scholarly journals Early Muskmelon Production with Wavelength-selective and Clear Plastic Mulches

1993 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry G. Taber

Black, clear, and wavelength-selective IRT 76 plastic mulches with or without clear, slitted, hooped rowcovers were evaluated for early muskmelon production in 1991 and 1992. Clear and IRT 76 plastic mulches tripled early yield, compared with bare ground, 130 and 45 cwt/acre, respectively. Highest yields both years were from the combination of rowcover with either clear plastic or IRT 76 mulch-181 cwt/acre in 1991 and 379 cwt/acre in 1992. Yield from clear plastic was superior to that from IRT 76 by 41 cwt/acre in 1991, but not in 1992. The minimum soil temperature for IRT 76 compared with clear plastic was +0. 5F and -2F for 1991 and 1992, respectively. Crop rotation and herbicides were used to provide adequate weed control both years. The best cost-effective early muskmelon production system tested involved clear plastic, rowcovers, and trickle irrigation.

2000 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 154-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.R. Waterer

The efficacy and cost efficiency of using various plastic soil mulches in the production of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), corn (Zea mays L.) and muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) were examined over four growing seasons in Saskatchewan, Canada. Clear mulch with or without preemergent herbicides was compared with black or wavelength selective mulches. In all three crops, mulches enhanced yields relative to bare ground in most site-year combinations. Clear mulch usually produced the highest yields. Herbicides applied under the clear plastic provided effective weed control with no observable changes in product efficacy or toxicity to the crop. The weed control provided by the herbicides had no effect on yields in the clear mulch treatments. Consequently, clear mulch without added herbicide usually represented the most cost-effective production option for all three crops.


HortScience ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 462D-462
Author(s):  
Milton E. McGiffne ◽  
Chad Hutchinson

A 2-year field project was conducted in Thermal, Calif., on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) mulch as an alternative weed control option in pepper (Capsicum annuum) production. Treatments included a bare ground production system with hand weeding, bare ground with no weeding, a cowpea mulch production system with hand weeding, and cowpea mulch with no weeding. Cowpea was seeded in July in 76-cm beds and irrigated with a buried drip line. In September, irrigation water was turned off to dry cowpea plants. The cowpea plants then were cut at the soil-line to form mulch. Pepper plants were transplanted into mulch and fertilized through the drip line. Every 2 weeks, the number of weeds emerged and pepper plant heights were recorded. In December, fruit production, pepper plant dry weight, and weed dry weight were recorded. Fewer weeds emerged in the cowpea mulch than the conventional bare ground system. At harvest, weed populations in nonweeded cowpea mulch were reduced 80% and 90% compared to nonweeded bare ground for 1997 and 1998, respectively. Weed dry weights in nonweeded treatments were 67% and 90% less than weed dry weights in nonweeded bare ground over the same period. Pepper plants in cowpea mulch produced 202% and 156% more dry weight than on bare ground in 1997 and 1998, respectively. Pepper plants in cowpea mulch produced more fruit weight than in bare ground with similar fruit size. Cowpea mulch provided season-long weed control without herbicides while promoting plant growth and fruit production.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 869
Author(s):  
Solomon B. Ghezehei ◽  
Alexander L. Ewald ◽  
Dennis W. Hazel ◽  
Ronald S. Zalesny ◽  
Elizabeth Guthrie Nichols

We evaluated the productivity and profitability of four highly productive poplars including Populus deltoides × P. deltoides (DD ‘140’ and ‘356’), P. deltoides × P. maximowiczii (DM ‘230’), and P. trichocarpa × P. deltoides (TD ‘185’) under two densities (2500 and 5000 trees ha−1), and three fertilization treatments (0, 113, 225 kg nitrogen ha−1) at three sandy coastal sites varying in soil quality. Green stem biomass (GSB) was estimated from the sixth-year stem diameter. Leaf-rust (Melampsora castagne) and beetle damage (by Chrysomela scripta Fabricius), the leaf area index (LAI) and foliar nitrogen, were measured in year two. At all sites, DD and DM had higher survival (>93%) than TD (62–83%). DD produced greater GSB (92.5–219.1 Mg ha−1) than DM (54–60.2 Mg ha−1) and TD (16.5–48.9 Mg ha−1), and this was greater under the higher density (85.9–148.6 Mg ha−1 vs. 55.9–124.9 Mg ha−1). Fertilization significantly increased GSB on fertile soil but not marginal soils; a higher rate did not significantly enhance GSB. Leaf rust was higher for fertile soil (82%) than marginal soils (20–22%), and TD ‘185’ (51% vs. others 34%). C. scripta damage was higher for the higher density (+42%) than lower density, and TD ‘185’ (50% vs. others >38%). LAI was higher on fertile soil (1.85 m2 m−2) than marginal soils (1.35–1.64 m2 m−2), and under the lower density (1.67 m2 m−2 vs. 1.56 m2 m−2). The high GSB producer DD ‘356’ had the lowest LAI (1.39 m2 m−2 vs. 1.80 m2 m−2). Foliar nitrogen varied among genomic groups (DD ‘140’ 1.95%; TD ‘185’ 1.80%). Our plots were unprofitable at a 27 USD Mg−1 delivered price; the biggest profitability barriers were the high costs of higher density establishment and weed control. The best-case treatment combinations of DD (‘140’, ‘356’) would be cost-effective if the price increased by 50% (USD 37.54 Mg−1) or rotations were 12 years (fertile-soil) and longer (marginal soils). The requirement for cost-effectiveness of poplars includes stringent and site-specific weed control which are more important than fertilizer applications.


Author(s):  
Ю.В. Суркова ◽  
И.Н. Цымбаленко ◽  
С.Д. Гилев

Представлена комплексная оценка эффективности диверсификации севооборотов, а также способов обработки почвы и влияния азотных удобрений при возделывании сои в условиях засушливого климата центральной лесостепной зоны Зауралья. По результатам исследований, проведённых в 2010–2020 годах в Курганском НИИСХ – филиале УрФАНИЦ УрО РАН, установлено влияние гидротермических условий региона и агротехнических приёмов на формирование урожайности сои. В острозасушливые годы с гидротермическим коэффициентом 0,3–0,6 урожайность сои снижалась наполовину по сравнению с благоприятными по тепло- и влагообеспеченности периодами (ГТК — 1,1–1,2). На фоне удобрений и надёжной системы защиты посевов сои от сорных растений менее затратная поверхностная обработка по урожайности не уступала вспашке. Минеральный азот в дозе N30 на фоне средней обеспеченности почвы подвижным фосфором в острозасушливые годы обеспечил прибавку зерна сои 0,28 т/га, в благоприятные по условиям увлажнения годы прибавка от применения N30 увеличилась до 0,43 т/га. Диверсификация традиционного четырёхпольного зернопарового севооборота путём замены пшеничного поля посевами сои обеспечила повышение продуктивности, улучшение качества продукции и экономических показателей. Рентабельность производства продукции с севооборотной площади в вариантах с ресурсосберегающей поверхностной обработкой выросла до 110% без удобрений и до 117% — на фоне N30 против 49 и 66% в зернопаровом севообороте. В результате многолетних исследований в контрастных погодных условиях установлено, что производство сои в полевом севообороте в центральной лесостепной зоне Зауралья рентабельно даже в острозасушливые годы. При низком уровне урожайности (0,50–0,70 т/га) рентабельность составляет 30–50%. В благоприятные годы ресурсы зауральского климата позволяют получать урожайность сои на уровне 1,40–1,80 т/га. При этом рентабельность повышается до 220%. The report deals with the optimization of a rotation system as well as the effect of tillage and nitrogen fertilizers on soybean productivity under the drought of the central forest-steppe in Trans-Urals. The investigation was conducted at the Kurgan Research Institute of Agriculture in 2010–2020. The aim was to test the effect of tillage, moisture and temperature on soybean yield. Drought (hydrothermal coefficient of 0.3–0.6) reduced soybean productivity by 50% in comparison to favorable conditions (hydrothermal coefficient of 1.1–1.2). Less expensive surface tillage was as effective as plowing under fertilization and weed control. In dry years application of N30 increased grain yield by 0.28 t ha-1 under medium content of soluble P. Under favorable conditions the increase amounted to 0.43 t ha-1. Substitution of wheat with soybean in the conventional four-field crop rotation system resulted in higher crop productivity, yield quality and economic effectiveness. Payback raised up to 110% under surface tillage and no fertilization and 117% — on the background of N30 versus 49 and 66% obtained under fallow and grain crop rotation. Soybean production was cost-effective even under drought. Low soybean yield (0.50–0.70 t ha-1) resulted in profitability of 30–50%. Favorable conditions of the region provided soybean yield of 1.40–1.80 t ha-1, increasing profitability up to 220%.


Author(s):  
Andris Lejiņš ◽  
Biruta Lejiņa

Buckwheat research has been carried out within the long-term crop rotation stationary that was established in 1969 as a part of the Research institute of Agriculture. Buckwheat proportion within the partcular crop rotations went up to 22%. The highest buckwheat yields were obtained from the buckwheat variants that where cultivated after winter rye, and within the buckwheat monoculture experimental plots. A considerable yield decrease was observed when cultivating buckwheat after potatoes. Weeds in the buckwheat sowing were effectively brought under control by the herbicide Butisane 400 (1.5 l ha-1), applied immediately after sowing and Betanal AM 2.5 l ha-1 after seedling in 2-3 leaves stage.


Author(s):  
Emre Bilgin Sarı ◽  
Sabri Erdem

Seru production system is a flexible, cost-effective, workforce competence-oriented manufacturing management system that provides the opportunity to respond quickly to customer demand. As in parallel to technology and physical improvements, customer demands are also effective for development of production systems. The impact of change in demand has been seen on changeover from job shop to mass production, flexible, and lean manufacturing systems. Seru production system is more appropriate for targeting work both cost-effectively like mass production and maximum diversification like job shop production. This chapter clarifies the Seru production system and explain its use and benefits in the clothing industry. In the application, a shirt production is illustrated according to the principles of mass production, lean production, and Seru production. Thus, different types of production systems have been benchmarked. There will be potential study areas for proving the efficiency of Seru soon.


2016 ◽  
Vol 79 (10) ◽  
pp. 1663-1672 ◽  
Author(s):  
SHIRLEY A. MICALLEF ◽  
MARY THERESA CALLAHAN ◽  
SIVARANJANI PAGADALA

ABSTRACT No data exist on the impact of cultivation practices on food safety risks associated with cucumber. Cucumbers are typically grown horizontally over a mulch cover, with fruit touching the ground, but this vining plant grows well in vertical systems. To assess whether production system affects bacterial dispersal onto plants, field trials were conducted over 2 years. Cucumber cultivar ‘Marketmore 76’ was grown horizontally on plastic, straw, or bare ground or vertically on trellises installed on bare ground in soil previously amended with raw dairy manure. Fruit, flower, leaf, and soil samples were collected to quantify Escherichia coli, thermotolerant coliforms, and enterococci by direct plating. E. coli isolates were characterized by BOX-PCR to evaluate relatedness among strains. Although thermotolerant coliforms and enterococci were significantly less abundant on fruit in year 1 (P < 0.05), this result was not seen in year 2 when more rain was recorded. Instead, fruit from straw-mulched beds had higher levels of enterococci compared with fruit grown on bare ground (P < 0.05). Leaves on bare ground occasionally had more bacteria than did leaves on plastic mulch beds (P < 0.05). Production system did not impact flower-associated bacterial levels. E. coli isolates (n =127) were genotyped, generating 21 distinct fingerprints. Vertical production did not appear to be a barrier for E. coli dispersal to the crop, as suggested by numerous related isolates from soil and flowers on bare ground, straw-mulched, and trellised beds (subcluster B1). None of the isolates from soil and flowers in this subcluster were related to isolates recovered from fruit, showing that flower colonization does not necessarily lead to fruit colonization. One cluster of isolates contained those from flowers and fruits but not soil, indicating a source other than manure-amended soil. Straw may be a source of E. coli; a number of closely related E. coli isolates were retrieved from soil and fruits from straw-mulched beds. Our approach revealed E. coli dispersal patterns and could be used to assess bacterial transmission in other production systems.


2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 504-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glenn Wehtje ◽  
Charles H. Gilliam ◽  
Stephen C. Marble

Both prodiamine and flumioxazin are used in the nursery production and landscape maintenance industries in the southeastern United States for preemergence weed control. Research was conducted to determine whether a tank mixture of these two herbicides would be more effective than either component applied alone. Prodiamine alone, flumioxazin alone, and a 72 : 28 (by weight) prodiamine–flumioxazin mixture were each applied at a series of rates to containers filled with a pine bark–sand substrate that is typical for nursery production in the southeastern United States. Our intent was to have a rate range that hopefully extended from ineffective to lethal for each treatment series. Subsequent to treatment, containers were overseeded with either large crabgrass, spotted spurge, or eclipta. Percent control was determined by comparing treated weed foliage fresh weight to that of the appropriate nontreated control at 6 and 12 wk after application. ANOVA followed by nonlinear regression was used to evaluate the interaction of prodiamine and flumioxazin when combined and to determine the rate of each treatment series required for 95% control (if applicable) for each of the three weed species. Results varied with weed species. The mixture was synergistic and more cost effective than either of the components applied alone in controlling spotted spurge. With respect to large crabgrass control, the mixture was additive and slightly more cost effective than the components. Eclipta could only be controlled with flumioxazin, and this control was antagonized by the addition of prodiamine.


Plant Disease ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 431-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. G. Zhou ◽  
K. L. Everts

Multiple applications of fungicides are used to manage anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum orbiculare and gummy stem blight caused by Didymella bryoniae, the two most common and destructive diseases on watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. To develop a sustainable, nonchemical management option, a split-plot experiment was conducted over 3 years to evaluate the effects of a no-till hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) cover crop on disease severity, plant growth, and fruit yield compared with two conventional bedding systems and fungicide application. The main plots were bedding strategies consisting of bare ground, polyethylene covering, or a hairy vetch cover crop that was planted in the fall, killed the following spring, and left on the soil surface as an organic mulch. The subplots were a nonfungicide control or a weekly application of a standard fungicide program. Hairy vetch mulch provided greater than a 65% reduction in the area under the disease progress curves of anthracnose and gummy stem blight and greater than an 88% decrease in diseased fruit compared with bare ground or polyethylene mulch. The reductions were comparable with those achieved by fungicide applications. Watermelon vine lengths in plots with hairy vetch were similar to or greater than those in plots with polyethylene or bare ground that were treated with fungicides. Marketable fruit in plots with hairy vetch was higher compared with bare ground in 2 of 3 years and was similar to that in plots treated with fungicides in all 3 years. Addition of fungicide application to hairy vetch treatment further reduced anthracnose in 1 year and gummy stem blight in 2 years but did not significantly increase fruit yield in all 3 years. This is the first demonstration that a no-till hairy vetch production system can reduce anthracnose and gummy stem blight on watermelon and that the production system has the potential to mitigate damage caused by these diseases.


2002 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 101-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R. Seifert ◽  
Keith Woeste

Abstract Azafenidin, sulfometuron, pendimethalin, and simazine were applied alone and in combination to 1-0 seedlings of nine hardwood and one conifer species. Percent bare ground at 30, 60, and 90 days, diameter and height growth of the seedlings were determined for 16 herbicide treatments, tillage and a control. Azafenidin applications alone and in combination with sulfometuron resulted in about 85% bare ground 90 days post-treatment. There were significant differences for diameter, height growth, and volume among the treatments for every species. No single treatment ranked best for all species, but comparison of the mean ranks of the treatments for all species indicated that azafenidin and pendimethalin resulted in the most growth. Azafenidin-treated seedlings also had the greatest volume at the end of the season.


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