USDA grants $1M for Pennsylvania anaerobic soil research

By Blake Jackson

A Penn State-led research team has received a $1 million grant from the USDA to investigate anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) as a biological weed management solution for organic farming. ASD is a promising alternative to chemical soil fumigation, using microbial processes to suppress weeds, soilborne pests, and pathogens.

“Anaerobic soil disinfestation often referred to ASD is emerging as a broad-spectrum biological soil treatment for the management of soilborne pests and pathogens, including weeds,” said research team leader Francesco Di Gioia, associate professor of vegetable crop science in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

The project will focus on optimizing and integrating ASD into specialty crop systems in Pennsylvania, a region representative of the U.S. Northeast.

Researchers will evaluate ASD's efficacy in suppressing key weed species, its impact on soil-plant nutrient dynamics, the mechanism of suppression, and its influence on the soil microbiome.

Claudia Schmidt, Penn State assistant professor of marketing and local/regional food systems, will conduct an economic analysis of ASD. This will help identify obstacles to its adoption and assess its economic sustainability.

The grant is part of a larger USDA investment to advance research and extension activities in specialty crops and organic agriculture.

This funding aims to address key challenges faced by these sectors and support the transition to more sustainable farming practices.

In addition to Di Gioia and Schmidt, the research team includes Caio Brunharo, Francisco Dini-Andreote, Leah Fronk, and Glen Bupp from Penn State. Collaborators from other institutions include Erin Rosskopf, Jason Hong, and Natosha Finley.

This research has the potential to significantly enhance the profitability and sustainability of organic vegetable and other specialty crop production systems in Pennsylvania and beyond.

By providing a viable biological weed management solution, ASD can contribute to the growth of organic agriculture and reduce reliance on chemical inputs.

Photo Credit: penn-state-college-of-ag-sciences