Hawaii - Ho'olehua Plant Materials Center Highlights

Plant Technology to Improve Pasture Management under Degraded Plant Conditions.

Develop growth curves and production values of locally adapted forage species based on elevation, rainfall, and soil.
Provide a greater selection of forage species adapted to tropical.
Develop seeding rates intended specifically to establish forage species adapted to tropical regions.
Provide recommendations and/or strategies to determine planting dates for Forage Plantings without irrigation in tropical regions.
Develop techniques and/or strategies to establish Pasture and Hay Plantings under site-specific conditions in tropical regions.

Plant Technology to address Organic Matter Depletion, and Plant Productivity and Health under Degraded Conditions.

Provide a greater selection of cover crop species that are adapted to tropical regions.
Develop various methods and/or techniques to terminate cover crops in tropical regions.
Develop seeding rates that are intended specifically for establishing cover crops in tropical regions.
Provide a greater selection of vegetative barrier options (alternatives to vetiver).
Develop cover crop mix recommendations for tropical regions.
Provide a greater plant species selection for Conservation Cover under orchards in tropical regions.