| definition |
- The mission of the Vegetable and Forage Crop Production Research Unit at
Prosser, Washington, is to develop economically and technically feasible,
integrated cropping systems for irrigated farming to improve the economic
returns, food/forage quality, and minimize environmental impacts. This will be
accomplished by development of (i) economically important germplasm that
improves resistance to pests, diseases, and physical stresses, enhances
nutritional value, processing qualities, and expands markets for these
commodities; and (ii) decision information systems to package the optimal
management of input resources including the nutrients, tillage, irrigation, and
pesticides to increase their efficiencies by minimizing the losses. Research is
underway to: (i) genetically improve alfalfa, beans, peas, and potatoes with
improved traits and food or forage value; (ii) to determine the cause and
control of various fungal and viral diseases of the above crops and the
economic impact of these diseases; (iii) to develop integrated cropping systems
for potatoes and legumes, to optimize the management of rotational crops,
irrigation, nutrients, pest control, weed control, tillage, residue management,
soil-water-plant relationships, soil nitrogen economies, and organic matter
cycles.
Website: "http://www.usda.prosser.wsu.edu/"
[Summary provided by the USDA.]
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