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Evaluation of Microbial Inoculants for Ohio Organic Vegetable Production

Picture of a buckeye leaf with Thompson Library far in the background.
February 27, 2015
All Day
3150 Smith Lab

Environmental Science 7899 – Issues in Environmental Sciences

Watch the live seminar remotely via CarmenConnect

Seminar Chair: Gil Bohrer, bohrer.17@osu.edu
Seminar Coordinators: Michelle Smith, straley.23@osu.edu; Yanting Guo, zhao.1093@osu.edu

Course Requirements

This course is graded S/U. Satisfactory participation in this course includes all of the following: 

  1. Attentive and active participation in lectures and discussion. 
  2. Attendance at all classes, with one excused absence. If you must miss more than one class, see Dr. Bohrer.
  3. Advance reading for any seminars for which it is required

Evaluation of Microbial Inoculants for Ohio Organic Vegetable Production

By Julie Laudick

Although organic farming prohibits the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides, growers have many biologically-based products at their disposal. Lab and greenhouse studies have revealed many ways in which beneficial microorganism can promote plant health, but little information is available on the efficacy and proper use of commercially available products. My thesis work will (1) identify which inputs are used most widely among certified organic growers in Ohio, (2) develop and pilot a protocol for the efficient evaluation of microbial products, and (3) create “best practice” guidelines for the application and testing of these products. These guidelines can then be scaled up for use by a network of organic growers, with the ultimate goal of providing access to more reliable information on microbial inputs.

Julie Laudick is a first year Environmental Science MS student in Matt Kleinhenz’s Vegetable Production Systems Lab. She completed a BS in Biology and a BA in Philosophy at Emory University, and her research interests include soil science, microbial ecology, and organic agriculture.