Rodolfo Martinez Morales

Interests

Research

Tree, crop, and livestock production systems are not well integrated in most farming activities across the world, leading to negligible nutrient cycling, poor management, food insecurity, and widespread degradation of natural resources. To alleviate these problems, crop and livestock production must increase while preserving natural resources. Improved integration of the tree, crop, and livestock systems will not only increase productivity of the farming systems but will also promote recycling of residues, enhance efficient nutrient management, and foster integrated natural resources management. In Arizona, crop yields are low due to natural factors like aridity and drought common in desert environments; and socio-economic factors including poor soil management practices to maintain short and long-term nutrient pools; and lack of knowledge of desert systems and the biodiversity that is crucial to maintain ecosystem functions in agricultural environments. This issue will only become more aggravated as rising temperatures and increased incidence of drought affects the drylands of the western U.S. My extension program is focused on promoting knowledge and appreciation of the natural resources that are available in arid environments in order to improve soil health and crop production on farmer’s fields - a crucial endeavor to enhance the well-being of families and to increase earnings. My research is focused on promoting the cultivation of native legume trees, such as mesquite, within agricultural lands to maintain ecological functions, like long-term soil fertility through nitrogen (N) fixation and increased soil and organic matter retention to enhance carbon sequestration. Mesquite is a tree adapted to extreme desert environments and long droughts and has important economic values as it is used to produce charcoal (stems) and animal nutrition supplementation (leaves and pods). Cattle grazing in arid landscapes have been noted to select mesquite leaves (particularly in the spring when new growth is abundant) as well as ingest pods. Nutritional testing performed on new growth leaves indicates a high protein level (15-30% crude protein, DM) and moderately high in total digestible nutrients (TDN - 60-79%, dry matter basis) as well as above average levels of micronutrients as compared to southern Arizona grass species commonly grazed (Mcreynolds et. al., 2021). Mesquite is known to have the capacity to increase plant productivity and health in natural areas (Gornish and Johnson, 2022). This is because mesquite can act as a nurse plant to surrounding vegetation, where it enhances germination and growth by decreasing temperature and increasing moisture at the soil surface through shading and litter deposition, and can reduce the dominance of non-native plant species. However, despite its fairly common use in wildland management (Virginia and Bainbridge 1988), its use in US agriculture is uncommon. This could be due to the misconception shared among some farming communities that mesquite is invasive and that it highly competes with desired plants for nutrients and water. In situations where mesquite is used, it appears to provide many services to farming enterprises. For example, in the Haryana state of northern India, Prosopis cineraria L. is grown with grain, forage, and vegetable crops in dryland agroforestry systems with positive effects on crop yield at optimal tree spacing (Singh et al., 2007; Singh, 2009). Therefore, my research is centered on developing management strategies from plant selection to establishment and management of agroforestry systems within agricultural lands. To realize the full benefits of mesquite on agricultural lands, I have submitted a proposal to Western SARE as Principal Investigator, to assess mesquite contributions to short and long-term soil nutrient improvement and on how to manage stands to maximize biomass production in intercropping systems with vegetables and other legume crops of economic importance in Southern Arizona. References:Gornish, S.E. and Johnson S. 2022. Identifying Restoration Opportunities under Mesquite Canopies. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.McReynolds, K., Wright, A. D., & Stratton, S. 2021. Research Report: Forage Nutrition Study for the San Pedro NRCD. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Cochise County.Singh, G. 2009. Comparative productivity of Prosopis cineraria and Tecomella undulata based agroforestry systems in degraded lands of Indian Desert. Journal of Forestry Research 20:144-150.Singh, G., S. Mutha, and N. Bala. 2007. Effect of tree density on productivity of a Prosopis cineraria agroforestry system in North Western India. Journal of Arid Environments 70:152-163.Virginia, R.A. and D.A. Bainbridge, 1988. Revegetation in the Colorado Desert: lessons from the study of natural systems. In: Rieger, John P.; Williams, Bradford K., eds. Proceedings, 2nd native plant revegetation symposium; 1987 April 15-18; San Diego, CA. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin - Arboretum, Society of Ecological Restoration and Management: 52-63. [4095].

Courses

No activities entered.

Scholarly Contributions

Presentations

• Martinez Morales, R. (2024, April). Enhancing vegetable production across the seasons through shade houses and greenhouses. Tubac Community Garden Club annual demonstration. Tubac Community Center: Tubac Community garden club.
  More info

  A shade-house provides a cooler environment for cool season crops during the spring and warm-season crops during the hot summer. Cool season crops like lettuce, cabbage, spinach and Swiss chard are transplanted in the shade house in February while it is still cold. However, these crops grow quickly as soon as temperatures rise and can be harvested from April to May while the shade house remains cool. Crops that are sensible to heat stress such as tomato, pepper, beans and herbs are planted in the shade-house during the summer and are fully harvested at the onset of monsoonal humidity which also enhances pest insect growth. Shade-houses are also used during the early Fall to germinate seeds of all winter crops including lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, spinach, kale, collard greens, beets, and turnips. Seedlings are then transplanted to the greenhouse as it becomes cooler in October. Winter crops are harvested from the greenhouse throughout the winter and early spring seasons. The greenhouse is also used to germinate seeds of all warm-season crops during the early spring, which helps reduce risk from late freezing events that are common during this time of year. Seedlings are then transplanted to the shade-house or the outdoor garden at the onset of warm temperatures.
• Martinez Morales, R. (2024, August). Regenerative agriculture as strategy for ecological restoration and sustainable landscapes.. Cooperative Extension Annual Conference. University of Arizona Student Union: Cooperative Extension.
  More info

  Tree, crop, and livestock production systems are not well integrated in most farming activities across the Southwest, leading to negligible nutrient cycling, poor soil management, and widespread degradation of natural resources mainly due to lack of knowledge of natural desert landscapes and the biodiversity that is crucial to maintain ecosystem functions in agricultural environments . Improved integration of the tree, crop, and livestock systems will not only increase productivity of the farming systems but will also promote recycling of residues. Thus, better integration of crops, trees and livestock is necessary to enhance efficient nutrient management and foster integrated natural resources management. With this integrative systems perspective, a pilot vegetable production program is under way in several schools across Santa Cruz County with successful results. The project aims at improving soil health, fertility, and crop production by integrating trees, crops, and livestock through sustainable land use management and ecological restoration with native tree species like mesquite (Prosopis sp). The project is testing various inexpensive and logistically feasible management practices, agroforestry with mesquite and manure additions, to enhance short and long-term soil health and fertility.Preliminary results will be presented on how regenerative agriculture can enhance vegetable production in degraded lands through agroforestry with mesquite. An strategy to scale-up this initiative in area and scope will be presented to show that integrating short-term income though vegetable production with long-term income through desert crops like agave and nopal cactus, could be highly sustainable both economically and environmentally.
• Martinez Morales, R. (2024, March). Integrated tree-crop-livestock systems to enhance agricultural production in Mexican communities. . Mexican Consulate workshop on community development. Mexican Consulate, Nogales, AZ: Mexican Consulate.
  More info

  Current agricultural systems in Northern Mexico are solely on crop, livestock or agroforestry without integrating the interrelated components of each production system. Furthermore, adoption of new knowledge by farmers has been low due to many factors including a mismatch between new technologies and local knowledge and interest, poor resource base of the farmers and insufficient dissemination of the technologies. The presentation addressed strategies to ensure active participation of farmer groups in participatory research and evaluation of project results, and introduced potential action plans to facilitate farmers participation in the assessment and selection of best technologies, agroforestry practices and livestock feeding strategies in order to develop new strategies for crop diversification, agroforestry and livestock integration according to the agro-ecological conditions of the Sonoran Desert.
• Martinez Morales, R. (2024, March).  Mesquite agroforestry and regenerative agriculture in the Sonoran desert.. Yavapai County regenerative agriculture program. Cottonwood, AZ: Yavapai County board of supervisors.
  More info

  Despite the common use of mesquite in wildland management and habitat preservation, its use in US agriculture is uncommon. This could be due to the misconception that mesquite is invasive and that it competes with desired plants for nutrients and water. This issue will only become more challenging as agricultural communities in Arizona generally opt to clear mesquite stands to open land for seasonal crops. There is a clear need to promote appreciation not only of the natural resources that are available but also of the crop alternatives naturally growing in arid environments, to improve soil and plant health, and increase crop diversity and production - a crucial endeavor to enhance the well-being of families. Moreover, due to the potential detrimental impacts conventional pesticides have on beneficial insects, human health, and the environment, there is renewed interest in implementing environmentally friendly insect pest management practices. Growing crops in agroforestry systems with mesquite may provide natural pest management by attracting insects that are crucial for insect pest control and crop pollination. Agroforestry systems increase plant diversity and protect seasonal crops from pest outbreaks that are generally devastating when these crops are grown in a monoculture system.
• Martinez Morales, R. (2024, May). Year around vegetable production in shade houses and green houses.. Patagonia Community Garden annual showcase. Patagonia, AZ: Patagonia Community garden club and city government..
  More info

  A shade-house provides a cooler environment for cool season crops during the spring and warm-season crops during the hot summer. Cool season crops like lettuce, cabbage, spinach and swiss chard are transplanted in the shade house in February while it is still cold. However, these crops grow quickly as soon as temperatures rise and can be harvested from April to May while the shade house remains cool. Crops that are sensible to heat stress such as tomato, pepper, beans and herbs are planted in the shade-house during the summer and are fully harvested at the onset of monsoonal humidity which also enhances pest insect growth. Shade-houses are also used during the early Fall to germinate seeds of all winter crops including lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, spinach, kale, collard greens, beets, and turnips. Seedlings are then transplanted to the greenhouse as it becomes cooler in October. Winter crops are harvested from the greenhouse throughout the winter and early spring seasons. The greenhouse is also used to germinate seeds of all warm-season crops during the early spring, which helps reducing risk from late freezing events that are common during this time of year. Seedlings are then transplanted to the shade-house or the outdoor garden at the onset of warm temperatures.
• Martinez Morales, R. (2024, October). Ecological restoration of mesquite in the Sonorant Desert. Santa Cruz NRCD Monthly board meeting. Patagonia, AZ: Santa Cruz Natural Resources Conservation District.
  More info

  Mesquite ecological restoration involves planting native mesquite trees in degraded areas to restore ecosystem functions, as mesquites are well-adapted to arid conditions and can help stabilize soil, increase soil health, provide shade and wildlife habitat essential for birds, mammals, and insects. Mesquite deep roots help prevent erosion in arid environments and enrich the soil with nitrogen through symbiotic bacteria in its roots. Mesquite canopies create a cooler, more humid microenvironment beneath them, beneficial for other plants.