Project Clearinghouse

No-Till Farming Transplanter

Sustainability Problem and Proposed Solution: 

Our current agricultural practices have resulted in major environmental challenges from water pollution, to soil runoff, to greenhouse gas emissions. This project seeks to address these intertwined challenges through the exploration of no-till farming practices, which have been shown to decrease soil erosin, improve soil quality, increase water holding capacity, and decrease GHG emissions.

Jump to: Contact | Project Description | Metrics for Success | Results
Project Categories: 
Land, Habitat, Watershed
Energy & Climate
Food
Water
Project Status: 
In Progress
Project End Date: 
11/01/2022
Campus Organization: 
Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems
Project Location: 
On campus



Stakeholder Contacts: 
Contact NameEmail AddressContact NumberDepartment
Darryl Wong
dgwong@ucsc.edu
459-3604
ENVS/CASFS

Project Description: 

We will implement two cycles of NT planting and analyze water use and yield across these plantings (completed by 11/1/22)
We will incorporate these practices with our CASFS internships and ENVS 130A course (ongoing, completed 11/1/22)
We will do outreach with state-wide reduced disturbance grower and researcher network (ongion, completed 11/1/22)

Metrics for Success: 

We will measure how many students and growers are exposed to these methods as well as tracking soil quality changes over time.

Next Steps: 
Purchase of NT transplanter Planting of cover crops and subsequent cash crops
Result Categories: 
Education/Outreach
Data Collection & Analysis
Results: 

This project will help to explore the challenges and opportunities for organic NT vegetable production in California. After the purchase of the transplanter, we will be able to integrate this new cropping system into our production fields. Experiences with this system will be documented and cataloged via presentations and written materials. These experiences will be shared with local and statewide growers via presentations and informal discussions. Undergraduates that intern at CASFS will be exposed to these systems and the benefits and challenges they present, as well as students enrolled in ENVS 130A.