scholarly journals Comparative Performance of Sugarcane Bagasse and Black Polyethylene as Mulch for Squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) Production

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Charles L. Webber III ◽  
Paul M. White Jr ◽  
Douglas J. Spaunhorst ◽  
Eric C. Petrie
Keyword(s):  
Sugarcane Bagasse ◽  
Cucurbita Pepo ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Comparative Performance ◽  
Steam Power ◽  
Raw Sugar ◽  
Black Plastic

Louisiana processed 11.7 million mt of sugarcane in 2016, producing 1.47 million mt of raw sugar and an estimated 3.5 million mt of bagasse. Sugarcane bagasse is the fibrous material remaining after removing the sucrose, water, and other impurities (filter mud) from the millable sugarcane. Typically, Louisiana sugarcane mills burn a portion of the bagasse to heat boilers to steam power the mill for grinding and sugar processing. The balance of the bagasse is stored at the sugar mill where it accumulates in immense piles. Research was conducted in 2015 and 2016 to investigate the use of sugarcane bagasse as a natural mulch for vegetable production. The field experiment compared sugarcane bagasse mulch, black plastic mulch, and no mulch (control) for suitable mulching treatments for squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) production. The black plastic mulch produced significantly greater marketable fruits/plant, fruit number, and total yield (kg/ha) across years compared to the sugarcane bagasse mulch. The sugarcane bagasse mulch and the no mulch control were not significantly different for these same parameters. Black plastic also produced heaver fruit (g/fruit) than the sugarcane bagasse mulch and the control in 2015. The black plastic mulch produced greater yields due to the greater cumulative growing degree days (CGDD) received compared to the sugarcane bagasse mulch and no mulch control. The sugarcane bagasse mulch tended to mitigate temperature extremes by serving as a soil insulator. Future research should investigate the potential deleterious impact, if any, of the sugarcane bagasse on soil microbes, C/N ratio, soil pH, and allelopathy, which might adversely influence cucurbit growth.

Effect of plastic mulch and row covers on photosynthesis and yield of watermelon

2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (12) ◽  
pp. 1653 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Ibarra-Jiménez ◽  
J. Munguía-López ◽  
A. J. Lozano-del Río ◽  
A. Zermeño-González
Keyword(s):  
Total Yield ◽  
Net Photosynthesis ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Row Covers ◽  
Number Of Leaves ◽  
Clear Plastic ◽  
Black Plastic ◽  
Growing Conditions

The effect of row covers on watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris) grown on plastic mulch is well documented. However, row covers have not been adequately evaluated under Mexican growing conditions. Watermelon plants were grown on plastic mulch alone or with row covers to study their effect on photosynthesis, and early and total yields. Treatments were clear plastic mulch (C); black plastic mulch (B); B plus a Vispore cover of polypropylene (BV); B plus a white cover of perforated polyethylene (BW); B plus a clear cover of perforated polyethylene (BC); B plus an Agribon cover of polypropylene (BA); and bare soil as the control. For plants grown in treatment C, B or B combined with row covers, plant dry weight and number of leaves 40 days after seeding (DAS) were higher than the control (P<0.05), except BC which was comparable to the control. Total yields of treatments C, B, BV, BW and BA differed (P<0.05) from BC and the control. Total yields increased by 46.1, 43.2, 35.7, 41.6, 13.3, 15.4 and 35.8 t/ha for the C, B, BV, BW, BC and BA treatments, respectively, over the control, which yielded 27.1 t/ha. Total yield was highest for the C and the B treatment suggesting that there was no need for additional covers. The number of leaves per plant or dry weight per plant better explains the changes in yield than net photosynthesis rate. Stomatal conductance was explained in part by changes in photosynthesis.

scholarly journals 537 PB 043 ROWCOVER AND BLACK PLASTIC MULCH EFFECTS ON TOMATO PRODUCTIONS

HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 508d-508
Author(s):  
Ibrahim G. Rubeiz ◽  
Marlene M. Freiwat
Keyword(s):  
Air Temperature ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Fruit Setting ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Black Plastic ◽  
Effect On Yield ◽  
Yield Time ◽  
And Control

Tomato cv. Alwadi were grown under floating rowcover, black plastic mulch, mulch plus rowcover, or no protection i.e. control, for studying the effect on yield in terms of earliness, total yield and average fruit size. Early yield was significantly increased by the mulch treatment while the rowcover treatment yielded the least (P < 0.05). Total yield was increased by the mulch and mulch plus rowcover treatments, while the rowover and control treatments yielded the least (P < 0.05). Soil temperature at 10 cm depth varied between 1° to 2°C only under the different treatments. Air temperature under the rowcover exceeded 35 to 40°C on many days, hence causing fruit setting problems and resulting in reduced early yield under the rowcover. Our results show that earliness is enhanced by black plastic mulch, while the rowcover alone can have a negative effect on yield. Time of rowcover removal above the mulch warrants further research.

scholarly journals 2005 PERSONAL SIZE “MINI” TRIPLOID WATERMELON VARIETY TRIAL

HortScience ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 510A-510
Author(s):  
Thomas Horgan ◽  
Richard Snyder ◽  
Peter Hudson ◽  
Edgar Vinson ◽  
Joseph Kemble
Keyword(s):  
Total Yield ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Plant Spacing ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Variety Trial ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Black Plastic ◽  
Triploid Watermelon ◽  
Soluble Solids Concentration

Ten “mini” or personal size seedless watermelons were evaluated at three locations: north and central Mississippi and in central Alabama. `Betsy', `Bobbie', `Demi-Sweet', `Extazy', `Mini Yellow', `Petite Treat', `Solitaire', `Valdoria', `Vanessa', and `Wonder' were the cultivars trialed. Seedlings were started, in a greenhouse, four weeks before planting. All locations used drip irrigation and black plastic mulch and were fertilized according to soil testing lab recommendations. A personal size diploid (seeded) variety, `Jenny', was used as the pollinator. One pollinator was planted, and interspaced evenly, for every three triploid plants. Four harvests were made at each location on 7-day intervals. Yields reported are based on 2,074 triploid plants per acre and 1,037 pollinizer plants per acre. Only the triploid yield reported. Plant spacing was 14 ft2 per plant. For total yield (lb/acre) the cultivars `Petite Treat' (27,210), `Valdoria' (25,700), and `Demi-Sweet' (26,400) were among the top producers at each location. `Mini Yellow' was a top producer at all locations averaging 22,480 lb/acre. For total yield (fruit/acre) the cultivars `Valdoria' (3,380), `Petite Treat' (3,470), `Bobbie' (3,470), `Betsy' (3,380), and `Vanessa' (2,740), were among the top producers at each location. For total yield (lb/fruit) `Betsy' (6.9), `Wonder' (6.7), and `Vanessa' (6.1) had the overall lowest individual fruit weights. `Demi-Sweet' had the highest individual fruit weight in central Alabama (10.0) and north Mississippi (8.8). One problem observed was that a number of melons among cultivars were above or below size class. Also determining melon ripeness was a challenge. Melon quality was good. The soluble solids concentration (sweetness) of all melons was excellent. `Demi-Sweet' had the highest incidence of hollowheart. `Wonder' and `Extazy' had no incidences of hollowheart at any location. Rind thickness had no significant differences, however in both locations measured `Mini Yellow' had the thinnest rind. Rind necrosis was not encountered.

The Food Safety Risks of Harvesting Dropped and Drooping Produce: A Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Doren ◽  
Robert Hadad ◽  
Lisa McKeag ◽  
Caitlin Tucker ◽  
Elizabeth Newbold
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Ground Surface ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Rule Sets ◽  
Managing Risk ◽  
The Impact

The Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rule sets forth minimum standards for fruit and vegetable production in the U.S. One provision states that growers must not harvest dropped produce, as damage or ground contact may contaminate produce. An unpublished survey of 2020 food safety inspections conducted by the Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety identified handling of dropped covered produce as a common misunderstanding and non-compliance issue among Northeast growers. In considering this provision’s on-farm practicality, this review was conducted to evaluate the risks associated with dropped and drooping produce to guide growers in making informed risk management decisions, and to answer the following questions: 1) What are the risk factors that influence transferability of pathogens from touching the ground to produce?; and 2) What are the risks associated with harvesting dropped or drooping produce covered under the Rule? A search of online databases found twelve relevant publications, which highlight moisture, contact time, and crop features as affecting contamination rates from a ground surface to a crop surface. Soil and mulch pose a differential risk, with bare soil generally presenting a lower risk than plastic mulch. The effects of other mulch types is unclear. Mulches may promote pathogen persistence in soil, though they may also protect produce from contaminated soils. These studies are limited in their scope and applicability and most do not directly address dropped produce. Future research is needed to clarify the varying effects of dropped and drooping produce, the impact of ground surface type on pathogen survivability and transfer, soil and crop features that facilitate contamination, and post-harvest risks of harvesting dropped or drooping produce. A comprehensive understanding will guide growers in implementing preventive measures and better managing risk in a way practicable to their farm's unique conditions.

Effect of Planting Method, Mulch, and Rowcover Combinations on Yield and Fruit Quality of `Earliqueen' Muskmelon

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 475a-475
Author(s):  
David T. Handley ◽  
Sheri I. Koller ◽  
James F. Dill
Keyword(s):  
Total Yield ◽  
Growth Period ◽  
Direct Seeding ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Early Maturity ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Black Plastic ◽  
Marketable Fruit ◽  
Planting Method

Three techniques to enhance the development and yield of `Earliqueen' muskmelon, including transplanting, plastic mulch, and rowcovers, were applied in all combinations to determine which practice or practices offered the most beneficial effects on early maturity, and total marketable yield. Using transplants (two true leaf stage) as opposed to direct seeding had the greatest effect on increasing early yield. Black plastic mulch also significantly increased early yield. Rowcovers did not provide an overall increase in early yield, although the highest early yield was achieved from the transplant/mulch/rowcover combination. Black plastic mulch had the greatest effect on total marketable yield. Transplanting also significantly increased total yield. A slight increase observed for rowcover treatments was not significant. The combination of transplanting/plastic mulch/rowcover produced the highest marketable yield of any treatment. Direct seeding combined with no mulch produced the lowest yields and the lowest percent of marketable fruit. Under the conditions of a prolonged, cool, cloudy spring, followed by a hot, dry summer, the use of transplants and black plastic mulch provided significant increases in marketable yield of `Earliqueen' muskmelons. Rowcovers did not provide significant yield effects, probably due to low light levels during the early growth period.

scholarly journals Production of iceberg lettuce using mulches

2001 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 737-740 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Fontanetti Verdial ◽  
Márcio Santos de Lima ◽  
Átila F. Morgor ◽  
Rumy Goto
Keyword(s):  
Weed Control ◽  
Sugarcane Bagasse ◽  
Iron Accumulation ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Individual Weight ◽  
Iceberg Lettuce ◽  
Black Plastic ◽  
Nitrogen Phosphorus

Mulches bring several benefits to lettuce cultivation. This work evaluated the effect of mulches on the cultivation of iceberg lettuce, cv. Lucy Brown. The treatment plots were: 1- no mulch and no weed control (control); 2- no mulch and weed control every 15 days; 3- sugarcane bagasse mulch of 2 cm thickness; 4- black plastic mulch; 5- double-faced plastic mulch (silver/black). Data were collected in regard to plant cycle when in the field, amount of chlorophyll in the leaves, productivity (individual weight per head) and amount of nutrients absorbed by the leaves. Double-faced plastic mulch provides the highest productivity and the highest values for the amount of chlorophyll, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, boron and iron accumulation in the leaves.

scholarly journals Amelioration of Blossom-end Rot of Bell Pepper by Rowcovers and Supplemental Calcium

HortScience ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 530B-530
Author(s):  
George H. Clough ◽  
Shara E. Alexander
Keyword(s):  
Irrigation System ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Bell Pepper ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Supplemental Calcium ◽  
Blossom End Rot ◽  
Black Plastic ◽  
Calcium Fertilization

A 2-year study was conducted in eastern Oregon to evaluate the effects of hooped spunbonded polypropylene rowcovers and calcium fertilization on yield and quality of drip-irrigated bell pepper grown on black plastic mulch. The experiment was a complete factorial with four replications of two varieties, covered and uncovered plots, and three levels of supplemental calcium fertilization at 0, 34 and 68 kg·ha–1 applied through the drip irrigation system as Ca(NO3)2. Marketable yields increased with rowcover, both at the first harvest and over the season. Blossom-end rot and sunscald were reduced substantially by rowcovers; the effect was greatest during the earlier harvests. First harvest and season total yield of fancy grade peppers increased linearly as rate of supplemental calcium increased, as did total marketable yield at the first harvest. There was a trend to decreasing yield of fruit with blossom-end rot as calcium rate increased, and the percent fruit with blossom-end rot at the first harvest decreased linearly with increasing rate of calcium fertilization. Yield of fruit affected by sunscald decreased linearly as supplemental calcium rate increased at the first harvest; overall, yield of sunscald fruit was reduced by application of calcium at either rate.

scholarly journals 490 Effects of Rye–Vetch No-till and Habitat Strips and Black Plastic Mulch on Insect Densities, Weed Control, and Freshmarket Cucumber Growth and Yield

HortScience ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 478E-479
Author(s):  
John Caldwell ◽  
Maurice Ogutu
Keyword(s):  
Weed Control ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Insect Pest ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
No Till ◽  
Direct Seeded ◽  
Black Plastic

Greater plant diversity is associated with reduced insect pest pressure, but field-scale vegetable production systems incorporating plant diversity have been lacking. Cucumber was grown in 1998 and 1999 at the Virginia Tech Kentland experimental farm, by direct seeding or transplanting into rye/vetch mixture rolled to make a no-till mulch alternating with strips of vetch left to flower as a habitat for beneficial insects between cucumber rows, or direct-seeded into black plastic mulch between habitat strips or with bare soil between rows. Rye and hairy vetch were seeded at 56 kg·ha–1 each the preceding fall; only rye was planted in plots without habitats. A rippled coulter, cutting shank, and daisy wheels mounted on a tractor-drawn toolbar enabled a belt-driven seeder to seed cucumbers without pulling the no-till mulch. One hand weeding in cucumber rows at 3 weeks after planting (WAP) provided weed control equivalent to pre-emergence herbicide. At 3 WAP, no-till transplanted cucumbers had higher above-ground plant dry weights than no-till direct seeded cucumbers in both years, but, at 6 WAP, cucumber above-ground plant dry weights were equal (1999) or higher (1998) in direct seeded no-till than in transplanted no-till or black plastic mulch on bare soil. In 1999, Pennsylvania leatherwings, Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus DeG. (Coleoptera: Cantharidae), a cucumber beetle predator, had higher densities and cucumber beetles lower densities in no-till plots than in black plastic mulch plots, and bacterial wilt incidence was reduced in plots with habitat strips and no insecticide application compared to plots without habitat strips and four insecticide applications. Cumulative marketable yields in no-till were 59% higher in 1998 and 23% higher in 1999 compared to yields on black plastic mulch.

scholarly journals Spunbonded Rowcover and Calcium Fertilization Improve Quality and Yield in Bell Pepper

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 1150-1152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shara E. Alexander ◽  
George H. Clough
Keyword(s):  
Irrigation System ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Bell Pepper ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Blossom End Rot ◽  
Black Plastic ◽  
Calcium Fertilization

A 2-year study was conducted in eastern Oregon to evaluate the effects of hooped spunbonded polypropylene rowcovers and Ca fertilization on yield and quality of drip-irrigated bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. Grossum group) grown on black plastic mulch. The experiment was a complete factorial with four replications of two cultivars, covered and uncovered plots, and three levels of supplemental Ca fertilization at 0, 34, and 68 kg·ha-1 applied through the drip irrigation system as Ca(NO3)2. Rowcovers increased marketable yields both at the first harvest and over the season. Blossom-end rot and sunscald were reduced substantially by rowcovers; the effect was greatest during the earlier harvests. First-harvest and season total yield of fancy grade peppers increased linearly as rate of supplemental Ca increased, as did total marketable yield at the first harvest. Both yield of fruit with blossom-end rot and the percentage of fruit with blossom-end rot at the first harvest decreased as Ca rate increased. Yield of fruit affected by sunscald decreased linearly as supplemental Ca rate increased at the first harvest; overall, yield of sunscalded fruit was reduced by application of Ca at either rate.

scholarly journals The Effects of Colored Plastic Mulches and Row Covers on the Growth and Yield of Okra

2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 224-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garry G. Gordon ◽  
Wheeler G. Foshee ◽  
Stewart T. Reed ◽  
James E. Brown ◽  
Edgar L. Vinson
Keyword(s):  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Row Covers ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
Black Plastic

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus ‘Clemson Spineless’) was grown on an Orangeburg sandy loam soil in Shorter, AL. Okra was direct-seeded in single rows. Treatments consisted of five mulch colors: black, white, red, silver, and blue installed either with or without spun-bonded row cover. Soil temperatures were 4 to 7 °C lower than air temperatures in all treatments. The use of darker (black, blue, red) -colored plastic mulches increased early and total yield of okra compared with bare soil with and without row cover. Increased soil and air temperatures did not always correlate to an increase in yield. It can be concluded that the use of dark plastic mulch is advantageous to growers of okra in climates that do not have cool springs, but the added use of row covers to plastic mulch has no effect on growth and yield. The profit of marketable okra produced using a row cover was $1.37 versus $1.35 per pound without a cover in 2003 and $1.28 versus $1.29 per pound in 2004. Blue plastic mulch is ≈$0.08 per foot more expensive than black plastic. Our data do not show an economic advantage for blue over black mulch for okra, but the positive effect cited by other authors may be more pronounced with leafy vegetables.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document