WEEK I
May 12
Farm Management Practices
At the beginning of April, the seedlings growing in trays in the lab developed a significant fungus gnat problem. Little flies could be observed hovering over the seedlings. As a consequence most seedlings developed wilt like symptoms, as if not been watered. This is a very common problem in indoor garden settings were moist levels and warm temperature predominate. In order to keep populations under control, we used a bio control approach that involved the application of Hypoaspis miles over the trays. Hypoaspis are generalist soil predatory mites, capable of controlling Fungus Gnat larvae, thrips pupae, pathogenic nematodes, Spring Tails, Strawberry Root Weevil, Varroa Miles, and Cactus Root Weevil, and it is currently being tested for its potential ability to control the Black Vine Root Weevil.
Days later, the number of flies seem to
have decreased..
Hypoaspis Miles: Biological Control of Varroa Miles and other Agrological Uses
Being a bee-lover, I found this very
educational and interesting video about the Hypoaspis Miles and its
agricultural applications.
https://vimeo.com/63418711
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Revisiting the Compost Trials Set Up in the East Terraces
A compost experimental triel was set up in April in the East terraces to assess the effectiveness of adding compost material to untreated sandy soil, as well as comparing the quality of compost of two different local companies: Net Zero and Harvest Power.
The terraces where divided into 12 different plots, each measuring 10 feet wide by 3 feet in depth.
Each plot was seeded with three varieties of leafy greens from West Coast Seeds: lettuce Drunkend Lady, spinach Bloomdale Savoy, and swiss chard Pink Flamingo.
By May 12 we recorded the following germination rates:
North East Terrace
Swiss Chard
|
17
|
5
|
Spinach
|
7
|
20
|
Lettuce
|
2
|
12
|
Swiss Chard
|
11
|
3
|
4
|
15
|
Spinach
|
4
|
13
|
10
|
5
|
Lettuce
|
5
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
South East Terrace
Swiss Chard
|
33
|
65
|
84
|
53
|
Spinach
|
14
|
15
|
4
|
14
|
Lettuce
|
9
|
11
|
7
|
3
|
Lettuce
|
2
|
5
|
Spinach
|
0
|
8
|
Swiss Chard
|
54
|
30
|
There seems to be a difference germination success across all the experimental plots with the control plot having the lowest success. The Harvest Power plots displayed earlier emergence, maybe due to the fact that we laid the compost first and the rain leached away the salt in these plots, where as Net Zero was laid at a later date, close to seeding time. In the other hand, there seems to be a higher nitrogen content in Net Zero compost which is causing the swiss chard and the spinach to look greener than the plants growing in the Harvest Power and Control plots.
