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IMPACTS OF NITROGEN FERTILITY, SOILBORNE DISEASE, AND SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS ON DIVERSE SMALL GRAIN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST By LUCAS J. PATZEK A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY Department of Crop and Soil Sciences AUGUST 2012 © Copyright by LUCAS J. PATZEK, 2012 All Rights Reserved © Copyright by LUCAS J. PATZEK, 2012 All Rights Reserved ii To the Faculty of Washington State University: The members of the Committee appointed to examine the dissertation of LUCAS J. PATZEK find it satisfactory and recommend that it be accepted. Stephen S. Jones, Ph.D., Chair Lindsey J. du Toit, Ph.D. Jessica R. Goldberger, Ph.D. Carol A. Miles, Ph.D. Timothy C. Paulitz, Ph.D. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The assistance, support, and guidance of the following persons are acknowledged: My parents, who chanced a life in a foreign land removed from the comforts of family and their mother culture, and laid the spiritual and intellectual foundation without which I would not be who I am today. Their eternal love is my inspiration, challenging me to believe in the fundamental good of humanity, and avoid the many paths of ignorance. My sisters, who have journeyed with me through life as my best friends, and whose accomplishments warrant the greatest pride. My love, Sarah Szewczyk, who was patient and loving through thick and thin. My mentor and major advisor, Dr. Stephen Jones, who welcomed me into his re- search group, and instilled in me a profound respect for the history, ethics, and fundamental principles of biology. He trusted and challenged me in a traversal of disciplinary bound- aries, international boundaries, and the perfidious, self-erected boundaries of doubt and fear, and for that I am forever grateful. My committee members, who with great generosity and patience, took the time to teach me concepts and methods, advise me in my research, provide me with insights from the “real world” of applied science, and support me in my (occasionally wild) endeavors. The many WSU-CAHNRS and USDA-ARS faculty, researchers, and staff who opened the iv doors to their offices and labs, offered vital scholarly and material support, and provided me a congenial atmosphere in which to relate my sloppiest brainstorms and more refined thoughts. Carlo Leifert, Mohammed Almuairfi, Chris Seal, and Kirsten Brandt for warmly welcoming me as a visiting scientist to the School of Agriculture, Food & Rural Develop- ment, Newcastle University, UK. The Jones Lab, past and present, including Meg Gollnick, Steve Lyon, Kerry Balow, Kevin Murphy, Lori Hoagland, Jennifer Moran, Matt Arterburn, Glafera Janet Matangui- han, James Keach, Jeffrey Endelman, Karen Hills, Steve Hinton, Caitlin Price, and Brook Brouwer. The fantastic students of WSU Pullman, Mount Vernon, and Puyallup. Thank you. v IMPACTS OF NITROGEN FERTILITY, SOILBORNE DISEASE, AND SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS ON DIVERSE SMALL GRAIN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST Abstract by Lucas J. Patzek, Ph.D. Washington State University August 2012 Chair: Stephen S. Jones Small grains are grown in rotation with many temperate crops in the Columbia Basin and Puget Sound regions, functioning to improve the profitability of the cash crops. Dur- ing 2009-10, 45 isolates of Rhizoctonia spp. were collected from Columbia Basin fields in which onions were cultivated in sequence with cereal cover crops. Isolates were character- ized as R. solani AGs 2-1, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9; Waitea circinata; and binucleate Rhizoctonia spp. AGs A, E, and I. At 8–15◦C, stunting of onion was caused by isolates of AG 2-1, 3, 4, 8, E, and W. circinata. The most virulent isolates belonged to AG 8, confirming a possi- vi ble cereal-onion disease bridge, although one isolate each of AG 3 and E were also highly virulent. AG 2-1 and 3 isolates were of moderate virulence. During 2009-10 and 2010- 11, the influence of nitrogen (N) rate (0, 85, and 170 kg N/ha) and source (poultry feather meal and sulfur-coated urea) on the agronomic performance, flour quality, and phenolic acid (PA) content of four hard red winter wheat cultivars was assessed in Skagit County. Yields of up to 10.1 Mg/ha were realized, as were grain protein contents of 12 to 14%. High N rates reduced test weights up to 4%, but increased protein content by 1% on aver- age. Micro-SDS volumes averaged 10.6-12.7 cm3/g, values correlated in other studies with desirable loaf characteristics. Seven PAs were identified by HPLC in grain of the 2009- 10 cultivars, as were four ferulic acid dehydrodimers (DiFAs). N fertilization was only a significant source of variation for ferulic acid and DiFA concentrations. A mail survey was conducted of past, current, and prospective grain growers in the Puget Sound to assess their marketing strategies, information uses, and challenges. Although current growers rely on the commodity market, many were interested in direct-to-consumer markets. Product segmentation is limited by infrastructure, without which regional markets are difficult to access. Animal feed was the crop use of greatest importance. Compared with current grow- ers, prospective growers were more apt to value university- and Extension-based sources of production information, and to be guided by sustainable agriculture principles. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...................................................... iii ABSTRACT...................................................................v LIST OF TABLES............................................................. ix LIST OF FIGURES............................................................ xiv Chapter 1. Introduction...............................................................1 2. Stunting of onion caused by Rhizoctonia spp. isolated from the Columbia Basin7 2.1 Abstract..............................................................7 2.2 Introduction...........................................................8 2.3 Materials and methods................................................. 22 2.4 Results................................................................ 34 2.5 Discussion............................................................ 58 2.6 Acknowledgments..................................................... 67 3. Effect of nitrogen fertility on the agronomic performance, flour quality and phenolic acid content of hard red winter wheat in western Washington...... 68 3.1 Abstract.............................................................. 68 3.2 Introduction........................................................... 70 3.3 Materials and methods................................................. 80 3.4 Results................................................................ 92 3.5 Discussion............................................................ 117 viii 3.6 Acknowledgments..................................................... 134 4. Marketing strategies and information needs of small grain growers in the Puget Sound region of Washington State.................................. 135 4.1 Abstract.............................................................. 135 4.2 Introduction........................................................... 136 4.3 Methods.............................................................. 143 4.4 Results................................................................ 146 4.5 Discussion............................................................ 167 4.6 Acknowledgements.................................................... 172 5. Summary of findings and conclusions....................................... 173 BIBLIOGRAPHY.............................................................. 176 APPENDIX.................................................................... 222 A Stunting of onion caused by Rhizoctonia spp. isolated from the Columbia Basin................................................................. 222 B Effect of nitrogen fertility on the agronomic performance, flour quality and phenolic acid content of hard red winter wheat in western Washington 246 C Marketing strategies and information needs of small grain growers in the Puget Sound region of Washington State................................ 275 ix LIST OF TABLES Table Page 2.1 Rhizoctonia isolates obtained from three commercial onion fields in Mor- row County, OR in 2009 and 2010...................................... 36 2.2 ED50 estimate and maximum reduction ranges (low to high (mean)) modeled for the combined plant weight, height, and total root length re- sponses of 6-week-old onion seedlings inoculated with Rhizoctonia iso- lates and grown at 15◦C. Data for repeats of the experiment are shown in separate columns.................................................... 41 2.3 ED50 estimate and maximum reduction ranges (low to high (mean)) modeled for the combined plant weight, height, and total root length responses of 8-week-old onion seedlings inoculated with Rhizoctonia isolates and grown at 13/8◦C day/night temperatures. Data for repeats of the experiment shown in separate columns.............................. 45 2.4 Radial colony growth rate (mm/day) of Rhizoctonia isolates on agar medium at different temperatures (results of two experiments combined).a 57 3.1 Crop management, climatic conditions, and soil characteristics at two sites per crop year at the WSU Mount Vernon NWREC research farm during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 crop years............................. 84 3.2 Marginal means for the effect of nitrogen (N) source and rate on plant height, stem