Soil health and food nutrient quality: Rodale’s research
Crop quality includes the nutrients and plant compounds in food. Rodale studies how management connects soil health with vegetable composition.
A long-term vegetable trial
The Pennsylvania Vegetable Systems Trial began in 2016, comparing organic and conventional production with intensive or reduced tillage. Potatoes, sweetcorn, green beans, winter squash and lettuce are assessed for soil indicators, composition, yield and other functions.
What nutrient quality means
Assessment considers individual constituents, which may include minerals, protein, phenolics and carotenoids. Comparisons by component reveal which aspects change with management and storage.
A winter-squash example
Rodale’s 2022 results for Waltham butternut squash showed higher phosphorus, sulphur, copper, zinc, total protein and phenolics in organic treatments. Potassium, magnesium, calcium and iron did not differ significantly. Conventional squash had higher measured carotenoids and sugars.
Composition after harvest
During storage, phenolics decreased while carotenoids and sugars increased. Assessments therefore need both cultivation and sampling-stage records; harvest composition can differ after weeks of storage.
Biology and nutrition
Soil organisms decompose organic matter and cycle nutrients, influencing the environment in which plants feed and grow. The Soil Biology Primer describes these connections.
Our field work
We aim to connect soil microbiology with olive nutrition and fruit and oil quality, recording changes after applications following our School training.