2018 ASHS Annual Conference

This project introduced participatory research to vegetable farmers in the North Central region, utilizing biochar, a soil amendment with the long-term potential to improve soil fertility and crop yields in the region. The growers who participated in the study are considered early adopters of new technology and are interested in low-input agriculture. The project increased the knowledge of the potential effects of biochar on soil fertility and the potential for reduced fertilizer inputs, by providing the growers with information on biochar from on-farm participatory research. The research was conducted in a variety of climatic areas of the state and on different soil. Final results from the participatory research were inconclusive for biochar impacts on vegetable production but we did find that the knowledge gained from the project helped guide the participating growers to conduct additional research. The project also created a model for using interns in on-farm participatory research. Our novel approach of pairing undergraduate students with growers in a structured summer research project resulted in increased understanding among student participants of farm life and farm management (for example students gained an appreciation for working conditions on successful farms) and had the long-term potential for influencing student interest in farming as a career. This project also increased our understanding of how to optimally pair growers and students to provide on-farm experiential learning opportunities. The project increased the short and long-term capacity and interest of growers in conducting on-farm research and increased collaboration among farmers, extension educators, and researchers. This project built a novel and robust network for participatory learning.