Status: Complete
Deep sequencing SWD gut contents to reveal non-crop alternative host plants
Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) is a devastating pest of Washington soft fruits including cherries, blueberries, and red raspberries. Since its arrival in 2009, the cost…
Selecting winter wheat for more than just yield: Improving soil health, microbial diversity, and grain micronutrient density across Washington State
There is much we do not know about the soil microbiome and little has been done to explore soil microbe x plant genotype x environment…
Evaluating the contribution of soil organic carbon to improved water-holding capacity through increased compaction resistance
Climate change, extreme weather events, and soil degradation all mean that we are increasingly asking our soils to do more with less – infiltrate and…
Using alternative host plants to improve accuracy of forecasting models for pest aphids
Aphids are abundant, outbreaking insect herbivores that can deal considerable economic damage to cereals and legumes due to pathogens they transmit. While aphid-virus outbreaks can…
A field evaluation of mycorrhizal inoculants on grapevine growth and nutrient uptake
As plant-mycorrhizal interactions are known to be context dependent, a better understanding of the conditions in which mycorrhizal fungi are beneficial to grapevine growth will…
Direct observation of sediment and carbon connectivity: evaluating degradation pathways, conservation implementation and true cost accounting
Soil erosion is the first order measure of agricultural soil sustainability. Clear economic incentives and accounting of public and private true cost are needed to…
Human Health from Soil to Society: Barley β-glucan and glycemic control
Our proposed work directly addresses the Sustaining Health Grand Challenge through the initiation of the first collaborative study between CAHNRS and ESFCOM, utilizing our Soil…
Rotating out of weeds and into soil health: Optimizing cover crops in three Columbia Basin organic production systems
Weeds cause extensive loss in agricultural production and are particularly damaging in organic systems. Control generally relies on mechanical cultivation which reduces soil carbon, decimates…
Evaluating Commercial Specialty Mushroom Production Feasibility for Diversified Farms and Small Woodland Owners in Western WA
Forest-grown specialty mushroom production may be an economical, low-impact, ecologically-appropriate enterprise for diversified farms and small woodland owners in western WA and the greater western…
Development of multi-scale remote sensing methodologies to classify and monitor riparian vegetation structure and composition to improve agricultural sustainability
Sustainable agriculture in Washington State (WA) pushes to be economically viable while being environmentally responsible through improvements made to both on- and off-farm practices. Riparian…