Soil deficiencies of zinc (Zn) and boron (B) limit crop production in Nepal. Improving the micronutrient status of plants would increase yield and increase micronutrient content of the seeds, leading to better nutrition of the progeny crop and to improved human micronutrient nutrition. The primary micronutrient problem in grain legumes is B deficiency, while in rice (Oryza sativa), Zn deficiency is more important, and wheat (Triticum aestivum) suffers from both deficiencies. A series of field experiments was carried out over two seasons to compare soil fertilization and micronutrient seed priming as methods of improving Zn and B nutrition of each crop. Micronutrient treatments were evaluated for their effect on grain yield and grain micronutrient content. Soil B fertilization increased B content of the grain of lentil (Lens culinaris), chickpea (Cicer arietinum), and wheat by a factor of two to five, while increasing the yield of chickpea only. Soil fertilization with Zn had no effect on yield of any crop, but resulted in a small increase in Zn in wheat grain. Sowing micronutrient-primed seeds had no effect on yield or micronutrient content of the progeny seeds in most cases. During the first season, the primed chickpea seeds failed to emerge at either site, causing complete yield loss, but this negative effect was not observed in the second season with similar priming treatments at nearby sites, and no effect of priming on yield was observed with any other crop in either season.

Florigraze' rhlzoma peanut (Arachis glabrata Benth.) is a perennial legume of high forage quality, but commercial use has been limited by slow establishment. In the southeast USA, the understory of pine (Pinus spp.) plantations is grazed by cattle (Bos spp.). Because grazing must be deferred during pine establishment, concurrent planting of trees and Horigraze might facilitate use of the legume and improve the quality of forage for grazing. To determine if trials evaluating Florigraze-pine associations are warranted, preliminary information on Horigraze shade tolerance is needed. A 3-yr field study was conducted on a Kendrick soil 0uamy, siliceous, hyperthermic Arenic Paleudult) to determine Horigraze growth and reserve status in response to shading and defoliation intensity. Main plots were shade treatments that were defined as percentages of incident photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD; 34, 54, 78, and 100%); subplots were defoliation stubble heights (4 or 8 cm). Treatments were replicated three times, and plots were harvested four times in 1989, three times in 1990, and once in early summer 1991. Summed across harvests within years, dry matter (DM) yield increased as PPFD increased from 34 to 100% (5.6-8.8 Mg ha -x in 1989 and 3.3-11.3 Mg ha -ĩ n 1990). Rate of increase in DM yield was slower as PPFD increased, and yield generally was greater for the 4-than 8-cm clipping height. For 78 and 54% PPFD, annual Florigraze yields were >90 and 70% as great as those for the 100% PPFD treatment in 1989 and 1990. At season end 1989 and 1990, rhizome mass and total nonstructural carbohydrate (TNC) concentration decreased with decreasing PPFD, but values for shaded treatments in 1990 were at least as great as those in 1989. We conclude that rhizoma peanut-pine associations merit evaluation because Horigraze was productive and persisted well at PPFD levels similar to those observed in pine understories.

Producer adoption of rhizoma peanut has been limited primarily by a relatively long establishment period. 'Florigraze' rhizoma peanut (Arachis glabrata Benth.) is produc-Johnson (1990) suggested that concurrent planting of tive and persistent under moderate shade and has potential as an understory forage for grazing in southeastern U.S. pine (Pinus spp.) trees and Florigraze might facilitate use of the legume plantations. When grown in full sun, Florigraze has high forage quality, and improve the quality of forage for grazing in the but the effect of shade on its nutritive value is not known. A 2-yr understory of southeastern U.S. pine plantations. Rhifield study was conducted on a siliceous, hyperthermic Arenic Paleuzoma peanut has been shown to be persistent and prodult soil to determine nutritive value of Florigraze herbage when ductive under moderate levels of shade. When grown grown under 34, 54, 78, and 100% of incident photosynthetic photon at 54 and 78% of incident photosynthetic photon flux flux density (PPFD). Treatments were arranged in three replicates density (PPFD) during 2 yr, forage yields were 70% and of a randomized complete block design, and there were three harvests Ͼ94%, respectively, those of unshaded plants (Johnson in both 1989 and 1990. Leaf crude protein (CP) increased 20 to 40 g et al., 1994). kg Ϫ1 as PPFD increased from 34 to 100% in both years while leaf in The light environment during plant growth affects vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) increased 20 to 30 g kg Ϫ1 and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) decreased 20 to 50 g kg Ϫ1 with forage nutritive value in addition to yield and persisincreasing PPFD only in the second year. Stem CP increased 10 to tence. The great majority of studies evaluating the effect 20 g kg Ϫ1 and IVOMD 50 to 100 g kg Ϫ1 with increasing PPFD in at of shade on forage nutritive value have been conducted least two harvests each year while NDF and lignin concentrations with grasses. The data are inconsistent, with responses decreased with increasing PPFD (50-80 and 15-25 g kg Ϫ1

On one hand, food system analysts have been concerned about many topics: the rising age of farm operators, declining farm numbers, lack of adoption of practices and systems supporting greater ecological sustainability, and interest in increased food production for local markets. On the other hand, many energetic and enthusiastic people express interest in farming and producing more community-based food. Many of these people also claim values related to sustainability. a This is a revised version of a paper presented at the annual meeting of the Rural Sociological Society, Tampa, FL, August Despite prospective and new farmers' strong interest and enthusiasm, most face numerous challenges in their start-up phase and many do not continue, even those showing considerable promise. In this paper we focus on the results from in-depth interviews with current and former startup farmers in the Northeastern U.S. We illuminate four sets of factors related to "success" in farm start-ups: social context, personal characteristics, business characteristics, and luck. We then make three recommendations for the consideration of policy-makers, farm start-up advisors, and beginning farmers: advising and mentoring, conceiving of farms as parts of a larger food system, and focus on playing to strengths.

No abstract