Written by Sarah Gafner-Bergeron, Washington State University, June 1st, 2026
Washington State University’s Tree Fruit Long-Term Agroecological Research and Extension (LTARE) Sites were featured in the Good Fruit Grower’s April 2026 soils and weed management issue.
The soil health LTAREs at WSU’s Sunrise Research Orchard consist of three separate trials. Trials 1 and 3 investigate practices to reduce variability, conserve water, and buffer environmental stress with organic matter applications. Trial 2 investigates soil amendment-based strategies designed to mitigate apple replant disease.
The treatments for the Trial 1 and Trial 3 include a mulch treatment, a high-carbon treatment, an integrated organic treatment, and a standard treatment in both Skeena cherries and Honeycrisp apples. Trial 2 explores brassica seedmeal and anaerobic soil disinfestation as organic alternatives to fumigation for treating replant disease in orchards. The LTARE distinguishes itself from previous experiments because it is designed to last the entire lifespan of an orchard, while most soil health research experiments are constrained by time and only last two to four years.
To learn more about the treatments and trials, read the article “Mulch Makeover” at the following link and visit the Tree Fruit Soil Health LTARE website.
Upcoming Events
The trials are showcased at the annual Sunrise Research Orchard field day, planned this year for September 23, 2026.
Contact
Sarah Gafner-Bergeron
Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center
Washington State University
s.gafner-bergeron@wsu.edu
(802) 777 – 0133
Funding and acknowledgements
We wish to thank the Washington Soil Health Initiative and the WSDA Specialty Crop Grant Program (Grant #15423) for funding this project.
Additional information
Mulch Makeover Article Good Fruit Grower
Washington Soil Health Initiative Website
Washington Tree Fruit Long-Term Agricultural Research and Education Site Launched
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