Strategies for long-term

hoophouse soil fertility

By Cordelia Machanoff and Judson
Reid
High tunnels have played a crucial
role in season extension for market
growers, with popularity increasing
over the last decade to meet demand
for locally grown produce year round
(or close to it). Once built, the high
tunnel becomes some of the most
valuable real estate on the farm and
many growers are able to produce ex-
ceptional yields in the first few years.
After several seasons, yields begin to
decline and many growers struggle to
maintain productivity.
There are many resources to help
with the high tunnel start-up process,
but relatively few focus on the effect of
a high tunnel on soil conditions over
time. Practices that aim to extend the
productivity of high tunnel soils are
not well understood. The informa-
tion presented here is based on sev-
eral years of research conducted with
over 30 New York State high tunnel
growers, with the aim of identifying
management practices that support
the long-term health and productivity
of high tunnel soils. This article ex-
pands on a short piece that was pub-
lished in the April 2017 GFM, Fertil-
ity tips and foliar testing to maximize
high tunnel crops.
Research
We collaborated with about 30
high tunnel growers each year from
2014-2017 to collect comprehensive
information about their high tun-
nels, growing practices and yields.
Most growers participated for two
full growing seasons, beginning with
baseline economic, soil and irrigation
water data, followed by foliar nutri-
ent testing of the crop throughout the
season. Each fall, we collected de-
tailed yield, management and input
data from each grower and performed
another soil test. We compiled this
information in both single-farm case
studies and in a database to identify
trends relating to soil nutrient and pH
levels with foliar nutrient levels.
In October 2017, a representative
group of growers evaluated a range of
management practices for long-term
high tunnel soil health. This group
selected four broad categories of man-
agement practices they felt were cru-
cial for supporting the continued pro-
ductivity of high tunnel soils. These
management practices can be used
remedially, or implemented in a new
high tunnel system.
Soil testing
We all know that soil testing is an
important part of farming, but soil
nutrient levels can shift especially
quickly in protected culture. Grow-
ers in the roundtable stressed that

North America’s largest

supplier of Walk-Behind
Farming Equipment

THE INDISPENSABLE
TRACTOR FOR THE
SMALL-SCALE FARM:
— Over 40 implements
— All Gear/shaft driven
— Automotive clutch Walk-behind tractor Walk-behind tractor Walk-behind tractor
— Gas OR Diesel with Power Harrow with Rotary Plow With haybaler
— Full parts support
ALSO: Your Source for Professional Garden tools!

NATIONWIDE SHIPPING!!
Earth Tools Inc. 1525 Kays Branch Rd. Owenton, KY 40359
www.earthtools.com 502-484-3988

10 GROWING FOR M ARKET / JANUARY 2018


A high tunnel with a healthy cover crop.
Photo by Cordelia Machanof f.
keeping track of these levels is a key
practice to maintaining productive
tunnel soils. An annual soil test is the
first step in staying informed. As one
grower said, “Nutrient buildup can
become a major problem in high tun-
nel soils. For the cost of a soil test, and
the amount you pull out of a tunnel,
why wouldn’t you do it?” Submit-
ting a soil sample every year, rather
than every few years, will give you
more data points to identify trends
and react if needed. It’s important to
stay consistent – test your soil at the
same time each year, and always use
the same lab for analysis. We recom-
mended a fall schedule, when the soil
is still warm and biologically active
for greater accuracy. A fall test also
allows time to add necessary amend-
ments or change the fertility plan for
the following growing season.
Why do nutrient levels change
more quickly in a high tunnel? Fer-
tility practices appropriate for the
field don’t necessarily translate ef-
fectively to the tunnel. Even though
high tunnel crops have high nutrient
demands, fertilizers are often over ap-
plied or contain non-target nutrients.
Coupled with the lack of precipitation
in the tunnel, this can result in nutri-
ent imbalances that impact yields.
According to several growers, the
“more is better” approach to fertility
has diminishing returns in the tunnel
and an annual soil test helps keep that
in perspective.
Although each measure on a typi-
cal soil test is important, keep a close
eye on phosphorus, calcium and pH
levels in particular.
Calcium
More than three quarters of the
tunnels in our study have calcium
levels of more than 4,000 pounds
per acre. When present at this level
or higher, calcium can interfere with
plants’ ability to take up potassium,
manganese and magnesium. 89% of
the foliar test results showed exces-
sive levels of calcium, and potassium,
manganese and magnesium are the
most commonly deficient nutrients.
The result is low yields or low quality
fruit due to nutrient deficiencies re-
gardless of soil levels or additional nu-
trients provided in fertilizers. While
many soils in our area have high cal-
cium levels to begin with, additional
calcium is added as a “tag along” nu-
trient in many fertility sources or in
the form of calcium carbonate in ir-
rigation water.
The first line of defense is to avoid
adding additional calcium in any
form – check the analysis of all fertil-
ity products, obtain a nutrient analy-
sis for any composts and check the al-
kalinity level of your irrigation water.
In our experience an average tomato
crop will remove about 500 pounds
of calcium per acre – with levels in
the thousands of pounds per acre, it
is simply not necessary to add more.
If you experience blossom end rot,
which is a result of calcium deficiency
in the fruit, check your soil test and
irrigation schedule before thinking
about adding calcium to the soil. It’s
more than likely the result of insuffi-
cient water (to transport calcium from
the soil to the blossom) during flower-
ing.
To avoid this issue, we recom-
mend installing a digital timer and
programming irrigation for short
frequent periods throughout the day.
The specific timing will depend on
your soil texture as well as the tunnel
climate, so be sure to check soil mois-
ture regularly and adjust accordingly.
Our research shows that soil calcium
level is not directly correlated with fo-
liar calcium level.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is present in many
fertilizers at levels beyond the re-
quirements for the typical high tun-
nel crop. Phosphorus is banked in the
soil when over applied as it does not
leach or volatilize, leading to long-
term excess that is difficult to rem-
edy. Roughly half of the tunnels in
our project have phosphorus levels
higher than 100 pounds per acre – a
level at which no additional phospho-
rus should be applied. Many of those
continued on the next page
Recycled Plastic
Pint + Quart Baskets
Will meet FSMA requirement
for sanitation, are reusable &
washable - hold up in rain!

Supplies for Small Growers

SEED STARTING - Pots Trays Inserts Plug Trays
Labels - large variety size, color & shape of blank plant pot & row markers
Weed control, fertilizer, tapes & ties, watering, and more.
AAA-mercantile.shop
http://www.amazon.com/shops/AAAmercantile
http://stores.ebay.com/AAA-Mercantile

http://bit.ly
Enter coupon code GFM for a 10% discount for a limited time at AAA-mercantile.shop
/FMsuppliesGFM

GROWING FOR M ARKET / JANUARY 2018 11

Long-term hoophouse fertility
continued from page 11
soils tested at several times this level. This amount of
phosphorus in the soil is concerning because it can limit
the uptake of several important nutrients, including zinc,
iron and potassium. The only method of removal is via
plant absorption.
To manage fertility in a high-phosphorus soil, turn to
amendments that provide nitrogen and potassium inde-
pendently of phosphorus. Start by applying at least 50%
of the nitrogen demand prior to planting as a granular or
an organic meal product like soybean, alfalfa or feather
meal. In season, products like sodium nitrate (16-0-0) and
sulfate of potash (0-0-52) are OMRI-listed, water-soluble
and provide nutrition in the correct ratio. Be sure to check
with your certifier before using any new material on your
farm. There are many conventional options for targeted
N and K fertility, make sure to avoid any product that in-
cludes phosphorus or calcium.
Managing soil and irrigation water pH
Another major challenge to long-term high tunnel pro-
ductivity identified by experienced high tunnel growers is
the impact of root zone pH on productivity. The optimal
pH range for most crops is between 5.5 and 6.5. Outside
of this range, micronutrients become less available to the
plants and can lead to deficiencies in the crop.
In our area, native soils tend toward the high side of
this range and high pH, alkaline irrigation water can exac-
erbate the problem further. In fact, more than half of the
tunnels in our project have soil pH higher than 7.0. High
Wild Garden Seed
Organic Vegetable and Flower Seeds from
Shoulder to Shoulder Farm
Ecological Crop Improvement For and By Farmers
www.WildGardenSeed.com
12 GROWING FOR M ARKET / JANUARY 2018
The author doing foliar testing on tomatoes in a high tunnel
as par t of her research. Photo by Judson Reid.
pH fertilizers and soil amendments also contribute to ris-
ing soil pH.
Best management practices for optimal pH will depend
on the native soil and water pH as well as the level of tech-
nology available to the grower. The first step is to keep
track of these values, as well as how they are changing over
time. Remember, pH is a logarithmic scale measuring the
concentration of hydrogen ions. Moving from pH 6 to 7
is actually a 10-fold change, while pH 6 to 8 is a 100-fold
change.
Root zone pH can be managed by acidifying irrigation
water with an injector throughout the growing season. In-
jecting acid can slowly decrease the soil pH or prevent it
from increasing further depending on the native soil and
amendments used in the tunnel. Injecting either citric or
sulfuric acid from day one can help soil pH levels from be-
coming unmanageably high, and when used consistently
has been shown to reduce soil pH tests 0.3 in one season.
High pH soils can also benefit from a fall application of
elemental sulfur. We have observed an average decrease
in soil pH of 0.5 where elemental sulfur was applied the
preceding fall. Leaving the plastic off for a period of time
when re-covering a tunnel may positively impact high pH
tunnel soils, because precipitation is naturally slightly
acidic.
Check the pH of any compost or fertilizer before apply-
ing in the tunnel and carefully weigh the benefit of each
material against its potential impact on soil pH. It might
not be worth it!
Adding organic matter
Given the intensive nature of high tunnel growing, the
experienced growers in the roundtable meeting stressed
the importance of incorporating organic matter back into
high tunnel soils to maintain soil health and productivity.
Whether the tunnel is in production year round or left fal-
low for part of the year, maintaining organic matter levels
requires intentional action. There are a number of effec-
tive methods, and some pitfalls to be avoided.
Many growers use an organic material such as straw
mulch in the aisles between rows. This provides a pleasant
surface for working in the high tunnel, and can be turned
in at the end of the season to decompose. Peat moss is an
amendment growing in popularity due to its affordability
and low pH level. Peat moss also does not contribute addi-
tional nutrients like compost. Many growers rely on com-
post as a source of organic matter, but it should be tested
for pH, salt level and nutrient content prior to application.
Remember, the benefit of additional organic matter may
not outweigh the consequences of increasing phosphorus,
calcium and pH levels.
Cover cropping is another way to incorporate organic
matter in high tunnel soils. Growers who use their tunnels
seasonally have been the most interested in cover crops
because it provides a beneficial alternative to leaving the
tunnel soil bare and dry throughout the winter. In tun-
nels that have been typically cropped year-round, it can be
difficult to sacrifice the amount of time needed to grow a
cover crop. But as organic matter levels drop and soil tilth
suffers, growers are increasingly interested in trying it out.
One grower told us he planned to put a picnic table in the
cover cropped tunnel as a pleasant space for customers to
relax during the cold winter months, but most will want to
keep people out to prevent compaction or damage to the
cover crop.
Foliar testing
Foliar testing is key for making sure your crop is get-
ting the necessary nutrients from the soil or fertility
amendments and avoid overloading high tunnel soils with
excessive inputs. Growers who participated in our project
report that foliar testing has changed how they view high
tunnel fertility management, and is worth the time and
cost. They especially noticed a benefit from the first sea-
son of foliar testing to the second. One grower said, “Last
year when my foliar tests came back deficient, I had to
order a product and wait 2 weeks. This year I had every-
THE PREFERRED SEEDBED PREPARATION TOOL OF
PROFESSIONAL MARKET GARDENERS.
Gently level and lightly compact
seedbeds without disrupting soil structure with the Power Harrow.
With other attachments, BCS will till, make raised beds, shred cover crops, blow snow, and more!
All-gear driven. Front & rear mount attachments. Lifetime transmission warranty.
Find your local dealer or request a catalog at: www.bcsamerica.com
thing I needed on hand so I was prepared to respond when
levels started dropping.”
Foliar testing your crop will give you an inside look at
how your plants are doing before symptoms arise. Start
foliar sampling two weeks post-transplant and submit a
sample every 2-3 weeks throughout the growing season.
Just collect 5-10 of the youngest fully mature leaves from
one variety and send them to a lab for nutrient analysis.
Check with your local Cooperative Extension office for
reputable labs in your state. The lab should provide you
with macro and micronutrient levels and recommended
ranges for each nutrient.
Final thoughts
Sustaining long-term soil health and fertility in a high
tunnel is a balancing act, especially when the high tun-
nel cannot be fallowed or relocated. This research project
has shown that early adopters of high tunnels encounter
a range of problems related to soil health and fertility af-
ter several years of production, but remediation is possible
with a combination of the practices described in this ar-
ticle. Growers who have adopted these practices from day
one have successfully avoided many of the challenges, and
growers with declining productivity have successfully re-
versed trends in nutrient build up and rising pH in their
high tunnel soils.
The authors work for the Cornell Vegetable Program. This
information is the result of a multi-year project they are
carrying out, supported by the New York Farm Viability
Institute in collaboration with NOFA-NY.
NEW!
FREE BROADFORK
with purchase of
Power Harrow
attachment.
GROWING FOR M ARKET / JANUARY 2018 13