Plant and Soil Diagnostic Services

Project Leader: Bess Dicklow

General Information

Information is the backbone of best management practices in horticultural industries of all types. The UMass Extension Plant and Soil Diagnostic Services provide accurate identification of pest, disease, and weed problems; as well as analysis of soil and tissue nutrient levels to inform landscapers, turf managers, the floriculture industry and vegetable growers about problems they encounter. Accurate diagnosis of insects and plant diseases can prevent unnecessary and inappropriate pesticide applications. This in turn contributes to both the economic and ecological sustainability of natural resource based businesses. Analysis of soil and tissue levels of plant nutrients leads to precision fertilizer applications and pinpoints nutrient toxicities and deficiencies that can negatively impact plant growth and performance. Fertilizer applications based upon soil and tissue analysis prevent unnecessary applications of fertilizers which have the potential to negatively impact water resources. Diagnostic service personnel, in addition to their technical services, also educate the horticultural industry by presentations at grower meetings, other invited presentations, participating in Green School and Winter School for Turf Managers, contributions to publications such as newsletters, and in the production of technical manuals.

Massachusetts relies on its forests, soils, waters, and scenic landscapes to provide the much-needed employment, income, products, recreation and ecosystem services that meet its citizens' needs and drive its healthy local economies. Maintaining a healthy local economy is a major concern for many communities in Massachusetts and the value of their natural resources serves as a major incentive for their conservation. Natural resource-based businesses (agriculture, equine industries, forest based businesses, fishing, shellfish, outdoor recreation and tourism, horticultural green industries, and turf) can have a substantial, positive impact on the health of local economies and are important tools for maintaining open space. UMass Extension will support Natural Resource Based Businesses through research, education and informed policy for the benefit of the entire commonwealth.

The University of Massachusetts serves a primary role in delivering education to target audiences, informing policy decisions, and generating applied research critical to the health of natural resource based businesses in Massachusetts and their associated public benefits.

The vegetable production industry faces many challenges. These include new and more severe plant diseases, introduced and invasive pests, and expanding range of pests as a result of climate change; the need for healthy and resource-efficient technologies that provide long-term stewardship of soil, water and energy; extreme development pressure and high land values; competition from regional, national and international suppliers; establishing new farmers to carry on the knowledge and culture of farming. To remain viable, this industry needs cutting edge research that unites basic scientific investigation with applied and practical solutions, new and effective marketing strategies, and well-educated farmers who are ready for the changes of the next fifty years. Health and environmental risks from pesticides and fertilizers should be minimized using new technologies and products, without compromising crop quality or net costs. Water and soil conservation practices are key to providing healthy crops while conserving the resource base for agriculture.

The Plant and Soil Diagnostic Services Project has the following priorities:

• Maintain and Improve Environmental Quality through Integrated Crop and Animal Management
  For farmers and other food producers to stay in business, it is necessary that they maintain long-term environmental sustainability by striving to expand species diversity and better understand farm ecology. UMass Extension can provide access to current research information on new and alternative species and varieties, advanced horticultural management techniques, pest-ecology, and pest-management procedures. Important studies of pest ecology and control techniques provide approaches to pest management that optimize pest control, reduce chemical use, and increase crop and animal heath.
• Water Resource Protection in Land Management
  Public and private land managers and businesses dependent on natural resources (such as agriculture, the horticultural green industry, forestry and others) have a direct impact on water resources. They must use practices that prevent and reduce water pollution, and protect and restore water resources. Working with people who own and manage both land and the resources supported by the land is a critical element of ecosystem management, protection and restoration. UMass Amherst has substantial research capacity in the management of agricultural land and intensively managed landscapes, as well as forest, freshwater and coastal ecosystems. UMass Extension has long maintained programs that provide information and technical assistance to a variety of audiences that work directly with the land and its resources.
• Natural Resource-Based Businesses are ecologically sustainable.
  Massachusetts is the third most densely populated state in the nation. The citizens of the Commonwealth depend on the full range of public benefits that our natural resources provide, including clean water and clean air. Reducing environmental impacts will also help ensure that future generations will have healthy, productive land and water to work. It is ultimately the state's responsibility to ensure safe and adequate water supply. In turn, the state relies on University-based research to investigate new threats, new treatment technologies, restoration principles, best management practices and effective policy steps to guide decision-makers. UMass Extension can bridge the gap between academic research and practices to apply that research.
• Natural Resource Based Businesses are economically viable.
  According to UMass Extension, nearly 4,000 golf courses and athletic fields in Massachusetts encompass nearly 60,000 acres of land while Ornamental Horticultural has 4,250 businesses encompassing about 79,000 acres. Natural Resource Based Economic Development provides an opportunity to preserve community character, while providing economic development and other critical public benefits to current and future generations. The University of Massachusetts serves a primary role in delivering education to target audiences, informing policy decisions, and generating applied research critical to the health of natural resource based businesses in Massachusetts and their associated public benefits.
• Avoidance, detection, early containment, and management of exotic pests, diseases, and invasive species
  Exotic pests, diseases and invasive species are among the most profound threats to ecosystem integrity that we face. The number of invasive species already creating problems in Massachusetts is large and the potential for future problems is significant. Invasive species typically are habitat generalists and aggressive colonizers and outbreaks are difficult to contain and almost impossible to eliminate unless discovered and addressed early in the invasion. Biological control offers hope for the long-term containment of invasive species. However, careful screening of potential bio-control agents is essential lest the agent itself become a threat to ecosystem integrity.
• UMass Amherst possesses significant research capacity in the area of insect pests and the development and use of biological control to address the threats caused by these pests. Established agricultural, green industry and forestry extension programs can deliver research-based information to individuals about action that can be taken to avoid, detect and control invasive species.

Activities

• Provide pathogen identification, disease diagnosis, and management recommendations to greenhouse growers of floriculture crops
• Provide pathogen identification, disease diagnosis, and management recommendations for vegetable growers
• Provide pathogen identification, disease diagnosis, and management recommendations to professional turf managers
• Provide pathogen identification, disease diagnosis, and management recommendations to arborists, nursery crop growers, and landscapers (trees and woody shrubs)
• Provide nutrient analysis of soil and tissue samples for the horticultural industry, growers, and the general public. Provide descriptions of soil physical characteristics (organic matter, CEC, etc) to horticultural industries, growers, and general public
• Participate in National Plant Diagnostic Network, Northeast Region by attending annual meeting, participating in exercises, conducting First Detector Training, and entering information into national database
• Answer tree and shrub, vegetable, turf and floriculture questions via telephone calls and emails - including ~10 media interviews

Inputs: Time and Effort

Outcomes

• Participants promote, implement or adopt sustainable resource management and environmental best management practices for operating Natural Resources-based businesses
• Participants will adopt practices that lower the risk from and exposure to pesticides and fertilizers
• Participants acquire the knowledge, skills and motivation to adopt practices that reduce risk of exotic pests, diseases and invasive species.
• Participants develop the knowledge and skills to adopt land management practices that protect and enhance water, other natural resources and ecosystems

Extension program related to this project: Agriculture & Landscape