory and microplot field studies. The limitation of these techniques is that...
This publication describes results of field research on the performance of hard red winter wheat cultivars in a late-planted no-till fallow system in the low-precipitation zone of Oregon and Washington.
Previous studies indicated that fertigating with nitrogen (N) was more effective than using granular N fertilizers in production of northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.). To build on these findings, four studies were conducted in western Oregon to determine whether fertigation was also an effective method for applying other nutrients,...
Fertigation with liquid sources of nitrogen (N) fertilizers, including ammonium sulfate and urea, were compared with granular applications of the fertilizers in northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. ‘Bluecrop’) during the first 5 years of fruit production (2008–12). The planting was established in Apr. 2006 at a field site located...
Seedlings of western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex. D. Don), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) were transplanted into soils with low and high levels of available NO3 – (and total N). Current-year foliage was sampled after 10 weeks to determine the effect of...
This publication provides information on the timing and pattern of biomass accumulation and nitrogen (N) uptake for a variety of Pacific Northwest crops. You can use this information to schedule N fertilizer applications for maximum efficiency. To achieve near-maximum crop yields, an adequate supply of available N must be present...
Interest in measuring soil quality continues to increase worldwide in view of demands on land productivity and the necessity to preserve soil resources, yet identification of suitable indicators for soil quality assessment is still evolving. This study adapted 10 biological, physical, and chemical indicators of soil quality identified by the...
Pumping water from coal seams decreases the pressure in the seam and in turn releases trapped methane; this is the most common and economic method of methane extraction. The water that is pumped out is known as "coal-bed methane water" (CBMW), which is high in sodium and other salts. In...
Five boron rates and seven water levels were applied
to bush green beans (Phaseolus vulqaris cv Oregon 91G) and
to cauliflower (Brassica olereacea var. botrytis, cultivar
"Snowball Y") in 1989 and 1990 to evaluate their effects on
total yield of both crops and on outer quality, head
hollowness and internal...
Mechanical thinning and prescribed fire are widely used to restore western forests after a century of fire suppression, yet we know little about
how these treatments affect understory communities where plant diversity is highest. We followed understory plants and environmental factors in
old-growth, Sierran mixed conifer for two pre-treatment and...
Mechanical thinning and prescribed fire are widely used to restore western forests after a century of fire suppression, yet we know little about how these treatments affect understory communities where plant diversity is highest. We followed understory plants and environmental factors in old-growth, Sierran mixed conifer for two pre-treatment and...
Mechanical thinning and prescribed fire are widely used to restore western forests after a century of fire suppression, yet we know little about
how these treatments affect understory communities where plant diversity is highest. We followed understory plants and environmental factors in
old-growth, Sierran mixed conifer for two pre-treatment and...
The goals of this project were to determine 1) if liming controls clubroot, 2) the pH that must be attained to achieve commercially viable levels of control, and 3) how best to lime (materials, timing, incorporation strategies) to achieve that pH.
This publication provides a framework, general recommendations, and rationales to aid onion growers interested in maximizing their land use and crop yield through drip irrigation.
Provides suggestions for ways to conserve irrigation water. Explains how to use the AgriMet crop water use charts. Provides general guidelines for irrigation methods, timing, and soil management.
This publication describes results of applied research on phosphorus fertilization of late-planted winter wheat in no-till fallow in the low-precipitation zone of Oregon and Washington.
Fruit tree fertilization is a standard grower practice intended to supplement soil-supplied nutrients. Both soil-applied fertilizers and nutrients stored within the tree are important. Tree reserves are the major source of nutrients for developing tissues before petal fall. Current-season growth and
yield are influenced by nutritional status, which in turn...
Rapeseed and canola are closely related members of the mustard family (Brassicaceae) that are both grown as oilseed crops. All current varieties of rapeseed and canola were developed from Brassica napus and Brassica rapa.
Rapeseed is grown primarily as a source of erucic acid, which is not edible but is...
Published December 2005. A more recent revision exists. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
Soft white winter wheat is grown in western Oregon and requires a spring application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer for optimum production. Determining the amount of N to apply has been a challenge for growers. Wheat obtains N from two sources: soil and fertilizer. Both available and mineralizable N can be...
A systems trial was established in Oct. 2006 to evaluate management practices for organic production of northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.). The practices included: flat and raised planting beds; feather meal and fish emulsion fertilizer each applied at rates of 29 and 57 kg·ha⁻¹ nitrogen (N); sawdust mulch, compost...
This publication incorporates 20 years of field research by OSU faculty comparing two grass-seed residue management methods: full straw load (straw is chopped and left on the field) and clean nonthermal (straw is baled and removed from the field). Comparison includes discussion of seed yield and quality, nutrient management considerations...
Scouringrushes (Equisetum hyemale L.; E. xferrissii Clute; E. laevigatum L.) are ancient perennial seedless vascular plants historically associated with wetlands, low-lying roadsides or field margins with more plant available water. There has been little research conducted on scouringrush species in the context of agricultural production because traditional farming practices confined...
Although ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB) coexist in most non-acidic agricultural soils, the factors that influence their relative contributions to soil nitrification activity remain unclear. A 2- to 4-d whole soil microcosm assay was developed, utilizing the aliphatic C₈ alkyne 1-octyne to inactivate AOB-driven nitrification activity without impacting AOA...
Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco] bark (DFB),
sphagnum peat moss, and pumice are the most common substrate components used
in the Oregon nursery industry. Despite the widespread use of these three
components, little information is available on the effect of physical and hydraulic
properties of peat moss and pumice on...
The goal of the work in this dissertation was to identify alternative soil amendments to improve plant growth and yield during establishment of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium hybrid). Woody materials, such as sawdust and wood chips, have a high carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio and low water holding capacity, which can...
The impact of fertilizer source and cultivar on growth, fruit quality, and yield was evaluated in organic blackberry (Rubus L. subgenus Rubus Watson) from 2011-2013 in three studies. In all studies, plants were drip irrigated, and weeds were managed using a woven polypropylene, permeable landscape fabric (weed mat). At a...
Leaf nutrient concentration of hardy kiwifruit [Actinidia arguta var. arguta (Siebold and Zucc.) Planch. ex Miq.] was evaluated throughout two growing seasons (2008-2009) for determinate and indeterminate shoots of female ('Ananasnaya') and male vines. While research has been conducted on the more commonly grown fuzzy kiwifruit (A. chinensis var. deliciosa...
Managers use restorative fire and thinning for ecological benefits and to convert fuel-heavy forests to fuel-lean landscapes that lessen the threat of stand-replacing wildfire. In this study, we evaluated the long-term impact of thinning and prescribed fire on soil biochemistry and the mycorrhizal fungi associated with ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)....
Blackberry (Rubus ssp. Rubus) cultivars, three trailing types (Marion, Black Diamond, and Obsidian) and one semierect type (Triple Crown), were studied for their response to different types of fertilizer from 2011–12, at a certified organic, grower collaborator site located in Jefferson, OR. Plants were fertilized at a target rate of...
This publication describes the use of post harvest soil nitrate testing as a tool for assessment of nitrogen (N) management in manured cropping systems west of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon, Washington, and south coastal British Columbia. The first section of this publication gives general information on the test and...
Although the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a global crop, few growing regions rival the high yields of the Columbia Basin of Eastern Oregon and Washington. Two research projects were conducted in Hermiston, OR to contribute to best management practices for the region. The first project evaluated the efficacy of...
Escalating demand for organic blueberries has driven a significant expansion of northern highbush blueberry (NHB; Vaccinium corymbosum L.) production area. This expansion is particularly pronounced in regions of the Pacific Northwest where native soil conditions are sub-optimal for NHB, notably east of the Cascade Mountain Range of Oregon and Washington,...
As blueberry (Vaccinium sp.) production has increased in recent decades, a new interest has developed in the cultivation of blueberry in soilless substrate containers. Historically, blueberry has been propagated and grown in soilless substrate at nurseries, but nursery production is short in duration and plants are small relative to a...
Three months following sowing, Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings were transplanted into pots with controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) applied at rates of 0, 8, 16, and 24 g/2200 cm3 soil as a single uniform layer beneath the root system. Seedlings were destructively harvested periodically, and roots were divided into vertical...
One important cool-season perennial grass seed crop grown in Oregon is fine fescue (Festuca rubra L.). Open-field burning has been used for many decades to manage pests, cycle nutrients, and stabilize yield, in fine fescue seed fields, especially as stands age. Legislative restrictions currently limit open-field burning to 6,070 hectares...
This research has demonstrated that liming clubroot infected soils to a pH ≥7.1 is an effective practice for reducing both the incidence and severity of clubroot. Liming does not kill the pathogen but rather prevents disease spores from infecting the plant. This research demonstrated that highly reactive calcitic lime products...
Urea is a common nitrogen fertilizer for sweet corn production. This two year project evaluated commercially available urea additives for their potential to provide crop production and environmental benefits. Specifically, experiments were designed to evaluate the efficacy of urea fertilizer products containing a urease inhibitor (Agrotain Ultra), or nitrification inhibitors,...
Drought and mandatory water restrictions are limiting the availability of irrigation water in many important blueberry growing regions and new strategies are needed to maintain yield and fruit quality with less water. Three potential options for reducing water use, including deficit irrigation, irrigation cut-offs, and crop thinning, were evaluated for...
A field trial was conducted on a Cherryhill silt loam soil at The Dalles, OR, from 2006 to 2008. The impacts of switching from the traditional micro sprinkler irrigation (MS) to double-lateral drip irrigation (DD) and from no groundcover with herbicide control of weeds (NC) to in-row wheat (Triticum aestivum)...
Published June 2006. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
Landscape positions have been used to determine soil properties. My soil study in Monteverde on the Pacific slope of Costa Rica was designed to examine soil-landscape relationships for sites with various land use histories and management. Soil pits were dug at Nacimiento y Vida, Crandell, Curi-cancha, La Calandria, and Finca...
Our current issue of the OWRI Technical Newsletter is packed with Extension information, research results, and program updates. Paul Schreiner, Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS, opens the newsletter with an article on his latest research assessing vine nutrients requirements in Pinot noir. Laurent Deluc, Associate Professor, OSU, reports on his research...
Estimates of nitrogen (N) available from long-term application of organic
amendments are required to balance N inputs with crop N requirements. Two studies
were conducted to (1) determine N mineralized from organic amendments (manures
and composts) during year 2 after application, and (2) compare plant-available N
(PAN) determined via in...
Biochar is a highly porous, carbon-rich residue produced by thermochemical conversion (pyrolysis) of plant biomass and carbonaceous organic materials under oxygen-controlled conditions. Chars produced by this process tend to have high ion-exchange capacities and, when added to soil, increase retention of water and nutrients and improve soil aggregation, porosity, and...
Northern highbush blueberry is a long-lived perennial crop that is well adapted to low soil pH conditions. The plants are often shallow rooted and absorb primarily the ammonium (NH₄) form of nitrogen (N) rather than nitrate-N (NO₃-N). Traditionally, commercial blueberry fields have been irrigated with overhead sprinklers and fertilized using...
Algae have shown great potential as a source for renewable fuels. However, current production schemes have not been able to prove a sustainable energy return on investment due in part to the high costs of nutrient addition and the energy required for drying the biomass. Integrated algae-dairy production systems have...
Verticillium wilt of 'Willamette' hops (Humulus
lupulus) was investigated to identifY the causal organism,
to determine the incidence of the disease, and to explore
the possibility of interactions with soil fertility and/or
nematodes. In the first year of a three year study,
sampling of yards followed a "searching for extremes...
The Pacific Northwest region of the United States is known for quality production of blueberries, blackberries, and red raspberries. However, as the climate shifts to warmer, drier, and more extreme summers, growing these water intensive berry crops is becoming increasingly difficult. Furthermore, water regulations within agriculture are becoming more prevalent...
Organically certified Northern Highbush Blueberry (NHB; Vaccinium corymbosum L.) production in the Columbia Basin region of Oregon and Washington is expanding. Soils in the region are typically calcareous and highly alkaline, often requiring pH adjustment to an ideal range of 4.5–5.5 to support the establishment of the acid-loving, ericaceous crop....
Container grown pear trees were used to determine the effects of the following factors on the susceptibility to Phytophthora syringae: 1) tree nitrogen (N) status and foliar sprays of urea and copper-EDTA (CuEDTA); 2) dormancy and environmental conditions; 3) wound and wound age; and 4) chemical and biological control measures....
Four aspects of factors influencing the accuracy of nondestructive chlorophyll (Chl) and nitrogen (N) measurement in fresh leaves were studied: (1) optimum wavelength (OW) identification; (2) indices development and evaluation; (3) influence of leaf properties; and (4) influence of meter parameters and sampling technique. Results were used to develop indices...
Invasive plants have the potential to reduce the diversity of species in plant and animal communities. I examined the negative effect of two invasive wetland plants, purple loosestrife and reed canary grass, on the species richness and diversity of plant and moth communities within 24 wetland study sites in the...
Nitrification is a critical step in the global nitrogen cycle involving the biological oxidation of ammonia (NH₃) to nitrite (NO₂⁻ ) and then to nitrate (NO₃⁻). The first step in nitrification is carried out by NH₃-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA), and the second by NO₂⁻-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). In addition...
This issue is packed with information. James Osborne, Enology Extension Specialist, OSU, opens the newsletter with an article about managing Brettanomyces and spoilage in the winery. Patty Skinkis, Viticulture Extension Specialist, OSU, provides an article on the challenge of yield estimation in vineyards. Jay Pscheidt, Extension Plant Pathologist, OSU, provides a timely article on scouting for crown...
Enhanced efficiency fertilizer (EEF) technologies have the potential to improve the crop N use efficiency (NUE) as well as minimize negative environmental losses compared to conventional fertilizers. The EEF fertilizer products consist of urea plus additives (to inhibit N loss). The major pathways for N loss in our sweet corn...
Four blackberry (Rubus L. subgenus Rubus Watson) cultivars (‘Obsidian’, ‘Black Diamond’, ‘Metolius’, ‘Onyx’) and two advanced selections (ORUS 1939-4 and ORUS 2635-1) were evaluated during the establishment years of an organic production system for fresh market. The planting was established in Spring 2010 using approved practices for organic production and...