The researchers propose to apply meal from two Brassica species with similar nitrogen content, B. juncea (a high glucosinolate containing mustard) and B. napus (a low glucosinolate containing canola) to test their effectiveness in controlling soil borne diseases and improving nitrogen fertility on a certified organic farm. Research funded by Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF).

Demonstration trials were conducted using organic amendments (compost and rapeseed meal) on fields of organic and conventional potatoes. Results of demonstration trials showed the uses of organic amendments in organic and conventional production systems. Soil foodweb data demonstrated ecological principles that may be applied in either cropping system. Mineralization data showed one of the benefits of organic amendments-that of providing a controlled release source of N for the crop. This is important in organic systems because it is the main N source for the crop. Research from University of Idaho, Cooperative Extension; funded by SARE; SARE EW99-013.

Corn hybrids selected by certified organic grain producers were used in on-farm research trials to evaluate the agronomic and grain quality performance of each hybrid and to determine if varieties suited to high input conditions are the same as those suited to low input conditions. Research from the Horticulture and Crop Science Department at Ohio State University; partially funded by the Organic Farming Research Foundation. OFRF Project Report # 00-37.

In 2002 at Muscatine and Abbe Hills, the effect of gypsum as a soil amendment to enhance crop (organic pepper and corn) production, performance, yield and postharvest quality was tested. Gypsum applications did not have any statistically significant effects on pepper yield and quality. Corn yields and quality were not statistically different among treatments. However, for both crops there was a trend toward greater yield with gypsum. Yield and postharvest quality results were similar for organic and conventional treatments. From Iowa State University.

A study examining the effect of different types of commercially available organic nitrogen fertilizer materials on long-term annual vegetable crops at Nojoqui Creek Farms California. A University of California Cooperative Extension (Santa Maria, CA) research project funded by OFRF. OFRF Project Report 98-04