My dissertation research is part of a larger project aimed at improving sustainability of local food production in high tunnels, which are free-standing polyethylene structures under which crops are grown directly in the soil, often without supplemental heat, relying strictly on the sun to warm air and soil temperatures to extend the growing season. The increased temperatures, refuge from extreme weather, and often year-round production in the high tunnels create an environment that encourages pest pressures that are unique from either field or true greenhouse conditions, and thus require novel solutions.

The use of biological control is very appealing to high tunnel specialty crop farmers who strive to use low-input or organic practices. Many key pests in high tunnels have one or more soil-dwelling life stages, making entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) a candidate for their control. EPNs are minute, obligate parasites of insects found nearly ubiquitously in soil, but are produced commercially for augmentative biological control.

My research focuses on the compatibility and synergy of commercial EPN applications with other high tunnel management practices, such as ground cover for weed suppression and the use of trap crops for cultural control of pests, with the goal of providing recommendations to growers for effective use of EPNs and to gather a better understanding of their role and potential application among the unique insect communities in high tunnels.

This work is funded by the USDA NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative and NCR-SARE, in collaboration with a large team led by Dr. Laura Ingwell at Purdue. For additional information, see our project webpage.