Winter 1995 (v7n1)
	From the Director Fine-tuning Agricultural Systems In the past I have discussed the need for more system-level research, because farmers manage complex systems; I think that this need still exists. However, there is also a clear need for investigations into key components of these complex production systems. This sort of investigation may be the key to solving many of our production related problems in California. There are numerous production systems where component research is the key to solving particular problems. For example, Russell Lesteris a walnut grower in Winters, California, who like many other orchardists in the state is relying mainly on no-till management of cover crops to meet his trees' nitrogen needs. This general approach is seeing increasing use in California orchards, and both plant tissue analyses and production from most of these orchards suggest adequate nitrogen. Yet we know few particulars about nitrogen cycling in such systems. There have been no studies conducted to evaluate the possible benefits from cover crop-derived nitrogen in California almond or walnut orchards. Component research in such orchard systems could address how cover crop species selection, soil type, irrigation system, moving technique, and decomposer organisms influence nitrogen dynamics. Thus, critical component research could help Russell Lester and many other orchardists fine-tune and optimize their management. Component and systems research methods are potentially complementary, and whether one or the other is more appropriate depends on the question at hand. In both cases systems thinking will be involved, but in the case of component research the focus of the work is on the component. Ecological orchardists have identified many other key research priorities, issues that they perceive as representing limiting factors in production. Last winter in Ventura, at the California Farm Conference, orchardists Glenn Anderson, Ray Eck and Fred Smeds sat down and discussed some of these issues with Bob Bugg of the UC SAREP staff. The priorities in critical component research that they came up with included biological and cultural control of key almond and stone fruit pathogens, such as brown rot; issues of soil health and nutrient cycling; management of wild solitary bees that pollinate almonds; effects of ecological management on bloom date, nutritive value and flavor of almonds; management of California gray field ant (Formica aerata) and the wasp Goniozus legneri as natural enemies of pests; alternative post-harvest sterilization techniques (e.g. freezing or CO, treatment); and selective (soft) control measures for the pest ants, including southern fire ant (Solenopis xyloni) and pavement ant (Tetramorium caespitum). In fact, many issues in sustainable production cut across commodity boundaries, pointing up the possibility of cooperative funding of critical component research by several commodity organizations. Perhaps commodity boards and public funding agencies (such as UC SAREP) should explore joint funding approaches to get these issues addressed. Our public and technical advisory committees have discussed the merit of having SAREP and commodity groups jointly sponsor such work. Such an approach would support commodity programs that are attempting to move forward on some of their tough production problems. This work would also give us new insights into how components can change the way systems function. We at UC SAREP are now exploring opportunities for these sorts of collaboration. Bill Liebhardt, director, University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program.   [ Back | Search | Feedback ]