Browse
You are looking at 91 - 100 of 42,449 items for
Here we review the 400-year history of hydroponic culture and describe a unique management approach that does not require leaching or discarding solution between harvests. Nutrients are maintained at a low and steady concentration by daily additions of a dilute solution that replaces the transpired water along with the nutrients that were removed in growth each day. A stable pH and a low steady-state concentration of ammonium are maintained through automated additions of a solution of nitric acid and ammonium nitrate. Ample solution volume (at least 20 cm deep) stabilizes nutrient concentrations, reduces root density, and improves uniformity. Gentle aeration at ≈100 mL·min−1·L−1 maintains dissolved oxygen near saturation and increases uniformity throughout the rhizosphere. These practices facilitate a uniform, closed, root zone with rigorous pH control that provides the micromolar nutrient concentrations of N and P that are representative of field soils.
Limited preemergence herbicides are registered for new blackberry (Rubus subgenus Rubus) plantings. This greenhouse experiment was designed to investigate the effects of a broad selection of preemergence herbicides at multiple rates on blackberry transplants. Screening was initiated Aug 2021 and repeated Mar 2022 in Fayetteville, AR, USA, in a greenhouse at the Milo J. Shult Agricultural Research and Extension Center. ‘Ouachita’ blackberry plugs were transplanted into utility pots that contained field soil and growth media treated with preemergence herbicides. After transplanting, plant height was measured from the substrate to the highest apical meristem of 25 representative plants. Initial blackberry plant heights were 13.5 and 9.2 cm in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Twenty-five treatments were evaluated, consisting of 12 preemergence herbicides at 1× and 2× field rates, and one untreated control. Herbicide treatments included diuron, flumioxazin, halosulfuron, indaziflam, mesotrione, napropamide, oryzalin, pendimethalin, rimsulfuron, S-metolachlor, simazine, and sulfentrazone applied to substrate in containers at their respective 1× or 2× field rates. Data were collected on plant height, blackberry injury ratings, internode length, leaf chlorophyll content, and destructive harvest, including leaf count, leaf dry biomass, and aboveground dry biomass. Specific leaf areas and leaf area-to-dry matter ratios were calculated. When observed, plant injury tended to increase from 7 days after treatment (DAT) until 42 DAT. Greater injury levels were observed in response to treatment with mesotrione at the 1× (78%) and 2× rates (90%), halosulfuron at the 1× rate (58%), halosulfuron at the 2× rate (68%), and diuron at the 2× rate (73%). Injury from diuron was rate dependent, with the 1× rate causing relatively low injury (19%). At both the 1× and 2× rates, flumioxazin, indaziflam, napropamide, S-metolachlor, and pendimethalin treatments exhibited similar responses to the untreated control.
In the Vase system, the most common training system for peach-growing countries for more than a century, light distribution to the canopy is uneven, and access to the canopy for pruning, thinning, and harvest labor is difficult. It is important to identify alternative systems to the Vase system considering the cultivar and growing environment to facilitate labor and enhance productivity and quality. In Türkiye, one of the important centers of peach growing worldwide, detailed research has yet to be published on the applicability of training systems alternative to the widely used Vase system. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of different training systems (Vase, Catalan Vase, Quad-V, Tri-V) on growth, yield, fruit quality, and labor costs of peach cultivars (Extreme® 314, Extreme® 436, Extreme® 568). The experiment was conducted from 2017 to 2022. Although the distance between rows in all training systems is 5 m, the distance between trees on the row is determined as 4 m in Vase, 3 m in Catalan Vase, 2.5 m in Quad-V, and 2 m in Tri-V. In the experiment, vegetative development parameters, such as canopy volume, trunk sectional area, and the amount of winter pruning weights, differed according to the training system. In the final year, the Vase system, which produces the most pruning weight, generates 48.0% more pruning weight compared with the Tri-V system, which produces the least. Concerning yield per tree and hectare, trained to the Vase system yielded higher fruit per tree regardless of cultivar, while the Quad-V and Tri-V systems yielded more fruit per hectare. The training system and cultivar affected the fruit size; the largest fruits were obtained from the Extreme® 568 cultivar trained according to the Vase system. The most time needed for winter pruning was obtained from the Vase (79.4 min/tree) system, and the Tri-V (57.4 min/tree) and Quad-V (60.3 min/tree) systems required the least time. The Catalan Vase (31.1 min/tree) system required the least time for summer pruning. The most fruit harvest in an hour was obtained from the trees trained according to the Tri-V (164.5 kg/h) and Quad-V (132.02 kg/h) systems. These results suggest that Quad-V and Catalan Vase systems performed well and could be alternatives to the Vase system.
Turfgrass management includes many different components and without proper management turfgrass aesthetics will diminish. In addition, mismanagement of turfgrass systems could lead to negative environmental impacts. This situation creates the need for Extension agents to deliver turfgrass management educational and outreach programs to the various stakeholders and the general public. However, Extension agents require professional development in terms of turfgrass management. A needs assessment of [State] Extension agents was conducted at the University of Florida to determine the professional development needs relating to turfgrass management. Through this needs assessment, there were 51 individual competencies identified that were categorized into nine distinct competency domains. In general, the highest priority relative to professional development needs were related to the pest management (i.e., disease, insect, weeds, and nematodes) competency domains. Extension specialists can use the information from this needs assessment to adjust current and tailor new turfgrass management professional development programs to address the identified needs with the highest priority [i.e., greatest mean weighted discrepancy score (MWDS)]. Professional development programs could include creating new or adjusting educational materials and resources for the needs identified, in-service trainings for Extension agents to provide additional education, series of academies to provide baseline knowledge to Extension agents, and an online database to provide information and guidance. In addition, the results and needs identified from this needs assessment can be used as a basis for obtaining educational funding.
Urea cocrystal materials are a potential fertilizer source that has shown to decrease environmental nitrogen losses. Novel nitrogen (N)-containing urea cocrystal fertilizers, CaSO4·4urea (UC1) and Ca(H2PO4)2·4urea (UC2), were synthesized using the mechanochemical method to form stable urea cocrystals to be tested as a fertilizer source for turfgrass. The objectives of this study were to 1) evaluate the response of ‘Tifway’ hybrid bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon × C. traansvalensis Burt Davy) to N fertilization by urea cocrystals and traditional coated urea products (MU·PCU, methylene urea, urea, polymer-coated urea; PCU, polymer-coated urea, urea) supplied at two rates at the beginning of two, 10-week study periods conducted under a greenhouse setting and 2) investigate N release behavior of urea and two cocrystal products using a rapid water release test. In the turfgrass response study conducted in the greenhouse, improved turfgrass quality above the minimum quality threshold was observed when averaging across all products. For normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), cocrystal outperformed all other products in the summer study and both cocrystal products outperformed the traditional product (MU·PCU) in the winter study. Further, both cocrystal products showed favorable growth responses compared with the commercial products provided by positive clipping production and vertical extension rates. In the nitrogen release experiment, a rapid water release test revealed the N release peak of urea was significantly higher than both UC1 and UC2. Furthermore, significantly higher N was leached from urea (15% loss) compared with both UC1 and UC2 (≈8% loss). Results from both studies provide evidence supporting suitability of urea cocrystal application on bermudagrass and potential as a slow-release fertilizer source through sustained turfgrass vigor, growth, decreased N release peak, and decreased leaching losses.
Industries have found themselves under a microscope because consumers are basing more of their purchasing decisions on a company’s sustainability practices. The floral industry is perceived as being environmentally friendly by consumers. However, based on waste production, the life cycle of fresh merchandise, and the carbon footprint of flowers shipped across the world, this purchasing assumption is not entirely true. To align with consumer perceptions and become more sustainable, the industry must adapt to include more sustainable practices. New and experienced florists alike must determine how they can make slight changes in their businesses to become more environmentally savvy. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the introduction of more sustainable waste practices into a college floral design course influenced the students’ perceptions of environmental health. Two groups of students enrolled in the basic floral design course at Mississippi State University completed a survey about environmental health at the start and at the end of the semester. However, one group sorted their laboratory wastes into compostable material and landfill material. The results of this study indicated that students who separated their floral waste maintained the same level of environmental concern throughout the testing period, whereas the environmental health scores of those who did not separate their waste declined slightly. The results also indicated that the participants who did not separate their floral waste had lower mean scores at the beginning and at the end of the study. Finally, the results of this study indicated that students who separated floral waste were ranked as having high environmental concern compared to those who did not separate their floral waste in the laboratory.
Two eggplant cultivars (Brigitte and Dalong) were stored under ambient conditions for 8 days to examine the postharvest quality and shelf life. Results indicated that the respiration rate, firmness and springiness, and nutritional quality of both eggplant cultivars decreased with the extension of shelf life. On the contrary, opposite trends were observed in weight loss, gumminess, and chewiness of eggplant fruits. In addition, the weight loss of ‘Brigitte’ eggplant fruits was 3.3% and 6.9% lower compared with ‘Dalong’ eggplant fruits at 4 and 8 days after storage. Thicknesses of epidermal cells and the stratum corneum, the epicuticular wax content of ‘Brigitte eggplant fruits increased by 42.9%, 766.7%, and 58.8% compared with ‘Dalong’ eggplant fruits, respectively, with a concomitant increase in the dense wax layer structure. In conclusion, the storage tolerance of ‘Brigitte’ eggplant fruits was higher than that of ‘Dalong’ eggplant fruits due to the higher epicuticular wax content and dense wax layer structure.
Understanding consumers’ preferences for fruit quality attributes is key to informing breeding efforts, meeting consumer preferences, and promoting increased market demand. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of fruit quality traits and hedonic sensory evaluation on consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for a selection of fresh northern and southern highbush blueberry cultivars. The WTP was elicited by using a double-bounded contingent valuation conducted in conjunction with a consumer sensory test. Two types of models were estimated using either sensory evaluations (i.e., consumer preference and consumer intensity) or instrumental measurement data (i.e., measures of soluble solids, titratable acidity, sugars, acids, and firmness) as explanatory variables to model WTP. Results using sensory evaluations indicated that flavor liking, flavor intensity, and sweetness intensity are key factors that influence consumers’ acceptance and WTP for blueberries. A regression analysis using instrumental measurements indicated that measures related to sweetness and acidity traits are important factors that determine WTP. Higher WTP was associated with higher total sugar content across different levels of total organic acid. The WTP increases with organic acid content, because this is needed for enhanced flavor; however, WTP declines at high concentrations of organic acid. Except for extreme values of firmness, the WTP increased as measures of fruit firmness increased, indicating a consumer preference for firmer blueberries. Overall, the results provided new insights into the relationships between consumer preference and WTP and fruit quality benchmarks to select for improved quality.