Nila I. Kreidich
University of California Davis graduate student
International Agricultural Development
Integrated Pest Management
cell: (916) 201-3865
AGIS lab: (530) 754-9292
nikreidich@ucdavis.edu
nila@theblizz.com
Education
Graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a BS in Agricultural Science and a minor in International Agriculture. Currently I am pursuing a master's degree in both International Agricultural Development and Integrated Pest Management at UC Davis.
ResearchThis past year (2002-2003)I have been working on an intercrop research project with students from the IAD graduate group at the Student Farm. This research was designed to examine if there was an increase in yield when vetch and wheat were intercropped verses when vetch or wheat were a monocrop. This intercrop design would be useful to farmers who are looking for more energy efficient ways of growing fodder. Since vetch is a legume, we hypothesized that the wheat would benefit from nitrogen fixation. The student farm is certified organic and no fertilizer treatments were applied during the experiment. Our results indicate that the wheat did benefit from the vetch because the wheat yield from the intercrop was higher than the yield from the wheat monocrop. We are currently writing a paper to explain the results of this experiment.
During the summer of 2003 I worked in the AGIS lab using the PUR-GIS database to examine pesticide use on prunes in Tehama, Sutter, and Tulare County. Specifically, I was looking at the relationship between growers who apply copper and an organophosphate or pyrethroid during the dormant season. There is evidence that copper reduces the efficacy of other dormant pesticides, especially organophosphates, resulting in an increase in pesticide use. I am currently working on a paper to explain my results.
Currently I am working on an urban pesticide study for the Arcade Creek Watershed in Sacramento County. Our objective is to comprehensively identify urban insecticide user groups then document the use and disposal practices within each user group. Finally we will develop recommendations to mitigate existing water quality problems associated with insecticides and herbicides.
Presentations
