Source: NAVAJO NATION TRIBAL GOVERNMENT, THE submitted to
SEEKING FOOD AND ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY WITH SUCCULENT PLANT SPECIES IN THE HIGH DESERT OF THE NAVAJO NATION.
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0230923
Grant No.
2012-38424-19746
Project No.
ARZW-2012-02316
Proposal No.
2012-02316
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
ZY
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2012
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2016
Grant Year
2012
Project Director
Litson, B.
Recipient Organization
NAVAJO NATION TRIBAL GOVERNMENT, THE
1 CIRCLE DR
TSAILE,AZ 86556-9998
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Succulent plants, such as Agave, Opuntia, and Yucca species, which were important to the Navajo people for generations, but whose use has declined over the years, offer opportunities to adapt food and energy needs in the face of a increasingly warmer and drier climate. We hypothesize that certain Agave, Opuntia, and Yucca species will be suitable food and bioenergy crops for production in the extreme environmental conditions of the high desert of the Navajo Nation. As our first objective, students will evaluate several species in these genera to determine their survival and productivity under field conditions. The second objective is for students to determine the drought-stress tolerance of several species with a greenhouse-based irrigation system. The third objective is to incorporate this project into field labs and activities of environmental science/biology courses at Dine College. Anticipated outcomes, which will address NIFA priority science areas, include 1) training of students in environmental and agricultural techniques to position them for career development, 2) preparation of students to continue their education at four-year universities, 3) increased domestic food security through the evaluation of culturally appropriate, stress-tolerant succulent crops with purported health benefits, 4) development of sustainable bioenergy through the characterization of productivity of high-biomass succulent crops that will allow for adaptation and mitigation of agriculture and natural resources to global climate change, and 5) increased transmission of cultural heritage and values between tribal elders and youth.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1020420105010%
1020430105010%
2050420105020%
2050430105020%
2060420105010%
2060430105010%
2065010105020%
Goals / Objectives
We hypothesize that select accessions of Agave, Opuntia, and Yucca plants will be suitable food and bioenergy crops for production in the extreme environmental conditions that characterize the high desert of the Navajo Nation. As our first objective, students at Dine College, in collaboration with students at New Mexico State University and Brigham Young University, will evaluate several Agave, Opuntia, and Yucca species to determine the survival and productivity of species at different sites that characterize the highly variable environmental conditions of the high desert found within the Navajo Nation. The second objective is for the students to determine the drought-stress tolerance of a subset of the field-site-evaluated species with an automated irrigation system, based on the design of Van Iersel et al. (2006), under greenhouse conditions. The third objective of this project is to incorporate this project into field labs and projects for four 4-credit courses taught by Prof. Margaret Mayer in the Science and Physical Education program at Dine College, including BIO 184 (Plant Biology), ENV 101 (Environmental Science), ENV 105 (Climate Change), and ENV 230 (Ecology: Sampling & Monitoring). A clear and important need exists to secure environmentally and ecologically sustainable sources of food and bioenergy due to the vulnerability of the Navajo Nation to erratic shortages and price spikes in both food and gasoline. Restoring traditional uses and developing innovative uses of native succulent species not only provides opportunities to develop cultural linkages between older and younger generations, but also a means of maximizing economic and ecological sustainability. Unlike the Midwestern U.S., the Navajo Nation cannot be characterized as a climate with abundant precipitation or an edaphic environment with high fertility. Instead, the region has a notable amount of marginal land and sunlight. With adequate irrigation, fertilizer, and other resource inputs, most conventional crops, such as corn (Zea mays), can be grown in the region, but without supplemental irrigation or fertilizer, they will quickly perish We postulate that after a period of establishment, a select number of Agave (A. utahensis, A. parryi, A. palmeri, and A. weberi), Opuntia (Opuntia engelmanii, O. ficus-indica, O. polyacantha), and Yucca (Yucca baccata) species will exhibit high productivity as both food and energy crops under field conditions representative of marginal lands in the Navajo Nation.
Project Methods
Study will take place at the Dine College (DC) Shiprock, NM; Tsaile, AZ; and Tuba City, AZ will be selected and prepared by DC students enrolled in ENV 230 in the fall of 2012. March 2013, vegetative offsets of Agave, Opuntia, and Yucca species will be established in field plots by students enrolled in ENV 105. Plant material will be purchased from regional nurseries. The undergraduate students from NMSU and BYU will provide additional assistance. To facilitate comparisons at intergeneric and interspecific levels, and account for inherent environmental variation at the field site, plants from each species from the three genera will be arranged in a randomly complete block design, each replicated 10 times (n = 10) and planted on 1-m centers. After a month of establishment with supplemental drip irrigation and fertilization, the experiment will be initiated in April 2013 and conducted over two growing seasons. Besides the treatments, which will be species and genus, all other variables will be held constant. Measured variables include leaf number, plant height, plant width, leaf area index, leaf water potential, final dry weight, nocturnal increases in acidity (used to calculate EPI), and number of surviving plants at the end of each growing season. Measurements will be made by DC interns and studnets and NMSU and BYU undergraduate students. Annual growth will be measured by measuring leaf length along the upper surface at the beginning and end of the experiment. These parameters will be used to calculate an environmental productivity index etc based on the methodology of Nobel and Valenzuela (1987). In October 2012 a companion experiment will also be initiated at the greenhouse in Tuba City conducted by students enrolled in DC BIO 184 to determine the effects of water stress on each species evaluated in the field-based experiments. The difficulty of imposing consistent levels of drought stress on plants in the field, an automated irrigation system will be used to impose water stress on the plants established in containers. The experimental design will be a completely randomized design. Each species will be replicated at least three times over the two-year period of the project. Each run will last for six months. Data will be analyzed through generalized mixed model analysis by DC student interns and students enrolled in ENV 230 using the R statistical software package. Dr. Stewart will train and guide students in conducting the statistical analysis. The project will prepare DC students for employment in academia, government, or industry. Evidence shown through completion of lab-based projects in the courses involved, the presentation of the results at a professional conference, and the publication of the results in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. These data will build a foundation for further developing strategies to adapt local agricultural and natural resources to global climate change. Also, the facilitation of dialogue between DC students and tribal elders in informational meetings at chapter houses and other venues will allow for the strengthening of transmission of cultural heritage and values.

Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/16

Outputs
Target Audience:The primary target audience during the project is the Diné College students who are enrolled into the Environmental Science courses, the Land Grant Student Internsand theLand Grant Office staff. Diné CollegeEnvironmental Science Programinstructor, Margaret Mayer, has made this research project applicable to several classes such as Plant Biology, Introduction to Environmental Science, and Climate Change for Indigenous People. Student are given assignments to collect data, analyze the data, and present their finidngs through presentation in class. This is usually conducted weekly as part of the Lab Section of the course. In addition, the findings or results of theresearch will benefit the entire Navajo Nation through shared knowledge and conducting presentationsthroughout the Navajo Communities, primarily in the Central Agency. Changes/Problems:Each of the outdoor plots were considered unsuccessful due to rabbit and prairie dog consuming much of the plants utilize for research. Prior to the research, the site should have been fenced with underground mesh fencing to avoid the damages. This is however a huge indication that the yucca and succulent species are high palatable to wildlife there by reducing the species in current rangelands. In addition, the disturbance of domestic animals contributing to the overgrazing of rangelands adds to the decrease of these species to be found in the current rangeland conditions. Problems included the improvement of communication between all partners. Each partnering institutions were both 8 hours from Dine College thereby making it difficult for the professors from Brigham Young University and New Mexico State University to co-teach with Dine College Instructors. However as we ventured forward on into the research communication seem to have strengthen but still with some suggested changes to improving how we can work together. Another problem was the complication of the irrigation and data logger system. While we enter into the final year of the research, we requested the partnering institutions to train Dine College students and staff of the usage of the research equipment. This includes the maintenance and set up of the irrigation system, circuit boards, data loggers, and programming. Through our request the accommodations were made. However, we have encountered a bigger issue with the circuit board getting to hot and burning the wires that feed the information. The Dine College Staff requested the power feeding the circuit box to be lowered in amperage to avoid frying the circuit board. For the most part, the data had been collect by hand monitoring and water application by the Land Grant Interns and Environmental Science Students. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The New Mexico State University and Brigham Young University partners have developed some training with Dine College staff and students as to data collection, yucca and succulent specie identification, and trying to train using the irrigation system and data logger. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?In this final year the staff and interns have been concentrating on trouble shooting much of the problems with in the irrigation system and data loggers. In addition, cleaning and taking apart the old system to be moved to another site for the new research project. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? A huge accomplishment is identifying the challenges with in the data collection system and understanding there is much need attention to improve this as we further move into new research grants. A second accomplishments is the establishment of a new research project that was funded in 2015 which will allow us to study the fiber of the various yucca species and nutritional content of the of yucca fruits. Students involved in the project learned to identify the succulent and yucca species used in the research. This year, as the final year, we have placed emphasis on identify the weaknesses in the research and making the necessary adjustments to the new research project. In addition, a lot of the time toward the end of the summer was concentrating on cleaning up the site utilized for the research and ensuring that it is left in the condition of when the research started. This included making changes to the irrigation system and carefully moved so that it can be reused in future research projects. Other areas are making sure that the hoop house used was also cleaned and mended to meet the needs of future projects by the Land Grant Office at Din A huge accomplishment is identifying the challenges with in the data collection system and understanding there is much need attention to improve this as we further move into new research grants. A second accomplishments is the establishment of a new research project that was funded in 2015 which will allow us to study the fiber of the various yucca species and nutritional content of the of yucca fruits. Students involved in the project learned to identify the succulent and yucca species used in the research. This year, as the final year, we have placed emphasis on identify the weaknesses in the research and making the necessary adjustments to the new research project. In addition, a lot of the time toward the end of the summer was concentrating on cleaning up the site utilized for the research and ensuring that it is left in the condition of when the research started. This included making changes to the irrigation system and carefully moved so that it can be reused in future research projects. Other areas are making sure that the hoop house used was also cleaned and mended to meet the needs of future projects by the Land Grant Office at Din A huge accomplishment is identifying the challenges with in the data collection system and understanding there is much need attention to improve this as we further move into new research grants. A second accomplishments is the establishment of a new research project that was funded in 2015 which will allow us to study the fiber of the various yucca species and nutritional content of the of yucca fruits. Students involved in the project learned to identify the succulent and yucca species used in the research. This year, as the final year, we have placed emphasis on identify the weaknesses in the research and making the necessary adjustments to the new research project. In addition, a lot of the time toward the end of the summer was concentrating on cleaning up the site utilized for the research and ensuring that it is left in the condition of when the research started. This included making changes to the irrigation system and carefully moved so that it can be reused in future research projects. Other areas are making sure that the hoop house used was also cleaned and mended to meet the needs of future projects by the Land Grant Office at Dine College. Long term accomplishments include the identification of vendors for the succulent and yucca species. These species were not easy to access or purchase therefore finding the vendors is very important for future references. College. Long term accomplishments include the identification of vendors for the succulent and yucca species. These species were not easy to access or purchase therefore finding the vendors is very important for future references. College. Long term accomplishments include the identification of vendors for the succulent and yucca species. These species were not easy to access or purchase therefore finding the vendors is very important for future references.

Publications


    Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/16

    Outputs
    Target Audience:The primary target audience during the project is the Dine College students enrolled into the Environmental Science course and the staff of the Land Grant Office. This research has been incorporated into several Dine College Environmental Science Courses within the Environmental Science Program. The instructor, Margaret Mayer, has made this research applicable to several classes such as Plant Biology, Introduction to Environmental Science, and Climate Change for Indigenous People. In addition the finding and research will benefit the entire Navajo Nation. The information and data gathered will be shared throughout the Navajo Communities, primarily in the Central Agency.? Changes/Problems:Each of the outdoor plots were considered unsuccessful due to rabbit and prairie dog consuming much of the plants utilize for research. Prior to the research, the site should have been fenced with underground mesh fencing to avoid the damages. This is however a huge indication that the yucca and succulent species are high palatable to wildlife there by reducing the species in current rangelands. In addition, the disturbance of domestic animals contributing to the overgrazing of rangelands adds to the decrease of these species to be found in the current rangeland conditions. Problems included the improvement of communication between all partners. Each partnering institutions were both 8 hours from Dine College thereby making it difficult for the professors from Brigham Young University and New Mexico State University to co-teach with Dine College Instructors. However as we ventured forward on into the research communication seem to have strengthen but still with some suggested changes to improving how we can work together. Another problem was the complication of the irrigation and data logger system. While we enter into the final year of the research, we requested the partnering institutions to train Dine College students and staff of the usage of the research equipment. This includes the maintenance and set up of the irrigation system, circuit boards, data loggers, and programming. Through our request the accommodations were made. However, we have encountered a bigger issue with the circuit board getting to hot and burning the wires that feed the information. The Dine College Staff requested the power feeding the circuit box to be lowered in amperage to avoid frying the circuit board. For the most part, the data had been collect by hand monitoring and water application by the Land Grant Interns and Environmental Science Students. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training conducted were through the usage of the data logger system, set up and design of irrigation system, set up and design of the research methodology, and several Brigham Young Univeristy and New Mexico State University on campus training. While the two universities had the technology and the equipment capabilities to conduct advance research the Dine College Student interns were able to visit the universities and learn about the various research equipment need in the research. A subcomponent to the research is identifying the species that could be viable for bioenergy therefore, Dine College Student interns were introduced to the equipment used to convert the plant by product into energy. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The findings were presented to several Chapter Community Meetings, Farm Board Meetings and workshops and conference held or hosted by the Dine College Land Grant staff. These events include the annual Food Sovereignty Conference, Navajo Agriclutural Expos, and the Navajo Farm Board Trainings. Due to the lost of most of the research crops the information disseminated were about the research and what some of the results were indicating. The crops being researched are know to be culturally significant therefore the project manager, Bryan Neztsosie ensure consultation by Navajo elders and medicine men. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? A huge accomplishment is the develoment of the research and the partnership established to enhance research education at Dine College. The research acomplishments include training Dine College staff and faculty to conduct applied research on campus. The research allowed Dine College faculty to incorporate the research into several of the Environmental Science Course offered at Dine College. The BYU partner, Bryan Stewart was able to conduct several lectures in the classes and conduct activities as labs. Other accomplishments include the development of the second research grant funded concentrating on Yucca species, specifically those that have survived in this particular research. The research also allowed the Dine College Land Grant staff to incorporate the results and findings into a youth education presentation for k-8 students as well as High School and College.

    Publications


      Progress 09/01/14 to 08/31/15

      Outputs
      Target Audience:The target audience during this project period were the Dine College Land Grant Interns and the Dine College Environmental Science Students. This particular research project has been incorporated into several of the Dine College Environmental Science Courses. Dine College Professor, Margaret Mayer, has developed several lessons to include this research. In addition, professors from both partnering insititution of Brigham Young University and New Mexico State University have conducted lectures around the native plants and climate change. Dine College Land Grant Student interns were introduced to scientific analysis using new technologies to collect data. Changes/Problems:The need to improve communication between project partners is critical. As we enter our final research year, we want to ensure that our students and staff recieve the necessary training of the usage of the research equipment. This includes the maintenance and set up of the irrigation system, circuit boards, data loggers, and programming. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Dr. Rolston St Hilaire gave a talk on ' Climate change: Impacts and adaptation strategies' at Dine College on March 24, 2015 to Ms Mayer's class. On March 9, 2015, the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences welcomed a group of students and their advisor, Bryan Neztsosie from Diné College in Tsailie, Arizona. The Navajo Nation established Diné College as the first tribally-controlled community college in the United States. Dr. Richard Pratt welcomed the students to PES and gave overview of PES academic and research programs. Other activities on the group's itinerary included a tour of PES research labs, a visit to the Fabian Garcia Science Center, tour of the NMSU campus, and a visit to the American Indian Programs at NMSU. Dr. Dave DuBois hosted an informal dinner session on climate programs in PES. J. Ryan Stewart of Brigham Young Univerisity served as a guest lecture on 13 November 2014 in Margaret Mayer's environmental science class on native succulent biology and how they can be used to address global climate change issues. On February 28, 2015, Bryan Neztsosie and several Dine College students were trained on how to use dataloggers and other environmental instrumentation related to the succulent project. Dine College students were also exposed them to educational opportunities at Brigham Young University. In April 2015, Mr. Stewart provide training and consulting on how to use the automatic irrigation system. In addition, Mr. Stewart provided consulting on how to use the automatic irrigation system throughout the year. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results of this research has been presented at Navajo Food Sovereignty Conference and gardening programs. Students and Staff have been able to visit Brigham Young University and New Mexico State University for training with the plant scientist at each institution. Student were able to see the state of the art research facilities and equipment needed to conduct necessary research in an effecient manner. In comparison to both Universities our research site is conducted in a hoophouse, with small solar units, daily monitoring of data logger and irrigation system. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Plans are to improve the data logging system that is not in operation. The electrical circuits is not compatable to our electrical system and needs adjustments. Dr. Ryan Stewart of Brigham Young University is expected to be on the Dine College Campus to work with Dine College Maintenance Department to determine the source of the problem on November 30, 2015. We anticipate that our major accomplishment for the next reporting periodis to ensure all equipment such as the data logger, circuits, and irrigation systems are all in operation and collecting critical data necessary.

      Impacts
      What was accomplished under these goals? This project has definately been very challenging in terms of working with project partners. Both Brigham Young University and New Mexico State University are more than a 7 hour drive to Tsaile, Arizona resulting in the difficulting to schedule travel. The Environmental Science course have develop labs around this research. Student are able to learn about all the species being research, its significant uses, collecting data and analyzing growth. Through the research we have determined that most of the native plants that are most common to the Navajo Nation have survived. These plants include Yucca Baccata, Agave utahensis, and Opuntia ficus-indica. The survival rate of the yucca species throughout this research has become the spotlight to our project due its significant usages, for food and fiber. This has resulted in the development of a new research project that will concentrate on characterization of the nutritional and fiber content of the yucca species. This research has allowed Dine College Students and Staff to be reminded of their traditional foods and natural diets. As a result cooking demonstration, preparation, and canning workshops were conducted. Local elementary schools have requested for presentations and demonstration for their students. This research has not only allowed students and staff to learn about the scientific experiences but to reconnect to eating and preparing traditional foods. Both project partners were able to come to the Dine College Campus and serve as guest lecturer for three Dine College Environmental Science Courses. Brigham Young Univerisity partners have also assisted with analyzing the research equipment and found some faulty wiring that has hindered the data logger to effeciently collect the necessary data.

      Publications


        Progress 09/01/13 to 08/31/14

        Outputs
        Target Audience: The target audience during the project is the Dine College Environmental Science students. The research has been incorporated into the Dine College Environmental Classes taught in the Environmental Science Program. The instructor who has incorporated the research into her classes is Professor Margaret Mayer. The course includes Plant Biology, Introducation to Environmental Science, and Climate Chage for Indigenous People. Changes/Problems: Changes included addtional monitoring of each outdoor plot sites due to the rabbit and praire dog problems that have consummed much of the plants used in the research. However, this has also proven that these plants are not only an edible food source for people but relied on from many wildlife species. The disturbance of domestic animals in overgrazed rangeland conditions has contributed to the reduction of succulent and yucca species. Slight mondification to the research design would be necessary. This may include fencing materials. Other changes maybe to improve the communication between the partnering universities to increase access to their expertise, improve curriculum development that could have been incorporated into the existing Dine' College Environmental Science Courses sooner. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Student and internship training have experience in applying the scientific method through setty up field-base experiments. Dine' College students learned sampling and monitoring methods, plant measurements over a given time period and accurately record the data on data sheets. BYU graduate students have provide some mentoring and training to Dine College Land Grant Interns in establishing the unique irrigation system that will mimic different envrionmental regimes. Dine College Land Grant Staff, Interns and Environmental Science students will be able to use the unique systems for future research. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The reintroduction of succulent and yucca species as a food source has been conducted through Food Sovereignty Conferences and hands-on food preparation demonstrations. This research results and findings will be presented in the communities at chapter house workshops, food sovereignty conferences, farmers markets, traditional food demonstrations, and developing new partnerships with local elders and traditionalist. Being able to share the traditional knowledge to be passed on to Dine College Students with the intention of educting todays youth to learn about traditional foods. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? To complete the greeenhouse research using the new irrigation method and data analyzer that has been developed. This research will have a controlled environment that will allow the understanding of plant growth, transplanting and reintroduction into the natural environments. Dessimination of the results will be conducted throughout the Navajo Nation to educate the people of results and the reintroduction of traditional foods into ones diet. Increase the general publics knowledge of the edible succulent and yucca plant species that were used historically in the past generations of the Dine' Peoples diets.

        Impacts
        What was accomplished under these goals? Two garden studies were established, one on the Tsaile Campus and one of the Shiprock Campus. Both sites continued to be monitored despite the mortality of most of the research plants. The Dine College students enrolled in the Plant Biology, Introduction to Environmental Science and Climate Change for Indegenous Peoples courses have been evaluating the productivity and survival of the succulent species. A greenhouse based irrigation system has been developed to provide a controlled environment to mimc the different environmental regimes. Currently the new plants are to be ordered to continue the research of a variety of succulent species. Currently working with traditional elders to learn about the traditional foods provided by succulent species or yucca species. Currently, student interns and staff have learned about the harvest and preparation of banana yucca fruit, its uses in traditional ceremonies. Students from the environmental science classes classes from semester to semester will be able to use the existing research to provide experiential learning in conducting research methodology, applied research, and develop projects for individual classes.

        Publications


          Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13

          Outputs
          Target Audience: The target audience during the project is the Dine College Environmental Science students. This research has been incorporated into the Dine College Environmental Classes taught by Professor Margaret Mayer. Course include Plant Biology, Introduction to Environmental Science, Climate Change for Indigenous People. Changes/Problems: There are no major changes however the greenhouse-based experiement is taking much longer than expected due to infrastructure of proper electrical components. Rabbits and Praire Dog starting to eat some of the plants used within the research. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The project has provided opportunities for BYU graduate students to provide mentoring and training to BYU and Dine College undergraduates in the development and installation of enviornmental instrumentation and electrical wiring. Undergraduates have also had experience in applying the scientific method through setting up filed-based experiements. Dine college students learned sampling and monitoring methods, how to make observations of the plants and do measurements over a time period, and accurately record the data on data sheets. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Research results will be dessiminated to project stakeholders through year two. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We plan on setting up the greehouse- based experiment and continuing measurements on the field-based experiments. We also plan to provide some class-base instruction to students at Dine College.

          Impacts
          What was accomplished under these goals? Objective One: Two common garden studies in the Tsaile, Arizona and Shiprock, New Mexico were set up in July 2013. The garden studies are to evaluate productivity and survival of several succulent species. Growth and survival has been monitored monthly. Objective Two: We set up a greenhouse-based irrigation system in the Tsaile campus of Dine College to monitor productivity of select succulent species as food and energy crops. Greenhouse-based experiement should be ready in the spring semester, after the completion of reducing electrical infrastructure. Objective Three: The students in the Dine College Environmental Science classes used the succulent study to provide experience in conducting research on an actual scientific study. Students learn the components of data collection, analysis, research design, and research methodolgy. Students applied the research into class project such as applying the study to climate change.

          Publications