Commercial Horticulture and Small Acreage Funded Projects

Award title: Assessing Soil and Plant Health Response to Composted and Solarized Grape Pomace with manure in Semi-arid Soil

Project summary: Wine production in Arizona significantly increased from 65,413 gallons (2007) to 297,145 gallons (2017), with an estimated 354% increase in grape pomace (GP) production, which unfortunately ends up in landfills. The GP has low pH (3.2 to 3.9), with 2% N, 0.5% P, 2% K, and 2% Ca per ton, making it an excellent alternative for alkaline soils. The project would assess the field application of GP on soil fertility, soil health, plant health, and economic profitability compared to poultry and horse manure through farmer participatory research and extension programs.

Sponsoring Institution: USDA_NIFA
Project timeline and duration: September 2021 to August 2024 (3 years)
Project amount: $575,000
Project location: Yavapai Cooperative Extension
Extension program: Commercial Horticulture and Small Acreage

Project Team
Isaac Mpanga (Director)
Judith Brown (Co-Director)
Russell Tronstad (Co-Director)
Joseph Blankinship (Co-Director)
Priyanka Sharma (postdoc)