In Southern Oregon, grass seed production occupies a small acreage, but is an important part of agronomic crop production. The high value of sod quality bentgrass seed (Agrostis palustris Huds.) led to some growers supplementing soil fertilizers with foliar fertilizers in an attempt to increase seed yield. However, this practice...
Specialty organic fertilizers used in organic vegetable production are expensive. So, from environmental and economic perspectives, growers want to maximize nitrogen (N) fertilizer use efficiency by the crop. This research was conducted to (1) determine sufficient N fertilizer rates for organic broccoli, (2) evaluate the efficacy of a specialty organic...
Specialty organic fertilizers used in organic vegetable production are expensive. So, from environmental and economic perspectives, growers want to maximize nitrogen (N) fertilizer use efficiency by the crop. This research was conducted to (1) determine sufficient N fertilizer rates for organic broccoli, (2) evaluate the efficacy of a specialty organic...
As a key historic component of prairies in the Pacific Northwest, Camassia spp. should play a role in the restoration of these ecosystems. To do so effectively, further study of Camassia spp. propagation is warranted. Thus, the growth, N uptake and allocation, and seasonal thermoperiodicity of Camassia spp. was examined....
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...
Surface water quality is a growing concern in the Willamette River Basin and elsewhere. The region's growing population is dependent on the availability of clean water for drinking water, irrigation, wastewater dilution, and wildlife habitat. Watershed management to produce economic goods and environmental services requires an understanding of basic hydrologic...
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...
The anthropogenic introduction of nutrients to water bodies has been shown to alter the structure and function of natural aquatic ecosystems, yet national EPA lake and reservoir nutrient criteria remain too broad for effective regional water quality management. This study uses a reference site approach to propose numeric nutrient criteria...
Nitrogen management recommendations for yellow mustard (Sinapis alba L.) production in the high rainfall environment of Oregon's Willamette Valley (WV) are not available. The objectives of this investigation were: (i) to determine the effect of applied nitrogen (N) on seed yield and yield components in yellow mustard, and (ii) to...
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...