UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Hairy alfalfa, living mulch and zucchini "traps" are among the cutting-edge research projects that will be highlighted in guided tours of the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center during Penn State's Ag Progress Days, August 12-14.
The free 30-minute bus tours, which leave every 20 minutes throughout each day, will take visitors through Penn State's horticulture, plant pathology, agronomy and entomology research farms, as well as the USDA Pasture Research Laboratory.
On the horticulture farm, visitors will see an experiment in which zucchini squash plants are used as a "trap crop" in the production of cantaloupes. Because striped cucumber beetles prefer zucchini to cantaloupe, the pests are attracted to the squash. Researchers hope that control of the pest beetles can be achieved by applying insecticide only to the zucchini, resulting in cantaloupes with minimal chemical exposure and reducing the overall amount of insecticide needed for adequate control.
Other horticulture projects include a study comparing the effects of plastic and paper mulches on tomato, lettuce, broccoli, eggplant and okra production; research on production management and trellis systems for apples, pears and raspberries; and variety trials for sweet corn, pumpkins, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower.
On the plant pathology farm, the tour will feature studies aimed at helping growers eliminate, manage or reduce crop damage from diseases. Several experiments are under way to combat the destructive late blight fungus. This disease, which attacks potatoes and tomatoes, has cost Pennsylvania growers millions of dollars in crop losses in recent years.
The agronomy farm portion of the tour will feature research on the use of crownvetch and other legumes as a "living mulch" in corn and soybeans. Scientists have found that legumes can provide ground cover and reduce soil erosion, as well as provide nitrogen to the main crop, potentially reducing the need to apply fertilizer.
Other agronomy research focuses on breeding and management trials for a variety of crops, including corn, soybeans, alfalfa, wheat, barley and forage grasses. Visitors also will see a study on how various tillage systems affect runoff and research on how various crop rotations influence corn yield.
At the USDA Pasture Lab, the tour will include research on clover varieties that are resistant to clover root curculio, an insect pest of clover and alfalfa; and studies to improve the establishment and management of switchgrass, a warm-season grass that can be used for livestock grazing and to provide habitat for game and song birds.
A project to evaluate alfalfa varieties for Colorado potato beetle resistance will highlight entomology research on the tour. Some of these new varieties have small glandular hairs that may prevent the insect from feeding or laying eggs on the plant.
Other entomology studies discussed on the tour will include research on the use of global positioning satellites and related technology to map pest and beneficial insect populations. By identifying insect "hot spots" and spraying only those areas of the field, scientists hope to reduce the amount of insecticides needed to control crop damage.
Penn State's Ag Progress Days features more than 500 acres of educational and commercial exhibits, tours and machinery demonstrations. It is held at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, nine miles southwest of State College on Route 45. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, with extended hours of 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday. Admission and parking are free.
For more information, call (800) PSU-1010 toll-free through August 14 or visit the Ag Progress Days site on the World Wide Web at www.cas.psu.edu/docs/AGIS/APD/APD.HTML.
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EDITORS: For more information on studies at the Penn State research farms, contact Robert Oberheim at 814-692-5262 (horticulture); Larry Jordan at 814-692-8696 (plant pathology); Lynn Hoffman at 814-692-7955 (agronomy); Paul Rebarchak at 814-692-4312 (entomology); and the USDA Pasture Research Lab at 814-863-0939. For more information on Ag Progress Days, contact Jennifer MacIsaac at 814-865-3636 or Chuck Gill at 814-863-2713.
Contacts: Chuck Gill Chuck_Gill@agcs.cas.psu.edu 814-863-2713 814-865-1068 fax