Central Washington Tree Fruit Systems LTARE Site
Key Objectives
- Establish best practices and standard operating procedures for optimal soil health.
- Reduce variability in orchards with organic matter amendments or other soil health building practices.
- Reduce bitter pit and other disorders related to nutrient uptake and water/plant stress.
- Establish soil health practices which conserve water and buffer environmental stress in the face of climate change.
- Identify long-term sustainable approaches to managing soil borne disease and nematodes.
Cropping system and region
Central Washington Tree Fruit Systems
Location
WSU - Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center - Sunrise Farm in Wenatchee, Washington.
Climate and soil type
Annual high temperature: 63 F
Annual low temperature: 42 F
Average annual precipitation: 9 in
Primary soil type: Pogue fine sandy loam
Established
2023
Area
Three trials across 7.5 acres
Site team
Tianna DuPont - Tree Fruit Extension Specialist
Sarah Gafner-Bergeron - LTARE Coordinator
Lee Kalcsits - Tree Fruit Physiologist
Tracy Somera - Microbiologist
Devin Rippner - Soil Scientist
Jessica Waite - Geneticist
Kelly O'Neil - Orchard Manager
Tom Forge - Nematologist
Site advisory committee
Keith Beamann - G.S. Long
Michael Burns - Zirkle Fruit
Glade Brosi - Wilbur Ellis
Mike Brownfield - Orchardist
Paul Carter - McDougall Fruit
Jeff Cleverina - Columbia Fruit
Chelsea Durfey-Campbell - Lighthouse Farms and Natural Selection Compost
Ray Fuller - Orchardist
Apple Otte - Orchardist
Rod Wedel - Stormy Mountain Farm
Orchard soil health resources
Soil Health Trials
Trial 1 and Trial 3: Investigating reduced disturbance and organic matter additions
Standard
Mulch Additions
Integrated Organic
High Carbon Additions
Trial 2: Investigating soil amendment-based strategies to mitigate apple replant disease
Updates from the Wenatchee LTARE site
WaSHI Annual Report FY25
