Resources

Compost, Vermicompost and Compost Tea
Cover Crops
Crop Quality
Perennial Peanut
Specialty Crops
Sustainable and Organic Farming
Weed Management
Articles
Videos

Compost and Compost Tea

Pant, A.P., T.J.K. Radovich, N.V. Hue, S.T. Talcott, and K.A. Krenek. 2009. Vermicompost extracts influence growth, mineral nutrients, phytonutrients and antioxidant activity in Pak choi (Brassica rapa cv. Bonsai, Chinensis group)grown under vermicompost and chemical fertilizer. J. Sci. Food and Agric. DOI 10.1002/jsfa.3732. vol. 89:2383-2392. (contact Dr. Radovich to obtain a copy).

Brewing Up a Tropical Tea. WSARE Factsheet (~300 KB .pdf)

Enhancing Phyto-nutrient Content, Yield and Quality of Vegetables with Compost Tea in the Tropics. WSARE Poster (~4 MB .pdf)

Vermicompost extracts influence growth, total carotenoids, phenolics and antioxidant activity in Pak choi (Brassica rapa cv. Bonsai, Chinensis group) grown under two fertilizer regimes. Poster (~2 MB)

Vermicompost Research Update 2009: This article reviews the value of compost in agricultural systems, compares quality characteristics of some Hawaii composts, and reports on some preliminary successes using vermicompost for growing medium and as compost tea. (Fall 2009)

Vermicompost in Hawaii: Its Production and Use (video)

Cover Crops

Cover Your Asset: Choosing appropriate cover crops for your Production System: This article briefly discusses critical thinking involved in selecting and managing cover crops. The article also highlights Hawaii-based information that is available to help you in decision-making when selecting and managing your cover crops. (Summer 2010)

Crop Quality

Enhancing phytonutrients in vegetables through crop management (April 2010)

Fruit and Vegetable Quality: It Matters! Product quality determines marketable yield and often affects price so it has a direct impact on profitability. The exact definition of quality varies by commodity, which means you need to be aware of market standards for each commodity that you grow. This article examines the factors that influence quality and outlines things you can do to improve the quality of your produce. (Spring 2010)

Farming for Functionality: Enhancing phytonutrients in vegetables through crop management . The flavor, color and human health potential of vegetables have a chemical basis that is influenced by many factors, including genetics and growing environment. This article briefly discusses the influence that management practices such as variety selection, irrigation and fertilization can have on plant compounds that contribute to the health promoting function of fresh vegetables. (Winter 2009/2010)

Perennial Peanut

Benefits and Costs of Using Perennial Peanut as Living Mulch for Fruit Trees in Hawai‘i (SCM-27)

Application and evaluation of a rapid nitrate-N test for soil solution under perennial peanut (Arachis pintoi) living mulch. Poster (.pdf)

Specialty Crops

Farm and Forestry Production and Marketing profile for Moringa (Moringa oleifera) by Ted Radovich (produced by Agroforestry.net)

Farm and Forestry Production and Marketing profile for Pumpkin and Squash by Ted Radovich (produced by Agroforestry.net)

Sustainable & Organic Agriculture

Overview of Organic Food Crop Systems in Hawai‘i by T. Radovich, L. Cox, and J. Hollyer. (PDF)

Building CTAHR’s capacity to support sustainable farming systems. Article

Producing Organic Papaya Seed (video)

Weed Management

Weed Management in Organic Agriculture. Presentation (~1MB .pdf).

Flaming for Weed Management on Small Farms. Presentation (~1MB .pdf)

Organic Weed Control for the Home Garden. Handout (<1 MB .pdf)

Greenhouse Screening and Field Evaluation for Weed Tolerance in Brassica oleraceae Genotypes. Poster (.pdf)

Articles from HānaiʻAi

HānaiʻAi, The Food Provider, is a newsletter designed as a vehicle to disseminate relevant information to Hawai’i small farmers regarding crop quality and productivity, farm business and marketing, disease and pest control, and grant funding for organic research projects. Successful growers are interviewed each issue to share their experiences, views of sustainability and “tricks of the trade.” Subscribe and read current and previous editions of the newsletter at http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/sustainag/news/. HānaiʻAi is co-edited by Linda Cox, Ted Radovich and Jody Smith.