scholarly journals Physical Characteristics of Mulches and Their Impact on Crop Response and Profitability in Muskmelon Production

1997 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynn Brandenberger ◽  
Bob Wiedenfeld
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Physical Characteristics ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Crop Response ◽  
Commercial Products ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
Base Selection

Using polyethylene mulches has increased earliness, yields, and fruit quality in muskmelon, resulting in their extensive use for melon production with numerous commercial products. However, two problems are associated with polyethylene use: removal and disposal following production. Organic mulches are potential alternatives but, in this study, resulted in significantly lower soil temperatures than all other treatments and generally had lower yields. Soil temperature, yield, fruit size and percent soluble solids were increased by polyethylene mulches compared to bare soil. Crop response differences between polyethylene mulches were not significant for most characteristics measured. There were significant differences in durability and ease of removal of polyethylene mulches. Based our results, durability and ease of removal are the main characteristics on which to base selection. Proper mulch selection can reduce removal costs and enable commercial producers to leave a mulch in place for the production of a second crop.

scholarly journals Quality control of 10-min soil temperatures data at RMI

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Bertrand ◽  
L. González Sotelino ◽  
M. Journée
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Temperature Observation ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
Different Depths ◽  
Temperature Records ◽  
Energy Processes

Abstract. Soil temperatures at various depths are unique parameters useful to describe both the surface energy processes and regional environmental and climate conditions. To provide soil temperature observation in different regions across Belgium for agricultural management as well as for climate research, soil temperatures are recorded in 13 of the 20 automated weather stations operated by the Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) of Belgium. At each station, soil temperature can be measured at up to 5 different depths (from 5 to 100 cm) in addition to the bare soil and grass temperature records. Although many methods have been developed to identify erroneous air temperatures, little attention has been paid to quality control of soil temperature data. This contribution describes the newly developed semi-automatic quality control of 10-min soil temperatures data at RMI.

scholarly journals Interaction of Irrigation and Soil Management on Sweet Cherry Productivity and Fruit Quality at Different Crop Loads that Simulate Those Occurring by Environmental Extremes

HortScience ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerry H. Neilsen ◽  
Denise Neilsen ◽  
Frank Kappel ◽  
T. Forge
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Sweet Cherry ◽  
Prunus Avium ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Cold Climate ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Irrigation Frequency ◽  
Cross Sectional

‘Cristalina’ and ‘Skeena’ sweet cherry cultivars (Prunus avium L.) on Gisela 6 (Prunus cerasus × Prunus canescens) rootstock planted in 2005 were maintained since 2006 in a randomly blocked split-split plot experimental design with six blocks of two irrigation frequency main plot treatments within which two cultivar subplots and three soil management sub-subplots were randomly applied. The focus of this study was the growth, yield, and fruit quality response of sweet cherry to water and soil management over three successive fruiting seasons, 2009–11, in a cold climate production area. The final 2 years of the study period were characterized by cool, wet springs resulting in low yield and yield efficiency across all treatments. Soil moisture content (0- to 20-cm depth) during the growing season was often higher in soils that received high-frequency irrigation (HFI) compared with low-frequency irrigation (LFI). HFI and LFI received the same amount of water, but water was applied four times daily in the HFI treatment but every other day in the LFI treatment. Consequently, larger trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA) and higher yield were found on HFI compared with LFI trees. Soil management strategies involving annual bloom time phosphorus (P) fertigation and wood waste mulching did not affect tree vigor and yield. Increased soluble solids concentration (SSC) occurred with LFI. Decreased SSC occurred with delayed harvest maturity in trees receiving P fertigation at bloom. The largest fruit size was correlated for both cultivars with low crop loads ranging from 100 to 200 g fruit/cm2 TCSA. Overall cool, wet spring weather strongly affected annual yield and fruit quality, often overriding cultivar and soil and water management effects.

scholarly journals Crop Load Influences Fruit Quality, Nutritional Balance, and Return Bloom in ‘Honeycrisp’ Apple

HortScience ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 236-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Serra ◽  
Rachel Leisso ◽  
Luca Giordani ◽  
Lee Kalcsits ◽  
Stefano Musacchi
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Postharvest Quality ◽  
Soluble Solid Content ◽  
Crop Load ◽  
Apple Variety ◽  
Return Bloom ◽  
The Impact

The apple variety, ‘Honeycrisp’ has been extensively planted in North America during the last two decades. However, it suffers from several agronomic problems that limit productivity and postharvest quality. To reduce losses, new information is needed to better describe the impact of crop load on productivity and postharvest fruit quality in a desert environment and the major region where ‘Honeycrisp’ expansion is occurring. Here, 7-year-old ‘Honeycrisp’ trees on the M9-Nic29 rootstock (2.5 × 0.9 m) were hand thinned to five different crop loads [from 4.7 to 16.0 fruit/cm2 of trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA)] to compare fruit quality, maturity, fruit size, elemental concentration, and return bloom. Fruit size distribution was affected by crop load. Trees with the highest crop load (16 fruit/cm2) produced smaller fruit. Index of absorbance difference (IAD) measurements (absorption difference between 670 and 720 nm), a proxy indicator of the chlorophyll content below the skin of fruit measured by a DA-meter, were made shortly after harvest (T0) and after 6 months of storage (T1). Fruit from the trees with the lowest crop load had lower IAD values indicating advanced fruit ripeness. The comparison between the IAD classes at T0 and T1 showed that fruit belonging to the lowest IAD class had significantly higher red-blushed overcolor percentage, firmness, dry matter, and soluble solid content than those in the “most unripe” class (highest IAD readings) regardless of crop load. The percentage of blushed color, firmness, titratable acidity (TA), soluble solids content, and dry matter were all higher in the lowest crop loads at both T0 and T1. Fruit calcium (Ca) concentration was lowest at the lowest crop load. The (K + Mg + N):Ca ratio decreased as crop load increased until a crop load of 11.3 fruit/cm2, which was not significantly different from higher crop loads. For return bloom, the highest number of flower clusters per tree was reported for 4.7 fruit/cm2 crop load, and generally it decreased as crop load increased. Here, we highlight the corresponding changes in fruit quality, storability, and elemental balance with tree crop load. To maintain high fruit quality and consistency in yield, careful crop load management is required to minimize bienniality and improve fruit quality and storability.

scholarly journals Effect of Mid-day Reduction of High Electrical Conductivity Treatment on the Yield and Quality of Greenhouse Cherry Tomato

2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 460-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johann S. Buck ◽  
Chieri Kubota ◽  
Merle Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Environmental Control ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Cherry Tomato ◽  
Cumulative Yield ◽  
Total Soluble Solids ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Cultivar Selection

Cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) plants were grown hydroponically with three different regimes of electrical conductivity (EC) of the nutrient solution to develop an effective EC management method to enhance the fruit quality. The EC treatments examined were 1) continuous high EC [4.7 dS·m−1 (HE)], 2) continuous low EC [2.8 dS·m−1 (LE)], and 3) high EC combined with midday (1030–1530 hr) low EC [midday reduction of high EC (MDR)]. The research was conducted to obtain preliminary information on the effect of EC treatments on the yield and fruit quality for 15 weeks of harvest under semiarid greenhouse conditions. Harvested fruit were sorted to several quality grades, including the “premium” grade based on fruit size, color, and total soluble solids. The number of fruit per truss was significantly higher in cultivar L308 than in cultivar L907 and in the LE treatment than in the HE or MDR treatment. The fruit size decreased over time regardless of EC treatment and cultivar. Cumulative yield of 15 weeks was greater in the LE treatment (26.3 kg·m−2) than in the HE treatment (22.1 kg·m−2) for ‘L907’, and there were no significant differences between the three EC treatments for ‘L308’ (24.1–28.1 kg·m−2). The cumulative yield in the MDR treatment was similar to that in the LE treatment regardless of cultivar. When quality attributes such as total soluble solids concentration measured for randomly sampled fruit were considered, cumulative premium-grade yield was the greatest for the HE treatment (12.9 or 17.6 kg·m−2) and was the smallest for the LE treatment (1.4 or 12.1 kg·m−2), regardless of cultivar. The cumulative yield of premium-grade cherry tomatoes in the MDR treatment was not significantly different from that in the HE treatment for ‘L308’ but was 11% less than that in the HE treatment for ‘L907’. Therefore, together with cultivar selection, the MDR treatment may be a potential alternative to a more commonly practiced continuously high EC treatment in semiarid greenhouses with limited environmental control capacity in which increasing the nutrient EC to increase quality is desired without significantly decreasing yield.

scholarly journals Local Air and Soil Temperature Modeling Using Himawari 8 Satellite Imagery

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 123
Author(s):  
Adhia Azhar Fauzan ◽  
Komariah Komariah ◽  
Sumani Sumani ◽  
Dwi Priyo Ariyanto ◽  
Tuban Wiyoso
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Satellite Imagery ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Pair Correlation ◽  
Satellite Image ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Central Java ◽  
Temperature Modeling ◽  
Soil Temperatures

Himawari 8 satellite image, which was launched in October 2014 and began the operational in July 2015, serves to identify and track the phenomenon of rapid changes in weather. The purpose of this research was to determine the model of local air and soil temperatures using Himawari 8 satellite image. Local air and soil temperatures information was collected from the Climatology Station of Semarang district, Central Java, Indonesia. Interpretation of the Himawari 8 satellite image was performed, as well as the statistical tests of correlation and regression, according to the sun's pseudo motion. Pair correlation and regression analysis on satellite image with air temperature; and air temperature with soil temperature (bare and grass). The results showed the satellite imagery of Himawari 8 could predict the air and soil temperatures, especially bare soil. In specific, the accuracies were higher on soil temperature at 0 (surface) and 5 cm depth. But each period produced vary accuracy, due to many weather elements had may affect the air and soil temperatures.

scholarly journals Weather Affects Seedless Watermelon Yield, But Not Fruit Size or Quality

HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 748E-748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy E. Elkner* ◽  
David H. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Fruit Number ◽  
Seedless Watermelon

Medium-sized triploid watermelons were evaluated in southeast Pennsylvania in 2002 and 2003 to determine the best adapted cultivars for this region. The 2002 season was unusually hot and dry, while 2003 was unusually cool and wet. Yields and fruit quality were compared for the eight cultivars that were grown both seasons to determine the effect of weather on seedless watermelon. Cooler temperatures reduced total fruit number and total yield but not average fruit weight or soluble solids. Researchers evaluating triploid watermelons over several seasons can compare size and °Brix among cultivars, but will need to be cautious when predicting total yields.

scholarly journals QUALIDADE E PRODUTIVIDADE DE FRUTOS DE FIGO CULTIVADO EM TRÊS DENSIDADES DE PLANTIO

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 161-166
Author(s):  
Scheila Lucia Ecker ◽  
Clevison Luiz Giacobbo ◽  
Leandro Galon ◽  
Adriana Lugaresi ◽  
Gian Carlos Girardi
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Planting Density ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Fig Tree

The objective of this work was to verify the influence of planting density on productivity and fruit quality of the fig tree. The design was used in three blocks, the plants of the cultivar Roxo de Valinhos were submitted to three planting spacings: 5 x 0.5 m; 5 x 1.0 m; and 5 x 1.5 m. The evaluated characteristics were: length of branches; average weekly growth of branches; fruit size; average fruit weight;soluble solids (°Brix); yield of mature fruits; productivity of green fruits; accumulated productivity; and dry mass of fruits.The length of the branches was not influenced by planting spacing, the plants conducted at lower densities presented higher productivity, both of green fruits and accumulated productivity.Plants submitted to lower planting density produced fruits with higher dry matter, but these were smaller in size, but without significant difference for those submitted to lower density. It wasconcluded that productivity is directly affected by fig planting density, but not all the qualitative aspects of the fruits were affected.

scholarly journals Grafting Melons Increases Yield, Extends the Harvest Season, and Prevents Sudden Wilt in New England

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Janel L. Ohletz ◽  
J. Brent Loy
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Irrigation Frequency ◽  
Planting Dates ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
Spring Temperatures ◽  
Solids Content

Melons (Cucumis melo var. reticulatis) are potentially a high value crop for New England, but production is limited by cool spring temperatures and sudden wilt. The sudden wilt syndrome in melon, attributed to both biotic and abiotic factors, is characterized by rapid wilting of vines either just preceding or during the harvest season, reducing melon quality and shortening the harvest period. We investigated the effects of grafting melons to rootstocks of interspecific hybrid squash (Cucurbita maxima × C. moschata), which have exhibited tolerance to soilborne diseases and cooler soil temperatures. In 2015, we compared the performance of ‘Halona’ melon grafted to two rootstocks, ‘Carnivor’ and ‘NH1320’, to that of nongrafted (NG) plants at two New Hampshire Agriculture Experiment Research Farms, Woodman (WRF) and Kingman (KRF). Pistillate flowering and melon harvests were 3 to 9 days earlier in NG than grafted (GR) plants. By harvest period, GR plant growth exceeded that of NG plants, and GR plants did not display wilting symptoms observed in NG plants. Total marketable yields were 57% and 90% higher for GR/‘Carnivor’ (47.8 and 45.0 Mg·ha−1) and 44% and 89% higher for GR/‘NH1320’ (43.9 and 44.9 Mg·ha−1) compared with the NG treatment (30.5 and 23.7 Mg·ha−1) at WRF and KRF, respectively. There were no differences in fruit numbers per plot between treatments, but mean fruit weight was between 33% and 71% larger in GR than NG treatments. In 2016, GR (‘NH1320’ rootstock) and NG ‘Halona’ were compared at three transplantation dates, 12 and 21 May and 1 June, and with two irrigation frequencies, drip irrigation every 2 days (2-d Irr) or every 4 days (4-d Irr). NG plants exhibited symptoms of sudden wilt in early August compared with no symptoms on GR plants. Harvests of NG melons were 3 to 8 days earlier than GR plants for all three planting dates. The increase in yields of GR plants compared with NG plants for the 12 and 21 May and 1 June planting dates were, respectively, 131%, 123%, and 149% greater with the 2-day Irr, and 93%, 100%, and 78% greater with 4-d Irr. Irrigation frequency did not significantly affect fruit size or soluble solids content (SSC), whereas grafting increased both fruit number and fruit size but did not significantly affect SSC at all three planting dates.

scholarly journals Pepino Dulce (Solanum muricatum Ait.) Quality Characteristics Respond to Nitrogen Nutrition and Salinity

1993 ◽  
Vol 118 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Pluda ◽  
H.D. Rabinowitch ◽  
U. Kafkafi
Keyword(s):  
Ascorbic Acid ◽  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Nitrogen Nutrition ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Chloride Concentration ◽  
Fruit Shape ◽  
Quality Characteristics ◽  
Chloride Ions ◽  
Soluble Solids

The effect of fertigation with N-NO3 at 3, 6, or 12 mmol·liter-1, and 0, 3, or 6 dS·m-1 chloride ions on fruit quality of three pepino dulce selections was studied. Genotypes varied considerably in their response to mineral treatments in most quality characteristics. Variation in fruit size was greatly reduced when clusters were thinned to three fruit. Increasing chloride concentration in the nutrient soltuion reduced fruit size significantly and ascorbic acid concentration relative to the control, but fruit shape was not affected. Increases in NaCl salt, but not N concentration, resulted in significantly higher soluble solids concentration (SSC) and firmness in all three genotypes. Electrical conductivity, acidity, and pH were significantly affected by the two mineral treatments in the first trial, but remained unchanged in the second season. Fruit firmness, SSC, and acidity declined by 12% to 30%, whereas ascorbic acid content increased during 14 days storage at room temperature. These changes depended on genotype and environment during fruit growth and development. Organoleptic ratings were highest in salt-treated plants. Fruit quality of pepino dulce may be manipulated by crop management, thus improving its acceptability in Western markets.

scholarly journals Soil Temperature and Tomato Root Growth Under Black Polyethylene and Hairy Vetch Mulches

HortScience ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 850B-850
Author(s):  
John R. Teasdale ◽  
Aref A. Abdul-Baki
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Outer Edge ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Tomato Root ◽  
Vicia Villosa ◽  
Tomato Roots ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
Raised Bed

Temperature and root length at selected locations within a raised bed under black polyethylene (BP), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) residue (HV), or bare soil (BS) were measured and correlated with tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) growth. Early in the season, before the tomato leaf canopy closed, soil temperature was influenced more by vertical depth in the bed than by horizontal location across the bed. Maximum soil temperatures under BP averaged 5.7 and 3.4C greater than those under HV at 5- and 15-cm depths, respectively. More hours at temperatures >20C during the first 4 weeks probably accounted for greater early root and shoot growth and greater early yield of tomatoes grown in BP rater than in HV or BS. After canopy closure, soil temperatures under tomato foliage were reduced compared to those on the outer edge of the beds. Most tomato roots were in areas of the bed covered by the tomato canopy where temperatures in all treatments remained in the optimum 20 to 30C range almost continuously. Soil temperature, therefore, did not explain why total yield was higher in the HV than the BP or BS treatments.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document