Boyer sna 2011

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Developing Local, Sustainable Substrate Resources for the Great Plains

Dr. Cheryl R. BoyerAssistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Ornamental Nursery CropsKansas State University

Why is Kansas here?

Great Plains Region

Small, growing industry

Buy Local

Need for regional nursery crop production support

Limited Resources

{ Hmm…

What does our industry look like?

Number of Farms per Type of Operation in Kansas

1. Floriculture Crops: 225

2. Bedding/Garden Plants: 189

3. Nursery Stock: 136

4. Total Greenhouse Vegetables and Fresh Cut Herbs: 46

5. Potted Flowering Plants: 39

6. Sod Harvested: 33

7. Cut Flowers and Cut Florist Greens: 30

8. Greenhouse Tomatoes: 30

9. Other Greenhouse Vegetables and Fresh Cut Herbs: 23

10.Foliage Plants, Indoor: 21

11.Vegetable Transplants: 8

12.Aquatic Plants: 7

13.Bulbs, Corms, Rhizomes and Tubers: 7

14.Other Nursery Crops: 6

15.Cuttings, Seedlings, Liners and Plugs: 4

16.Flower Seeds: 3

17.Vegetable Seeds: 3

18.Mushrooms: 2

2006 Kansas Horticulture Survey: Nurseries and Greenhouses Highlights

4,290 acres used for field production of ornamental trees and shrubs

490 acres for containerized production

8.2 million square feet of greenhouse production

4,700 paid and unpaid employees

2006 Kansas Horticulture Survey

2006 Kansas Horticulture Survey

Barriers to Industry Growth

Lack of experience

Lack of knowledge of the industry and current production practices

Limited Resources

Water (wind, heat)

Substrates are expensive—NO NATIVE PINES!

{ But wait, Kansas has forests?

We can help with substrates!

Yes, Kansas has Forests.

2005 Kansas Forests Survey (January 2008)

Highlights

Forest land area increased from 1.5 million acres in 1994 to 2.1 million acres in 2005, representing about 4% of Kansas total land area.

Softwood = 5%

Oak/Hickory = 56%

Elm/Ash/Cottonwood forest types = 32%

Almost 95% of Kansas forest land is held by private landowners.

Areas of Concern

Since 1965

Oak growing stock has increased by 231%

Hickories by 224%

Maples by 231%

and

Eastern redcedar has increased by 23,000%

(this is understated since they did not include 50,000 acres of small caliper (under 1”) of eastern redcedarseedlings)

23,000% !!!

Eastern Redcedar

Most material is in low density stands.

Is expanding throughout the Midwest Suppression of fire Reduction of grazing

on pastureland First species to invade

old fields

50,000 acres of seedlings = more expansion

Eastern Redcedar

Good wildlife cover, BUT

Reduces understory diversity and plant growth

Redcedar establishment changes the ecological character of the site.

Major water usage (30 gal. per tree per day)

FIRE!

{ How have we used it?

Alright, so There is Plenty

John C. Pair Horticultural Research Center (Haysville, near Wichita)

Jason Griffin, Director Cheryl Boyer

Graduate Students Technicians

Zach Starr Michelle Morales

Josh Pool Tami Myers Kory Nickell

Mike Shelton

Pine Bark

3/8 - inch

3/16 - inch

3/4 - inch

1/2 - inch

Redcedar

Redcedar

Redcedar

Redcedar

Woody Plants

Baldcypress

Chinese Pistache

Baldcypress

¾” redcedar

Low or High Fertilizer

2009

% Sand % Redcedar Fertilizer

20 0 Low

20 5 Low

20 10 Low

20 20 Low

20 40 Low

20 80 Low

20 0 High

20 5 High

20 10 High

20 20 High

20 40 High

20 80 High

Annual Plants

Vinca

Petunia

New Guinea Impatiens

3/16” redcedar

2010

% Perlite % Peat % Redcedar

25 75 0

25 50 25

25 0 75

0 0 100

Woody Plants

2 treesBaldcypress

Redbud

2 shrubs Spirea

Crapemyrtle

2 perennialsMaidengrass

Black-eyed Susan

2010

% Sand Main Substrate (80%)

20 Pine Bark

20 3/16” Redcedar

20 3/8” Redcedar

20 ½” Redcedar

20 ¾” Redcedar

3/16”

What Else Might We Use?

Scrubby/Weedy Plants

Maclura pomifera (Hedge Apple, Osage Orange)

Elm

Honeylocust

Woody biomass residue from wood manufacturing companies and urban tree care activity

{ We’re just getting started

In Summary…

Support for these projects is provided by:

www.sustainablesubstrates.com