Kevin Lombard

Healthy Gardens/Healthy Lives: Navajo Perceptions of Growing Food Locally to Prevent Diabetes and Cancer

Poor access to nutritious foods, departure from traditional diets, and reduced physical activity are associated with a rise in type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancers among the Navajo. Diabetes in particular is of concern because of its increased prevalence among Navajo youth. Gardening can successfully address issues of poor availability of fruits and vegetables and offer many other social and health benefits. Our assessment aimed to determine Navajo attitudes about gardening and health in San Juan County, New Mexico. We conducted seven focus groups (including 31 people) to assess knowledge and attitudes related to gardening and uncover barriers and facilitators to participation in a garden project. Each group session was moderated by two Navajo students. Transcripts revealed that many Navajo are aware of adverse health issues that occur on the reservation, predominantly obesity and diabetes. Participants expressed a preference for educational approaches that incorporated cultural traditions, respect for elders, use of visual aids, and experiential learning. Several social and agronomic barriers to gardening were also mentioned. Results suggested a broad interest in promoting gardening especially to reduce the risk of diabetes with the added value of enhancing social capital in Navajo communities.

Fly Ash and Composted Biosolids as a Source of Fe for Hybrid Poplar: A Greenhouse Study

Soils of northwest New Mexico have an elevated pH and CaCO3 content that reduces Fe solubility, causes chlorosis, and reduces crop yields. Could biosolids and fly ash, enriched with Fe, provide safe alternatives to expensive Fe EDDHA (sodium ferric ethylenediamine di-(o-hydroxyphenyl-acetate)) fertilizers applied to Populus hybrid plots? Hybrid OP-367 was cultivated on a Doak sandy loam soil amended with composted biosolids or fly ash at three agricultural rates. Fly ash and Fe EDDHA treatments received urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), biosolids, enriched with N, did not. Both amendments improved soil and plant Fe. Heavy metals were below EPA regulations, but high B levels were noted in leaves of trees treated at the highest fly ash rate. pH increased in fly ash soil while salinity increased in biosolids-treated soil. Chlorosis rankings improved in poplars amended with both byproducts, although composted biosolids offered the most potential at improving Fe/tree growth cheaply without the need for synthetic inputs.

Growth and Survival of Drip-Irrigated Hybrid Poplar in the Semi-Arid Four Corners Region

Abstract Rapid growth rates and versatility have made hybrid poplar (Populus L.) a common choice to fulfill timber and pulp needs in temperate regions with adequate precipitation. Hybrid poplar production in drier regions has recently received interest as an irrigated source of cut logs and shredded fiber. Ten hybrid poplar clones were selected from nurseries in Washington and Oregon to determine their growth potential and water-use requirements on a calcareous soil at the NMSU Agricultural Science Center in Farmington, NM. Planted in May 2002, the clones were evaluated for survival growth characteristics over two seasons. Clones 50-194 and 184-411 had poor survival and were not continued during the 2003 season. Clone OP-367 had low chlorosis ratings, the greatest height (4.16 m), basal diameter (9.16 cm), diameter at breast height (4.65 cm) and wood volume (2.87 m3 ha-1) during both seasons. A range of responses to environmental conditions of the Four Corners region was exhibited. Mid-season leaf greenness, as determined with a SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter, was a good predictor of growth characteristics. OP-367 appeared to be a potential candidate for inclusion in drip-irrigated wood production strategies for this and other arid/semi-arid regions of the world.

Climate-Based Coefficients for Scheduling Irrigations in Urban Xeriscapes

The decrease in water supply/demand ratios in the western U.S. is stimulating the regions municipalities to implement water conservation incentives. In response, many homeowners and businesses are replacing high water-using landscapes with drip-irrigated xeriscapes. Water-requirement information for the plant species that comprise these xeriscapes is lacking. Consequently, plants may still receive more water than necessary to sustain acceptable growth and appearance and water may not be conserved. The objectives of this project were to evaluate the growth and aesthetic quality of various drought-tolerant plants that have potential for use in urban landscapes of the western U.S. Intermountain zone under variable levels of microirrigation and then to formulate climate-based (Penman-Monteith reference ET), landscape coefficients (KL) or plant factors (PF) that may be used along with measurements of plant canopy area to develop effective irrigation scheduling recommendations for these plants. A xeriscape garden was split into four differentially irrigated sections (0, 20, 40, and 60% of reference ET) and at least one individual of more than 90 plant species were planted into each section. An average canopy area was used to adjust irrigation treatments and then actual plant canopy measurements were used to formulate PF for each species. While PF varied significantly between species, results indicate that an overall KL or PF of about 0.3 may be appropriate for water management planning on xeric landscapes.

Evaluation of the Penman-Monteith and other 34 reference evapotranspiration equations under limited data in a semiarid dry climate

Reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is an important parameter in hydrological, agricultural, and environmental studies. Accurate estimation of ETo helps to improve water management and increase water productivity and efficiency. While the Penman-Monteith ETo equation enjoys worldwide adoption as the most accurate ETo equation, the number of requested climatic variables makes its application very questionable under limited data conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the Penman-Monteith ETo equation under limited climatic data and 34 simple ETo equations that request few climatic variables. Five weather stations were considered under the semiarid and dry climate across New Mexico for the period of 2009–2017. The Penman-Monteith ETo equation showed good performance under missing solar radiation, relative humidity, and wind speed and could still be adapted under limited data conditions across New Mexico. However, it tended to underestimate daily ETo when more than one climatic variable data is missing. Among the simple ETo equations, four of the Valiantzas equations, along with the Makkink, Calibrated Hargreaves, Abtew, Jensen-Haise, and Caprio equations, were the best performing ones compared to the Penman-Monteith equation and could be the best alternative ETo estimation methods. These alternative equations could be used by irrigation managers, producers, engineers, and university researchers to improve water management across the dry semiarid and arid zone across New Mexico, as well as other semiarid areas where water is the most limiting factor to food and fiber production.

Gardening for Health: Patterns of Gardening and Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among the Navajo

American Indians, including Navajo, are disproportionately affected by obesity and diabetes, in part due to diet-related health behaviors. The purpose of this study was to assess the patterns of gardening and fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption among residents in two communities on the Navajo Nation in order to inform a community gardening intervention. We analyzed survey data collected from participants in the Yéego Gardening study conducted in two communities in the Navajo Nation (N = 169). We found that 51% of the sample gardened, and on average participants gardened 8.9 times per month. Lack of time (53%) and financial barriers, such as gas for transportation or irrigation (51 and 49%, respectively), were reported as barriers to gardening. Most participants reported low levels of self-efficacy (80%) and behavioral capability (82%) related to gardening. Those with higher levels of gardening self-efficacy and behavioral capability reported more frequent gardening. Average daily FV consumption was 2.5 servings. Most participants reported high levels of self-efficacy to eat FV daily (64%) and high behavioral capability to prepare FV (66%). There was a positive association between FV consumption and gardening, with those gardening more than 4 times per month eating about 1 more serving of FV per day than those gardening 4 or fewer times per month. Further research is needed to better understand how gardening can increase fruit and vegetable availability and consumption among residents of the Navajo Nation.

Yéego Gardening! A Community Garden Intervention to Promote Health on the Navajo Nation

Abstract:Background: Yéego Gardening! is a community garden intervention to increase gardening behavior, increase access to low-cost fruit and vegetables, and ultimately increase consumption in Navajo communities.Objectives: To design a theory-based, culturally relevant intervention with three components: a community garden, monthly workshops on gardening and healthy eating, and community outreach.Methods: Gardens were constructed and maintained in collaboration with community-based organizations in two Navajo communities. Monthly workshops were held throughout the growing season and incorporated aspects of Navajo culture and opportunities to build confidence and skills in gardening and healthy eating behaviors. In addition, program staff attended community events to promote gardening and healthy eating.Conclusions: Community input was essential throughout the planning and implementation of the intervention. If effective, community gardens may be a way to increase fruit and vegetable availability and intake, and ultimately reduce risk of obesity and diabetes.

IMPACT OF SEED EXPOSURE TO PLANT MATERIAL ON PLANT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT ON REMEDIATED ARID LANDS 1

Remediation of land following surface mining requires the re- establishment of critical soil, plant, and microbial interactions on which the long- term sustainability of the site hinges. Current surface mine remediation practices may utilize topsoil with or without shredded plant material to overlay spoil. We evaluated whether the presence of such plant material may affect initial plant fitness and thus plant establishment. Tests were carried out in a greenhouse under controlled, replicated conditions common during early stages of remediation. Responses to seed exposure to plant material were species dependent. Plant growth parameters were linked to properties associated with the seed hull and seed surface and to functions associated with shredded plant material added to topsoil. Confirming the nature of these properties, hypothesized as microbial in origin, will be important for understanding factors critical to reclamation and management of disturbed sites, where native biological functions have been suppressed or fragmented. In degraded arid environments, such functions may govern micro-scale interactions that influence macro-scale processes. Additional Keywords: land remediation, surface mine, plant fitness, non-specific inoculation

Risk Management Education in Southwest Medicinal Herb Production and Marketing in New Mexico: Assessing Grower and Potential Grower Outcomes after a Two-Day Workshop

A risk management educational program to help small-scale farmers of native medicinal herbs of the U.S. Southwest (SWH) was conducted. Topics included: balancing culture and commerce, species identification, value-added production methods, quality control and marketing, and financial planning. Participants were re-contacted 6 months later to assess follow-through. Only five participants applied risk management principles to their growing operation. Respondents indicated that the workshop series improved their understanding of managing risks associated with growing SWH, but the study highlighted differences between (1) existing specialty crop growers who are able to transition to producing SWH and (2) individuals only curious about SWH but not likely to grow these crops commercially.