ORGANIC FARMING

RESEARCH

AGRONOMIST:

Mr. David Bynoe (BSc.), (MSc.)

INTRODUCTION

Organic farming is a holistic management system which promotes and enhances:

Agro-ecosystem health

Biodiversity

Soil biological cycles

Soil biological activity

Its management practices focus on creating as much as possible a close cycle .

Where possible external inputs are excluded and synthetic inputs are totally excluded or minimized.

It provides economic, social, and environmental benefits.

RESEARCH TRIALS

Organic Cabbage Production

Nano-Gro Lettuce Field Trial

Nano-Gro Squash Nursery Trial

Nano-Gro Okra Nursery Trial

SUSTAINABLE CABBAGE

PRODUCTION

BACKGROUND

Fertility management remains one of the most crucial aspects of organic production systems and has been identified as a priority for research. The choice of organic amendment has implications on soil structure and subsequent weed, pest, and disease problems as well as on the soil nutrient dynamics. Locally available amendments will be assessed in this trial.

Objectives

To determine the significance of various organic amendments for cabbage production as it relates to the provision of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.

To generate scientific information alternative organic sources of nutrients in the Barbados.

BRIEF METHODOLOGY

Treatments & Experimental Design:

The experiment was set up in a completely randomized design with two factors. The factors were soil amendment and quantity of soil amendment. The crop type selected was cabbage.

Experimental Material:

Fertilizers: Sheep manure , Chicken manure, and Conventional

Fertilizer

Crop: Cabbage

Fabric Mulch

Organic pest control methods

Land area: ¼ acre

Drip irrigation lines

MAIN RESULTS

The results showed clearly that chicken manure

produces significantly higher yield in cabbage than

conventional fertilizer and sheep manure.

On average 6638 lbs/acre more than conventional

fertilizer and 7696 lbs/acre more than sheep manure.

CABBAGE YIELD PERFOMANCE

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

155 207

FERTILZER QUANTITY

YIE

LD

lb

s/a

cre

CON

CHIC

SHE

MAIN RESULTS

There is no significant difference in the yield produced by conventional fertilizer and sheep manure.

For an application rate of 155 lbs/acre and 207 lbs/acre the interaction between fertilizer and fertilizer quantity is insignificant.

The main effect of application rate is also insignificant.

Tests of Between-Subjects Effects

Dependent Variable: YIELD

Source

Type III Sum of

Squares df Mean Square F Sig.

Partial Eta

Squared

Corrected

Model 2.58E+08 5 5.16E+07 4.169 0.02 0.635

Intercept 1.16E+10 1 1.16E+10 939.32 0 0.987

FERTQ 8985325 1 8985325 0.726 0.411 0.057

FERTT 2.09E+08 2 1.04E+08 8.441 0.005 0.585

FERTQ *

FERTT 4.00E+07 2 2.00E+07 1.618 0.239 0.212

Error 1.48E+08 12 1.24E+07

Total 1.20E+10 18

Corrected Total

4.06E+08 17

CONCLUSION

&

RECOMENDATIONS

Chicken manure is a very feasible fertilizer substitute

for conventional fertilizer and can be utilized by both

organic farmers and conventional farmers.

The major cost incurred in the use of chicken manure

are transportation and application cost.

Nano-Gro Lettuce Field

Trial

BACKGROUND

Nano-Gro™ is regarded as a plant growth regulator and immunity enhancer. Employing chemical concentrations in the order of one part per billion.

Nano-Gro™ does not contain hormones and does not, in any way, change the genetic structure of a plant

BREIF METHODOLOGY

Treatment method: Dissolved 1 pellet of Nano-Gro™ per 1L of water, then poured water into a catch basin for 20 seconds in order to fully soak the seedlings.

Planting Method: The seedlings were planted four rows per bed.

Fertilizer: Organic Fertilizer 155 lbs N per acre.

Pest Control: Neem

MAIN RESULTS

The first week of growth Nano-Gro produced significantly more leaves (1) than the untreated lettuce.

However, in the remaining weeks there was no significant difference in growth rates.

1

CON-LEN1

NANO-LEN1

CON-LEN2

NANO-LEN2

CON-LEN3

NANO-LEN3

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

No. of Leaves

Treament

LETTUCE LEAF DEVELOPMENT

MAIN RESULTS

Lettuce leaf Development in relation to leaf length

show significant difference between treatment and

control.

1

NANO-LEN

CON-LEN

NANO-LEN2

CON-LEN2

NANO-LEN3

CON-LEN3

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

LENGTH (CM)

TREAMENT

LETTUCE LEAF DEVELOPMENT

CONCLUSION

&

RECOMENDATIONS

Preplanting application of Nano-Grow can lead to faster leaf growth within the first week.

To maintain the advantage of increase initial growth field application of the Nano-Gro must be assessed.

It is recommended that further research is undertaken on the use of Nano-Gro in lettuce

Since this growth regulator has the potential to shorten the growing period of lettuce by accelerating growth.

Nano-Gro Okra & Squash

Nursery Trials

BACKGROUND

Nano-Gro™ is regarded as a plant growth

regulator and immunity enhancer.

Employing chemical concentrations in the

order of one part per billion.

Nano-Gro™ boast of having the ability to

increase germination rates and increase

seedling growth & development.

BREIF METHODOLOGY

Treatment method: Dissolved 1 pellet of Nano-

Gro™ per 1L of water, then poured water into a

catch basin for 20 seconds in order to fully soak

the seeds. The seeds were then dried.

Planting Method: The seeds were arranged into

8 plots/tray. Composed of 1 treatment and a

control, each replicate 3 times.

MAIN RESULTS

Nano-Gro did not make a significant difference in germination rate of Okra or Squash seeds.

On average 2.5 more plants per tray germinated for Okra and 0.5 more for Squash.

MAIN RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the time

taken to reach the 2 leaf stage of seedling.

In Okra a significance difference was evident.

There was a 8% increase in Okra seedlings that

reach the 2 leaf stage.

Nano-Gro made no significant difference in the

growth and development of Okra or Squash in

relation to height.

CONCLUSION

&

RECOMENDATIONS

Nano-Gro does not appear to increase germination rates and growth & development in Okra and Squash.

However, in Okra it appears to increase rate at which seedlings reach the 2 leaf stage.

It is clear that further research must done on Nano-Gro before it is recommended for use by the MA to farmers.

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!