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Precision Sprayer Cuts Down Pesticide Use

A significant part of organic farming is the reduction in pesticide use. However, pesticides are still needed to keep pesky, hungry insects off our growing fruits and vegetables. ARS scientists have created a state-of-the-art machine that can reduce pesticide use between 30 and 85 percent! This laser guided “precision sprayer” evaluates the size, space, and density of the plants or trees and only sprays where needed, cutting down the amount of overspray that occurs when farmers apply pesticides to their fields.

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Organics
Black plums, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, sweet cherries, avocado, navel orange, and red grapes.
Photo by Stephen Ausmus, ARS.

Want to know how to eat better and maintain a healthy diet?

Nutrition experts Dr. Patrice Armstrong and Colleen Sideck, from the National Agricultural Library's Food and Human Nutrition Information Center, answer questions and provide tips and resources for eating better and maintaining a healthy diet.

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Nutrition Corner
An African American girl sitting at a desk holding a mobile phone while writing notes
Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock

Healthy eating is healthy living! Find fun, healthy eating tips for kids and teens on Nutrition.gov’s Online Tools and Kids’ Corner pages. Use the games, activities, videos, and apps to make learning about nutrition easy, entertaining, and enjoyable.

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Nutrition Corner
Two bowls of oatmeal topped with blueberries and strawberries surrounded by sliced kiwi fruit.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash.

Fiber that we eat is known as dietary fiber and it comes mostly from plants. It is important to eat fiber even though our bodies are unable to break it all down during digestion. Dietary fiber strengthens the muscles that keep food moving through our bodies and helps move waste out of our body. Foods that include dietary fiber are whole grains such as barley, brown rice, oatmeal, popcorn, whole wheat, beans and peas, vegetables, nuts and seeds, and most fruits.

For more information about fiber, visit the National Agricultural Library website: https://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/fiber

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Nutrition Corner
Pumpkin pancakes with pecan nuts, honey and cup of coffee on white table.
Photo courtesy of iStock.

Did you know that starting the day with a healthy breakfast can help you stay focused and energized while learning? Choose snack options with vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and protein to maximize the healthy eating benefits. Visit Nutrition.gov for healthy breakfast recipes to enjoy with your family. 

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Nutrition Corner
A young Asian boy eating yogurt
Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Did you know healthy snacks can give you energy when you are hungry between meals? Power up with snacks like low-fat yogurt, baby carrots with hummus (bean dip), fruit and nut trail mix, or sliced banana with peanut butter. Visit the Kids in the Kitchen page on Nutrition.gov for tips and recipes for healthy snacking.

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Nutrition Corner
A bowl of broccoli, butternut squash chunks, tomatoes slices, seeds, peppers and other vegetables.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash

Many people are choosing to eat plant-based meals to compliment a healthy lifestyle. However, not all plant-based foods are healthy choices. With some planning, it is easy to combine plant-based foods throughout the day that contain important nutrients like protein, vitamins, and minerals. Pre-planning your meals can help you meet your daily nutritional needs based on your age, weight, and amount of physical activity. A good way to get started on planning healthy plant-based meals is to visit the Nutrition.gov website: https://www.nutrition.gov/topics/basic-nutrition/eating-vegetarian

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Nutrition Corner
Foods containing probiotics including tempeh, kombucha, sauerkraut, pickles, kefir, yogurt, miso soup, soft cheese, sourdough bread
Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Did you know 100 trillion bacteria live in your digestive system? Bacteria can enter the digestive system through your mouth and travel to your throat, stomach, and intestines, or gut. The bacteria that live and work together to keep you healthy are called the “gut microbiota.” They help the body break down food, absorb vitamins and minerals, and protect us from getting sick.

We all have bacteria in our body. The food that you eat affects the types of bacteria that live inside of you. Here are four science-based ways to improve the healthy bacteria in your body.

  1. Fiber: Find it in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.
  2. Water: Enjoy it plain, carbonated, or mixed with fruit.
  3. Probiotics: Get healthy bacteria from yogurt, sauerkraut, tempeh, pickles, and sourdough bread.
  4. Prebiotics: Feed healthy bacteria foods like oatmeal, asparagus, bananas, onions, and beans.

Learn more about the digestive system and health on Nutrition.gov.

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Nutrition Corner

Resource Material

Plant Growth and Root Development

Caliche

Caliche is a shallow layer of soil or sediment in which the particles have been cemented together by mineral matter. Also known as calcrete, hardpan, and duricrust, this layer is a common feature in arid or semiarid areas throughout the world. In the United States, caliche is a familiar deposit in many parts of the Southwest, especially Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas. Caliche results from minerals precipitated in soils where evaporation exceeds precipitation, as found in arid regions. The cement is usually calcium carbonate; however, cements of magnesium carbonate, gypsum, silica, iron oxide, and a combination of these materials are known. In some locations there are multiple ancient caliche layers.

Caliche is often a challenge to agriculture. It interferes with proper soil drainage, the formation of plant roots, and it also can contain soluble minerals that are not beneficial to plants. The impermeable caliche prevents plant roots from penetrating to deeper soil layers, which limits the supply of nutrients, water, and space, making it difficult for the plants to develop normally.

The Plant Growth and Root Development project was brought to you by the Great Basin Rangelands Research Unit in Reno, NV. 

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Projects

Plant Growth and Root Development

Water is a critical element for plant growth, but certain soils or sediments can actually block water from getting to the deeper soil layers. For example, caliche is a hard, shallow layer of soil often found in the southwest and other arid and semiarid parts of the world. Caliche inhibits water from reaching the deeper soils, making it harder for plants to grow. It also prevents roots from reaching the deeper soils, depriving the plant of nutrients. Consequently, this “barrier” could stunt a plant’s growth, or cause the plant to wilt and die. (See Appendix A for more information)

About the Experiment

For this experiment, we’re going to test the effect a hard soil layer has on plant growth and root development.

Details

  • Ages - 10+
  • Time - 1 hour set up - a few minutes a day for 3+ weeks
  • Difficulty - Easy/moderate

 What You'll Need

  • 3 clear plastic cups (e.g. Solo cups)
  • 3 non-clear plastic cups
  • Potting soil (Small bag, 6-8 qt.)
  • Wheatgrass or cat grass seed (100 seeds, available online or at local pet store)
  • Piece of cardboard
  • Baking soda
  • Duct tape
  • Measuring cups
  • Drill & small bit

Let's Do This!

Step 1. Drill 3 small holes in the bottom of 3 clear plastic cups. (Have an adult help with this step for safety).

Step 2. Cut 2 pieces of cardboard so it fits tightly about 1.5” from the top of one clear cup (cup with holes). Trace the opening of the cup and cut 1/4” inside the line.

Make sure the cardboard fits tightly. Mark where the cardboard is on the cup, remove cardboard and fill up to the line with soil. Place cardboard on top of the soil.

Step 3. Using duct tape, tear skinny strips and place around the edge of the cardboard to seal to the cup. Make sure to only cover edges of the cardboard with tape.

 

Step 4. Fill the cup with soil ½” from the top (label this “Cup 1”). Repeat the process, but place cardboard about 3” (halfway) from the top of the second cup.

For a tight fit, trace the top of the cup and cut cardboard 1/2” inside line. (label this “Cup 2”).

Fill 3rd clear cup ½” from the top with soil (No cardboard) (Label this “Cup 3”).

Place the cups inside 3 non-clear cups.

Step 5. Pour ½ cup water in each cup. Wait 1 minute and pour another ½ cup of water in each cup. OBSERVE: Which cup has standing water after a minute? Record answer on data sheet.

Step 6. Place 30 grass seeds in each cup and cover with 1/8” soil. Gently add a little more water to wet topsoil. 

Let seeds germinate and grow for 1 week.





 

Let’s Look At The Results!

After 1 week count the number of plants in each cup and measure the tallest blades of grass in each cup.

Remove clear cups from non-clear cups and observe the amount of water in the non-clear cup. Which cup has the most?

Observe the amount of roots in the clear cups. Are the roots below the “caliche” layer? Which cup has the most roots? Record your answers and observations on the data sheet.

After 1 week, add ¼ cup water to each cup. Do Not add any more water.

Observe how many days till plants in each cup wilt (may take a week or more) and record answers on data sheet.

 

Record any other observations you have during the experiment on the data sheet.

Finally, summarize what you think occurred in your experiment and why based on the observations you made and the data you collected.

Topic

Projects
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