Todd Fitchette
Ali Montazar, a researcher with the University of California, wants to learn how drip irrigation in 80-inch spinach beds can help address downy mildew pressure. The study is also showing positive early results for water management and food safety issues. A UC study having a trifecta impact of disease management, food safety and water management.
University of California scientists at the Desert Research and Extension Center in Holtville, Calif., may be onto something more significant than just disease control with ongoing practices being studied in organic spinach.
The original thought was to test drip irrigation practices in organic spinach to help avoid the kinds of disease pressure brought on by sprinkler irrigation practices in the crop, according to Ali Montazar, an irrigation and water management farm advisor with the University of California Cooperative Extension in Imperial and Riverside counties.