Project Grant 20183842428527

THIS PROJECT CONTINUES AND EXPANDS ON THE WORK OF A NIFA-FUNDED PROJECT DESIGNED TO ENHANCE EXISTING GARDENING INITIATIVES ON ONE LOCAL NATIVE AMERICAN RESERVATION, AND PROVIDE AGRICULTURE SCIENCE EDUCATION TO NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS AT HASKELL INDIAN NATIONS UNIVERSITY AND WITHIN THE TRIBAL COMMUNITY.THE PRIMARY RESEARCH OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ESTABLISH THE BENEFITS AND COSTS OF IRRIGATION FOR SMALL SCALE VEGETABLE PRODUCTION ON THE KICKAPOO RESERVATION IN NORTHEAST KANSAS. THE TRIBE OPERATES THEIR OWN WATER UTILITY FROM A FRAGILE SURFACE WATER SOURCE, AND DURING PAST DROUGHTS HAS INSTITUTED A BROAD BAN ON OUTDOOR WATER USE. THIS PROJECT WILL DETERMINE THE BENEFIT: COST RATIO OF VARIOUS LEVELS OF SUPPLEMENTAL IRRIGATION, WHICH MAY INFLUENCE TRIBAL POLICY TO PRIORITIZE IRRIGATION FOR FOOD CROPS OVER SUCH USES AS LAWN WATERING AND CAR WASHING.THE PROPOSED IRRIGATION LEVELS WILL BE DESIGNATED AS HIGH, WHERE WATERING THREE TIMES A WEEK (MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY) WHEN RAINFALL HAS NOT EXCEEDED ¼ INCH SINCE THE PREVIOUS IRRIGATION. THE MEDIUM IRRIGATION LEVEL WILL WATER JUST ONCE PER WEEK, WHEN TOTAL RAINFALL THE PREVIOUS WEEK DOES NOT EXCEED ¼ INCH. THE CONTROL TREATMENT WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY SUPPLEMENTAL WATER AFTER THE INITIAL 2-WEEK ESTABLISHMENT PERIOD.A SECONDARY OBJECTIVE WILL BE TO INCLUDE THE KICKAPOO COMMUNITY GARDEN AND HASKELL INDIAN NATIONS UNIVERSITY IN THE KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY MASTER GARDENER VEGETABLE TRIALS. THIS MULTI-LOCATIONAL TRIAL HAS BEEN CONDUCTED FOR OVER 10 YEARS. THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING DURING THIS PROJECT, HASKELL STUDENTS AND KICKAPOO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL BE EMPLOYED TO CARE FOR THE GARDENS AND TO COLLECT RESEARCH DATA ON THE VEGETABLE CULTIVAR'S PERFORMANCE. THE STUDENTS WILL LEARN BASIC RESEARCH PROCEDURES, YIELD DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUES AND BASIC ANALYSIS.THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO LINK WITH AN EXISTING KICKAPOO COMMUNITY HEALTH INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE THE VALUE OF GARDENING AS A HEALTHFUL ACTIVITY AND SOURCE OF NUTRITIOUS, SAFE AND DELICIOUS FOOD. A NEW HIGH TUNNEL WILL BE BUILT AS PART OF THE KICKAPOO COMMUNITY HEALTH INITIATIVE, AND ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE PROJECT DIRECTORS OF THIS INITIATIVE. HASKELL'S EXPERIENCES OPERATING THEIR OWN SMALL GREENHOUSE, ALONG WITH THOSE MORE COMPLEX AND EXTENSIVE AT K-STATE WILL BE VERY INSTRUCTIONAL.