The New Agriculture Network's on-line newsletter with seasonal advice for field crop and vegetable growers interested in organic agriculture.

Vol. 1, No. 11 - September 9, 2004

In this issue

	2004 Vinton 81 plant population study
	Pictures from other research occurring at the Kellogg Biological Station this summer
	Reports from organic growers

Next issue posted October 14. Read previous issues through our calendar of issues.

2004 Vinton 81 Plant Population Study
Dale R. Mutch, MSU Kellogg Biological Station

Last winter several organic soybean farmers in Michigan were interested in how many seeds/foot of row were needed in organic systems to maximize yields.  At the KBS certified organic site, an experiment was designed planting five different plant populations: 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 plants/foot of row, respectively.  Each plot is 15 ft. wide by 120 ft. long. There are six replications in a randomized complete block design.

Methods
The soil type is sandy loam and the previous crop was corn.  We field cultivated three times prior to planting due to excessive rainfall in May.  Planting was done on June 8, 2004, due to wet conditions.  The field was rotary hoed four times in June and cultivated twice in July.  On August 3 the weeds were hand-pulled to assure weed competition was not a factor in the final yield of the soybean.  Weed populations were rather low at the time of hand pulling (Table 1).

Table 1.

• Soil type: sandy loam
• May 6: field cultivated
• May 20: field cultivated
• June 7: field cultivated
• June 8: planted
• June 16: rotary hoed (JD rotary hoe)
• June 17: rotary hoed, opposite direction as 6/16 (JD rotary hoe)
• June 21: rotary hoed (JD rotary hoe)
• June 29: rotary hoed (MD rotary hoe)
• July 6: cultivated
• July 14: cultivated, -lots of small weeds
• August 3: hand weeded

The planting populations as described above are presented in Table 2.  The certified organic Vinton 81 seed was tested and rated at 90 percent germination.  Soybeans were planted on June 8 and plant population counts were made July 19 after all tillage operations were complete.

Table 2.  Vinton 81 Population Study*

*Organic soybean seed germination was rated at 90 percent.
**Plant population per acre

Results
At the two highest seeding rates, 14 and 12 soybeans per foot, plants were reduced greater than 50 percent.  All other seeding rate plant populations were reduced, but remained higher than 50 percent.  Visually, no differences can be seen in the plots.  Yields from these plots will tell the real story.

Tillage definitely has an influence on final soybean plant populations.  This study should help organic farmers make better decisions on what plant populations they need on their farms.

This is only one year's worth of data.  Environmental conditions may have influenced results.  The experiment will be repeated next year to compare with 2004 results.

Soybean plant population study; no visible differences.

back to top

Pictures from other research occurring at the Kellogg Biological Station this summer

Dale R. Mutch, MSU Kellogg Biological Station

Frost-seeded mammoth red clover in wheat on August 4, 2004.  This field was certified organic in 1997.
Frost-seeded mammoth red clover flail mowed on August 11, 2004.  Photo was taken two weeks later on August 25, 2004.  Flail mowing helps increase stand and stimulates nitrogen production.
This is a close-up of mammoth red clover that was overseeded into corn at last cultivation on July 14, 2004.  The clover is about six inches tall and provides an excellent cover for this fall.  Photo was taken Sept. 2, 2004, approximately seven weeks after seeding.

back to top

Northeast Indiana
Dan Flotow at the Country Garden & Farm Market reports that the weather has settled into a nice pattern: temperatures in the 70's or lower 80's and rain at least once a week. The rains lately have been more steady and less of the heavy downpours that were experienced early in the summer. They never really had the heat this summer which would have helped crops like tomatoes, sweet corn and maybe even peppers. Also with the cooler temperatures and abundant rain, the squashes, pumpkins and melons experienced heavy problems with mildew.

Dan's farm has been busy harvesting crops like eggplant, summer squash and now winter squash, peppers, cucumbers, potatoes, lettuce and more for the CSA and the two farmers markets that they attend. Fall crops that we planted in August are looking very good ( broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, beets, turnips and peas ). They are gearing up to convert their main field into all raised beds. Dan says, "The plan is to as soon as possible work up the soil with the field cultivator and then run over the field with a rotovator. Then we will build raised beds with a bed maker that we built. In fact, our fall crops are in beds that we built with our bed maker - what a time saver. We were able to build nine beds *3x125 foot beds) in 30 minutes. After making beds in the main field, we will apply greensand and rock phosphate to each bed. Then we will start amending as many beds as time allows with horse manure, shredded leaves and a thin layer of wood chips. We are also planning on growing some winter crops in a greenhouse for the local natural food store and a winter farm market in Indianapolis. We are in the process of planning the planting schedule and starting seeds.

Northern Illinois
The first week of September has brought some warmer temperatures for a change. The rain in the past two weeks has helped ease a dry pattern. Unfortunately, there have been no big rains here, but at least enough to get cover crops off to a decent start. Pollination has been very spotty in corn fields and some cobs have virtually no kernels present. Soybeans are starting to fill pods, although many pods are still flat. Current farming operations include mowing off field borders and working on equipment. In the next two weeks, weeds will be pulled in the soybeans for a second time.

Central Illinois
About three inches of rain was received two weeks ago, but since then it has been dry. Currently, BT is being sprayed on peppers for European corn borer. A planting of spinach is planned and three more weeks of lettuce planting. The last of the fall covers were planted about a week ago. Greenhouse clean-up and weeding of large weeds with seed heads will be done in the next two weeks.

Southern Illinois
The weather has been ideal. Current farming operations include walking soybeans for weeds and have plans to mow and bale fourth cutting alfalfa hay in the next two weeks.

Editor's note: Additional grower reports may be filed on September 13, so consider checking later for updates.

back to top