Horticulture Research
Bedding plants, windbreak tree species and windbreak renovation evaluations, fruits, vegetables and hops (pictured at left) are among the many areas of horticultural research and demonstration being conducted at the Dickinson Research Extension Center. There are currently 26 acres of certified (ICS) organic land at DREC.
Click here for a map of the plants on the DREC grounds
2017 NRCS Plant Materials Report
2016 NRCS Plant Materials Report
2015 NRCS Plant Materials Report
2014 NRCS Plant Materials Report
Summary of hops data
Location of hops arbor on DREC grounds
Map of hop varieties grown on arbor
Horticulture Research at DREC
Tillage and AMF (Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi) Inoculant Impacts on Organic Vegetable Production in the Upper Great Plains
Winter 2017 Update
1) Major activities completed: Experiments conducted: Field experiments were established to investigate impacts of hay mulch and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculant on onion, table beet, winter squash, and sugar snap pea yield in an organic vegetable production system. These experiments were located in Dickinson and Absaraka, ND. ‘Mycogrow’ AMF inoculant (Fungi Perfecti, LLC, Olympia, WA) was applied in a water solution at a rate of 7.4 g L-1 to half the plots after planting crops. This inoculant contained AMF species Glomus intraradices, Glomus mosseae, Glomus aggregatum, and Glomus etunicatum. Hay mulch from square bales was applied after crop emergence in a layer that was approximately 15 cm deep. Weeds were removed from all plots on a timely basis, so yield differences among treatments were due to factors other than crop-weed competition.
2) Data collected: Weed density and weed seedbank density were quantified. Time required for weed removal was recorded. Neither site was irrigated but rainfall was fairly frequent at both sites. Both sites were fertilized with chicken (Absaraka) or cow (Dickinson) manure to prior to planting. Soil from each plot was tested for N-P-K and although variation across plots was great, nutrients were present in adequate amounts for vegetable production. Peas were harvested every two to three days during July. Beets were harvested mid-August. Onions were harvested in mid-September and squash were harvested in mid-October. Soil cores were collected from each plots and sent to Cornell for soil health analysis that included assessment of wet aggregate stability, active carbon, and soil respiration.
3) Summary statistics and discussion of results: The hay mulch almost completely suppressed weed emergence whereas weed pressure in the bare plots was considerable. Bare plots required substantially more weeding time than the mulched plots. Over time (from 2015 to 2017) weed seedbank density decreased at the Absaraka site for both mulched and tilled plots, but the effect was much more pronounced among the mulched plots. At the Dickinson site, from 2015 to 2017, weed seedbank density remained the same for mulched plots, but increased substantially for tilled plots. At the Absaraka site, crop grown in mulched plots produced greater yield than crop grown without mulch under conventional tillage. At Dickinson, most crops failed due to a combination of drought and damage caused by rodents. Only the onion crop at Dickinson was harvested for yield, and similar to the Absaraka site, mulched onions produced greater yield than onions grown without mulch under conventional tillage. At Absaraka, wet aggregate stability increased over time (from 2015 to 2017) for mulched plots, but remained the same for tilled plots. At Dickinson, wet aggregate stability increased over time for both mulched and tilled plots, but the effect was much more pronounced for mulched plots. At Absaraka, active carbon increased over time in mulched plots only. At Dickinson, active carbon decreased over time regardless of tillage/mulch. At both sites, soil respiration was greater for mulched plots than for tilled plots. AMF inoculation did not impact any measures of crop yield, weed community extent, or soil health indicators.
4) Key outcomes or other accomplishments realized: Via presentations of research results at scientific meetings, researchers learned about the key results produced by this research. Via talks at field days, farmers, gardeners, and extension personnel learned about the results of this research.Hogstad SK, Gramig GG, Carr PM. 2017. Weed communities shift in response to organic no-till integrated with grazing. Weed Science Society of America Annual Meeting, March 6-9, Tucson, AZ. 57:143.
Hogstad SK, Gramig GG. 2017. Mulch and biochar impacts on organic strawberry yield. Weed Science Society of America Annual Meeting, March 6-9, Tucson, AZ. 57:68.