Ellen Mallory
University of Maine, Cooperative Extension, Faculty Member
- University of Maine, School of Food and Agriculture, Faculty Memberadd
The market for high-quality organic bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is increasing in New England, USA, providing opportunities for organic dairy farmers to grow this alternative cash crop. Our objective was to determine the... more
The market for high-quality organic bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is increasing in New England, USA, providing opportunities for organic dairy farmers to grow this alternative cash crop. Our objective was to determine the sustainability of eight 3-year crop sequences compared with a perennial forage baseline in long-term (25-year), well-managed, medium-sized organic dairy farm simulations. Systems included wheat (spring or winter) preceded by maize (Zea mays L.) silage, a 1-year-old perennial forage grass, or soybean as well as maize silage followed by maize silage or soybean. Farm net return was highest for the entirely grass-based system (US$742.15 cow–1). Higher winter wheat yields for soybean–wheat–grass resulted in 7% more income from feed sales ($1027) than spring wheat. Soybean followed by wheat reduced soil nutrient accumulation by 0.8 kg ha–1 year–1 for phosphorus runoff and leachate losses and for potassium accumulation (–17%); there was also a 4% reduction in water f...
Research Interests:
Abstract Carbon in deeper soil layers may be more stable than that in surface soil due to differences in source, composition, and environmental conditions. We studied the effects of profile depth on soil organic matter (SOM) composition... more
Abstract Carbon in deeper soil layers may be more stable than that in surface soil due to differences in source, composition, and environmental conditions. We studied the effects of profile depth on soil organic matter (SOM) composition and stability by comparing soils which had received organic amendments since 1991 to non-amended soils from the same study. we used thermometric analysis and excitation-emission fluorescence spectroscopy to characterize total SOM as well as a highly labile fraction of soil organic carbon (SOC) ...
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Effective in-season weed management options are limited for organic cereal farmers. Two alternatives to current farmer practices are improving efficacy of physical weed control through use of interrow cultivation or increasing the... more
Effective in-season weed management options are limited for organic cereal farmers. Two alternatives to current farmer practices are improving efficacy of physical weed control through use of interrow cultivation or increasing the competitive ability of the crop through elevated seeding rates and more uniform spatial planting patterns. It is unknown how these two methods affect yield, quality, and economic returns. Field experiments were conducted in the northeast United States to determine whether the yield gain from increased weed control from these contrasting weed management strategies resulted in increased net returns and how these different systems affected grain quality. Wheat was planted at two seeding rates (400 and 600 plants m−2), in three row spacings (11, 18, and 23 cm). A fourth crop arrangement that approaches a more uniform spatial distribution through a combination of drilling and broadcasting seed was included. For weed control, treatments received tine harrowing. ...
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Potato acreage and total production in Maine have declined steadily since the 1960s. In 1991, a University of Maine research team established a large-scale, long-term, comparative study of three factors that form the foundation of... more
Potato acreage and total production in Maine have declined steadily since the 1960s. In 1991, a University of Maine research team established a large-scale, long-term, comparative study of three factors that form the foundation of productive potato cropping systems: soil management, pest management, and variety choice. This study, the Potato Ecosystem Project, included 96 main plots (5.8 ha total) and near-by “component studies.” The project contrasted amended vs. unamended soil management strategies; conventional vs. reduced-input vs. bio-intensive pest management strategies; and disease and stress susceptible vs. tolerant potato varieties. Given recent concerns over resistance to pesticides and increasing costs of agricultural chemical inputs, the reduced-input and bio-intensive pest management systems provided encouraging results. Weed growth was similar in the conventional and reduced-input systems. Colorado potato beetle thresholds were exceeded less often and their densities w...
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In October 2010, researchers, farmers and millers from Maine and Vermont, USA, organized a trip to Denmark, in order to learn about local bread wheat production, milling and use from their more experienced counterparts with climates... more
In October 2010, researchers, farmers and millers from Maine and Vermont, USA, organized a trip to Denmark, in order to learn about local bread wheat production, milling and use from their more experienced counterparts with climates similar to their own. They have received a grant over four years for the project antitled Enhancing Farmers’ Capacity to Produce High Quality Organic Bread Wheat in which they will carry out research, development and education to improve the production and quality of organic bread wheat in the two states.
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High yields and crop quality in organic small grain production can only be achieved through successful management of nitrogen. Experienced farmers and advisors in the Northeastern U.S. were asked to discuss the most pressing challenges in... more
High yields and crop quality in organic small grain production can only be achieved through successful management of nitrogen. Experienced farmers and advisors in the Northeastern U.S. were asked to discuss the most pressing challenges in organic nitrogen management for organic small grain systems, with a particular focus on legume green manures (LGMs). Eighteen semi-structured interviews with 12 farmers and eight advisors were conducted between December 2017 and March 2018. The farmers employed a range of materials and practices for fulfilling the nitrogen fertility needs of their crops, including LGMs, animal manures and organic fertilizers. Farmers and advisors identified cost, overdependence on external nitrogen sources, nitrogen source access, diversifying rotations, weed management and predicting nitrogen mineralization of organic residues as major challenges in nitrogen management. Results indicated that cost-effectiveness in nitrogen management is essential, but that farmers...
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High tunnel use for tomato cultivation is on the rise in the northeastern U.S. Use of high tunnels both extends the growing season and increases yield. Compost is frequently used in high tunnel tomato production to supply nutrients and... more
High tunnel use for tomato cultivation is on the rise in the northeastern U.S. Use of high tunnels both extends the growing season and increases yield. Compost is frequently used in high tunnel tomato production to supply nutrients and improve soil quality. While various studies have looked at the use of compost in field soils, fewer studies have assessed the effectiveness of compost in high tunnels, where both temperature and soil moisture may be relatively high. In this experiment, four finished composts from commercial producers in Maine were analyzed for nutrient content, pH, conductivity, lignin, and soluble C. A randomized complete block design with four replications was used to compare the four compost treatments with an unamended control and a control receiving inorganic nutrient in a field study. Composts were all added at the rate of 270 lb. of total N acre-1, while inorganic fertilizer was added at the rate of 100 lb. N acre-1. Tomatoes were grown in these treatments in c...
Abstract: Reading the Farm is a 2-to 3-day professional development program that brings together agricultural service providers from a range of agencies, with various expertise and levels of experience, to explore whole-farm systems and... more
Abstract: Reading the Farm is a 2-to 3-day professional development program that brings together agricultural service providers from a range of agencies, with various expertise and levels of experience, to explore whole-farm systems and sustainability through in-depth study of two case-study farms. Over 90% of past participants reported that the program has helped them be more effective service providers. In this article, we describe the program and draw on our experiences in three states to provide recommendations for future ...
Research Interests:
In October 2010, researchers, farmers and millers from Maine and Vermont, USA, organized a trip to Denmark, in order to learn about local bread wheat production, milling and use from their more experienced counterparts with climates... more
In October 2010, researchers, farmers and millers from Maine and Vermont, USA, organized a trip to Denmark, in order to learn about local bread wheat production, milling and use from their more experienced counterparts with climates similar to their own. They have received a grant over four years for the project antitled Enhancing Farmers' Capacity to Produce High Quality Organic Bread Wheat in which they will carry out research, development and education to improve the production and quality of organic bread wheat in the two states.
The market for high-quality organic bread wheat is increasing in New England, USA, providing opportunities for organic dairy farmers to grow this alternative cash crop. Our objective was to determine the sustainability of eight three-year... more
The market for high-quality organic bread wheat is increasing in New England, USA, providing opportunities for organic dairy farmers to grow this alternative cash crop. Our objective was to determine the sustainability of eight three-year crop sequences compared to a perennial forage baseline in long-term (25-yr) well-managed medium-sized organic dairy farm simulations. Systems included wheat (spring or winter) preceded by corn silage, a year-old perennial forage grass, or soybean as well as corn silage followed by corn silage or soybean. Farm net return was highest for the entirely grass-based system ($742.15/cow). Higher winter wheat yields for soybean-wwheat-grass resulted in 7% more income from feed sales ($1,027) compared to spring wheat. Soybean followed by wheat reduced soil nutrient accumulation by 0.8 kg/ha/yr for both P runoff and leachate losses and K accumulation (-17%); there was also a 4% reduction in water footprint (kg/kg FPCM). Growing winter wheat provides long-term environmental and economic benefits, although for spring wheat much of this benefit is lost. Use of corn silage in place of grass, winter/spring wheat, or soybean was less profitable. Most cropping system scenarios were less economically favorable compared to producing and feeding exclusively grass silage. However, the including soybean increased economic benefits.
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Abstract: Reading the Farm is a 2-to 3-day professional development program that brings together agricultural service providers from a range of agencies, with various expertise and levels of experience, to explore whole-farm systems and... more
Abstract: Reading the Farm is a 2-to 3-day professional development program that brings together agricultural service providers from a range of agencies, with various expertise and levels of experience, to explore whole-farm systems and sustainability through in-depth study of two case-study farms. Over 90% of past participants reported that the program has helped them be more effective service providers.
Abstract Carbon in deeper soil layers may be more stable than that in surface soil due to differences in source, composition, and environmental conditions. We studied the effects of profile depth on soil organic matter (SOM) composition... more
Abstract Carbon in deeper soil layers may be more stable than that in surface soil due to differences in source, composition, and environmental conditions. We studied the effects of profile depth on soil organic matter (SOM) composition and stability by comparing soils which had received organic amendments since 1991 to non-amended soils from the same study.
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Abstract Repeated, long-term additions of organic materials not only increase stocks of mineralizable soil N, but also bring about changes in soil characteristics that influence N dynamics. We conducted an aerobic incubation to explore... more
Abstract Repeated, long-term additions of organic materials not only increase stocks of mineralizable soil N, but also bring about changes in soil characteristics that influence N dynamics. We conducted an aerobic incubation to explore how soil amendment history affects the transformation and availability of recently added N. Soil was collected from plots under contrasting amended and nonamended soil management systems in a 13-yr cropping systems experiment.
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Managing soil quality is recognized as a cornerstone of maintaining crop production potential. Here we show that soil management that improves soil quality characteristics can also reduce year-to-year varia- tion in yields. Thirteen years... more
Managing soil quality is recognized as a cornerstone of maintaining crop production potential. Here we show that soil management that improves soil quality characteristics can also reduce year-to-year varia- tion in yields. Thirteen years of data from the Maine Potato Ecosystem Project were used to investigate the long-term effects of soil manage- ment, pest management, cultivar, and rotation in a
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Abstract Cover crop performance depends largely on management factors that must be customized to particular farm situations and, therefore, is suited for on-farm research, with farmers involved in both management and evaluation. Cover... more
Abstract Cover crop performance depends largely on management factors that must be customized to particular farm situations and, therefore, is suited for on-farm research, with farmers involved in both management and evaluation. Cover crop sequences that were successful in a research station study were tested over a variety of soils and management strategies in collaboration withfarmers. The two-year cover crop sequences consisted of a short-season crop followed by a cover crop in year one and corn in year two. The cover ...
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Abstract To study the effects of competition on growth and variability, dwarf marigolds (Tagetes patula) were grown in a greenhouse for 11 weeks,(1) individually in pots, and (2) at a density of 1500 individuals m− 2 in flats. Both... more
Abstract To study the effects of competition on growth and variability, dwarf marigolds (Tagetes patula) were grown in a greenhouse for 11 weeks,(1) individually in pots, and (2) at a density of 1500 individuals m− 2 in flats. Both sequential harvests and non-destructive measurements were performed weekly. Relative growth rate decreased over time for both crowded and uncrowded populations. The growth in d.
The amount and timing of nitrogen (N) availability are key considerations for manure-based systems, from both crop production and environmental standpoints. Standard manure application recommendations do not recognize N contributions... more
The amount and timing of nitrogen (N) availability are key considerations for manure-based systems, from both crop production and environmental standpoints. Standard manure application recommendations do not recognize N contributions after the third year following application, underestimating the longer-term N-release potential of manure. Also, while some have found mineralization of applied and soil N to be better synchronized with crop uptake in annually manured versus fertilized soils, there is the potential for end of season ...
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The Maine Potato Ecosystem study was initiated in 1991 in Presque Isle, Maine to examine the effects of different pest and soil management systems on the productivity, pest dynamics, soil characteristics, and economic viability of potato... more
The Maine Potato Ecosystem study was initiated in 1991 in Presque Isle, Maine to examine the effects of different pest and soil management systems on the productivity, pest dynamics, soil characteristics, and economic viability of potato production. Although the specific rotations in the study changed in 1999, the study has maintained a comparison between two contrasting soil treatments: Amended, which receives manure, compost, and supplemental fertilizer versus Unamended, which receives only fertilizer. By 2004 Amended plots had ...
In October 2010, researchers, farmers and millers from Maine and Vermont, USA, organized a trip to Denmark, in order to learn about local bread wheat production, milling and use from their more experienced counterparts with climates... more
In October 2010, researchers, farmers and millers from Maine and Vermont, USA, organized a trip to Denmark, in order to learn about local bread wheat production, milling and use from their more experienced counterparts with climates similar to their own. They have received a grant over four years for the project antitled Enhancing Farmers' Capacity to Produce High Quality Organic Bread Wheat in which they will carry out research, development and education to improve the production and quality of organic bread wheat in the two states.
Increasing industrialization of agriculture has decoupled crop and livestock production and encouraged individual farmers to specialize in one or the other (Naylor et al., 2005). Consequently, crop farmers rely on purchased inorganic... more
Increasing industrialization of agriculture has decoupled crop and livestock production and encouraged individual farmers to specialize in one or the other (Naylor et al., 2005). Consequently, crop farmers rely on purchased inorganic fertilizers to meet crop nutrient needs, while livestock farmers import feed nutrients and often do not have enough land to avoid excessive applications of manure nutrients.
Cambridge Journals Online (CJO) is the e-publishing service for over 270 journals published by Cambridge University Press and is entirely developed and hosted in-house. The platform's powerful capacity and reliable performance are... more
Cambridge Journals Online (CJO) is the e-publishing service for over 270 journals published by Cambridge University Press and is entirely developed and hosted in-house. The platform's powerful capacity and reliable performance are maintained by a combination of our own expertise ...
Go to AGRIS search. Bibliography of cultivated amaranths (1990). Forage and grain for livestock, 1919-1988: 134 citations with abstracts. Mallory, E. Corporate author, Rodale Research Center. Publisher, The Center, Kutztown, Pa. (USA).... more
Go to AGRIS search. Bibliography of cultivated amaranths (1990). Forage and grain for livestock, 1919-1988: 134 citations with abstracts. Mallory, E. Corporate author, Rodale Research Center. Publisher, The Center, Kutztown, Pa. (USA). Date of publication, 1990. ...
Go to AGRIS search. Bibliography of cultivated amaranths (1990). Vegetable amaranth and leaf protein concentrate, 1886 to 1988: 297 citations with abstracts. Mallory, E. Corporate author, Rodale Research Center. Publisher, The Center,... more
Go to AGRIS search. Bibliography of cultivated amaranths (1990). Vegetable amaranth and leaf protein concentrate, 1886 to 1988: 297 citations with abstracts. Mallory, E. Corporate author, Rodale Research Center. Publisher, The Center, Kutztown, Pa. (USA). Date of publication, 1990. AGRIS Categories, ...
Go to AGRIS search. Try it! Bibliography of cultivated amaranths (1990). Germplasm: distribution, taxonomy, genetics, and breeding, 1848 to 1988 : 422 citations with abstracts. Mallory, E. Corporate author, Rodale Research Center.... more
Go to AGRIS search. Try it! Bibliography of cultivated amaranths (1990). Germplasm: distribution, taxonomy, genetics, and breeding, 1848 to 1988 : 422 citations with abstracts. Mallory, E. Corporate author, Rodale Research Center. Publisher, The Center, Kutztown, Pa. (USA). Date of publication, 1990. AGRIS Categories, ...
Go to AGRIS search. Try it! Bibliography of cultivated amaranths (1990). Human nutrition and food applications of grain amaranth, 1915 to 1988: 323 citations with abstracts. Mallory, E. Corporate author, Rodale Research Center. Publisher,... more
Go to AGRIS search. Try it! Bibliography of cultivated amaranths (1990). Human nutrition and food applications of grain amaranth, 1915 to 1988: 323 citations with abstracts. Mallory, E. Corporate author, Rodale Research Center. Publisher, New Crops Dept., Rodale Research Center, Rodale Press, Kutztown, PA (USA). Date of publication, 1990. AGRIS Categories, ...
Go to AGRIS search. Bibliography of cultivated amaranths: insects and diseases, 1924 to 1989 : 132 citations with abstracts. Mallory, E. Corporate author, Rodale Research Center. Publisher, The Center, Kutztown, PA (USA). Date of... more
Go to AGRIS search. Bibliography of cultivated amaranths: insects and diseases, 1924 to 1989 : 132 citations with abstracts. Mallory, E. Corporate author, Rodale Research Center. Publisher, The Center, Kutztown, PA (USA). Date of publication, 1990. AGRIS Categories, Pests of plants. AGROVOC English terms, ...
Go to AGRIS search. Try it! Bibliography of cultivated amaranths (1990). History and ethnobotany, 1904 to 1987: 98 citations with abstracts. Mallory, E. Corporate author, Rodale Research Center. Publisher, The Center, Kutztown, Pa. (USA).... more
Go to AGRIS search. Try it! Bibliography of cultivated amaranths (1990). History and ethnobotany, 1904 to 1987: 98 citations with abstracts. Mallory, E. Corporate author, Rodale Research Center. Publisher, The Center, Kutztown, Pa. (USA). Date of publication, 1990. AGRIS Categories, ...
Go to AGRIS search. Bibliography of cultivated amaranths (1989). Agronomic studies and production practices, 1919 to 1988: 192 citations with abstracts. Mallory, E. Corporate author, Rodale Research Center. Publisher, The Center,... more
Go to AGRIS search. Bibliography of cultivated amaranths (1989). Agronomic studies and production practices, 1919 to 1988: 192 citations with abstracts. Mallory, E. Corporate author, Rodale Research Center. Publisher, The Center, Kutztown, Pa. (USA). Date of publication, 1989. AGRIS Categories, Crop husbandry. AGROVOC English terms, ...