Maryland - Norman A. Berg National Plant Materials Center Highlights
Highlights
IMPROVING COVER CROP RECOMMENDATIONS
- Identify phenology parameters to maximize soil health benefits from cover crops.
- Replicate plantings by both seeding date and termination date to accurately quantify aboveground biomass of cereal grain cover crops.
IMPROVING POLLINATOR HABITAT ESTABLISHMENT
- Identify management technology to establish diverse native habitats for wildlife and provide food sources for pollinators.
- Evaluate species establishment in pure stands and in mixed plantings.
- Draft Plant Fact Sheets and wildflower mix recommendations to provide information needed to successfully establish diverse plantings to support pollinators.
IMPROVING FORAGE DATA
- Establish multiple species’ forage plots to create more accurate growth curves for each species.
- Replicate plantings to improve accuracy and precision of growth curves.
- Generate data for software programs to improve modeling and grazing/forage recommendations for the mid-Atlantic.
WARM SEASON COVER CROP DEMONSTRATION
- Plant over forty varieties of warm season covers in a replicated planting and collect data on establishment, growth, and weed suppression.
- Generate recommendations and training opportunities for use by organic vegetable producers.
CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT PLANTS DEMONSTRATION
- Plant over twenty varieties of culturally significant plants to train field staff on plant identification.
- Selected plant varieties carry cultural significance primarily for American Indians and are traditionally used for food, fiber, medicine, and dye.