News

Jan 1, 2024

Join eOrganic for a webinar on cover crops as a carbon source for Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD). It takes place on March 21, 2024, and is free and open to the public. Advance registration is required.

Register now at https://oregonstate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kifD92LhSKSOvJj5n9uReQ

About the Webinar

This is the third webinar in a series about ASD. It will provide basic information on the opportunity to integrate the use of cover crops as a carbon source for the application of Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD) in organic vegetable production systems. Attendees will learn about i) the benefit of using cover crops as a carbon source; ii) the principles to follow for selecting different cover crops or cover crop mixes; and iii) how cover crops should be incorporated in the soil as carbon sources for the application of ASD. Results of the research conducted in Pennsylvania on sustainable and organic specialty crops will be presented.

About the Presenters

Dr. Kathleen Arrington is a Postdoctoral Scholar in Soil Science at Penn State, focusing on cover crops and nitrogen cycling in agroecosystems.

Dr. Francesco Di Gioia is an Assistant Professor of Vegetable Crops Science at The Pennsylvania State University focusing on the development of sustainable vegetable production systems.

To watch the first two webinars about ASD from this project see the following links:

1. Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation: A Biological Approach to Manage Specialty Crop Soilborne Pests and Pathogens https://eorganic.org/node/35666

2. Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation: Selecting the Right Carbon Source and Application Rate https://eorganic.org/node/35779

Funding for this webinar is provided by NIFA OREI. To learn more about this project see https://eorganic.info/ASDEasyOrganic

Jan 1, 2024
Find the recording at https://eorganic.org/node/35779

About the Webinar

This is the second webinar in a series about Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD). This webinar will provide the principles and practical insights on how to select suitable sources of carbon (organic amendment) and their application rate to implement ASD as a biological solution for the management of soilborne pests and pathogens affecting specialty crops. Attendees will learn i) what are the main carbon sources used and their properties; ii) how to identify alternative sources of carbon that may be available locally; iii) what parameters to consider for defining the proper application rate; and iv) how to calculate the amount of carbon source that should be applied to a given area. Results of the research conducted in Florida and Pennsylvania on sustainable and organic specialty crops will be presented.

Speakers: Francesco Di Gioia, Pennsylvania State University; Nan Xu and Xin Zhao, University of Florida

Find the first webinar in this series, which covers the basics of ASD at https://eorganic.org/node/35666

Find information on the third webinar on March 21st, 2024 at https://eorganic.org/node/35782

Funding for this webinar was provided by USDA NIFA OREI. Learn more about this research project at https://eorganic.info/ASDEasyOrganic

May 5, 2023

Postdoctoral Research Scientist Opportunity at Penn State

JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Penn State’s Department of Plant Science (https://plantscience.psu.edu/) is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scholar to conduct research and Extension activities on Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD) within the framework of a collaborative interdisciplinary project funded by the USDA-NIFA OREI program and investigating the use of ASD for Enhancing and Advancing the Sustainability of Organic Crop Production. Read the full position description and instructions here before applying.

Using agronomic and laboratory procedures for soil and plant analysis, the primary goal of the research will be to optimize and evaluate opportunities for integrating ASD in organic vegetable and strawberry crop systems and assess the short- and long-term impact of ASD on nutrient dynamics, soil ecology/microbiology, soilborne pests and pathogens, soil health, crop physiology and yield and quality performance.

The candidate will be supervised by Dr. Francesco Di Gioia and will be working with an interdisciplinary team of researchers with expertise in horticulture, soil microbiology, plant pathology, nematology, biogeochemistry, ecosystem science and management, and agricultural economics.

Location: Primary work location will be Penn State, University Park located at State College, in Central Pennsylvania.

Education and Experience: Applicants are required to have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate in Horticultural Science, Plant Science, or closely related field(s). Applicants must be able to provide evidence that all requirements have been met for completion of the Ph.D. and pass standard background checks prior to the effective date of hire. This position requires excellent written and verbal communication skills. The profile of the successful candidate for this position includes:

  • Strong background and research experience on organic/sustainable vegetable/strawberry crop production, plant nutrition and physiology, sustainable soil management practices, cover crops, management of soilborne pests and pathogens, soil health and microbiology, crop yield and quality.
  • Strong quantitative and qualitative skills in fields related to plant science, plant physiology, plant nutrition, soil health, soilborne pests and pathogens, and vegetable/strawberry quality.
  • Ability to formulate research hypothesis, design, and conduct experiments on organic vegetable and strawberry crop systems in open field, greenhouse, and/or protected cultivation systems, collect, interpret, and summarize data, and solve research issues.
  • Experience with laboratory procedures for the analysis of soil and plant samples using colorimetric/spectrophotometric/fluorescence assays and experience operating HPLC equipment.
  • Ability to use software, define and execute procedures for plant mineral and phytochemical analysis, image analysis, environmental monitoring, and statistical analysis.
  • Ability to collaborate effectively with members of an interdisciplinary research team and ability to drive and travel within the state of Pennsylvania to work with Extension educators and grower cooperators.
  • Interest in mentoring students and conducting Extension and outreach activities.
  • A strong record of peer-reviewed publication.

Initially, this term appointment is funded for one year from the date of hire with the option of reappointment for additional years conditional on satisfactory performance and the availability of funds. This position includes competitive salary and benefits.

Click here for more information and application instructions

Feb 2, 2023

Join eOrganic for a new webinar on Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD)! The webinar takes place on February 21st at 11AM Pacific, 12 Mountain, 1 Central, 2 Eastern Time. It's free and open to the public, and advance registration is required. 

Register now at https://oregonstate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lrHI5GaRQbe8pPr2kDCYWA

About the Webinar

This webinar will provide a general overview of Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD) as a biological solution for the management of soilborne pests and pathogens in specialty crops. Attendees will learn:

  1. how the ASD approach proposed today was developed;
  2. the principles and main mechanisms involved in ASD pest and pathogen suppression; and
  3. how ASD is applied.

Results of research conducted in Florida and Pennsylvania on sustainable and organic specialty crops will be presented.

About the Presenters

Dr. Francesco Di Gioia is an Assistant Professor of Vegetable Crops Science at The Pennsylvania State University focusing on the development of sustainable vegetable production systems. Dr. Erin Rosskopf is Research Leader and Research Microbiologist at the USDA-ARS U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce, FL focusing on alternatives to the use of chemical fumigants.

Dec 12, 2021

To boost the profitability and sustainability of organic specialty-crop production, scientists at Pennsylvania State University are optimizing a method for controlling soil-borne pests and pathogens. Anaerobic soil disinfestation is the process of limiting oxygen from soil to reduce pests and pathogens. Read the article by Jeff Mulhollem in Agri-View from November 17, 2021 at https://www.agupdate.com/agriview/news/crop/researchers-test-anaerobic-d....

Dec 12, 2021

In an effort to boost the profitability and sustainability of organic specialty crop production systems, a team of scientists is improving and optimizing anaerobic soil disinfestation as a management approach to control soilborne pests and pathogens and promote soil health. Read the article from October 24, 2021 by Jeff Mulhollem in Morning Ag Clips at https://www.morningagclips.com/grant-to-fund-research-on-biological-process-to-manage-soil-pathogens-pests/

Dec 12, 2021

In an effort to boost the profitability and sustainability of organic specialty crop productions, a team of scientists is improving and optimizing a method for controlling soilborne pests and pathogens and promoting soil health that prevents oxygen from entering the soil. Read more in the article from October 19, 2021 by Jeff Mulhollem on the Penn State University website here.