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- Author or Editor: S.J. Locascio x
Strawberries (Fragaria ×ananassa, Duch) were grown in the annual hill system at four locations in Florida to compare the effects of standard black low density polyethylene (LDPE) mulch and red reflective mulch (SMR-red) on fruit size and production. Marketable fruit size was not affected by mulch color. Early and total marketable fruit yields were not affected by mulch color at Bradenton, but yields were significantly higher at Gainesville with red than black mulch, and were significantly higher with black than red mulch at Quincy and Hastings. Soil temperatures under the black mulch were significantly higher than red mulch at Hastings but significantly higher under red than black mulch at Gainesville. Mean soil temperatures at soil depths of 5 to 25 cm ranged from 0.2 to 0.4 °C Reflected photosynthetically active radiation values at 25 and 50 cm above the mulch were higher earlier in the season and decreased as the season progressed. Within a month after transplanting when foliage covered about 10% of the mulch, reflections were lower and similar at both heights with black mulch than red and were higher at 25 than 50 cm with red mulch. Data indicate that there was not a consistent advantage of the use of this red mulch over black mulch at four locations in Florida.
Abstract
Peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) were grown during 2 seasons on Blichton fine sand (Arenic Plinthic Paleaquult) to evaluate the effects of black polyethylene mulch and timing of N application on accumulation of applied N by the shoots and fruit. Nitrogen was applied at 224 kg/ha as 15-N depleted (NH4)2SO4 in a split application or in a single application with and without mulch. During a relatively dry season, total fruit yields and N accumulation were not influenced by treatment. At the end of the crop season, N accumulation from the 224 kg N/ha averaged 16.5% in the shoots, 2.2% in the immature fruit, and 15.8% removed in the harvested fruit for a total utilization of 34.5% (77 kg/ha). The soil supplied about 43 kg N/ha. During an extremely wet season, fruit yields and N uptake were influenced significantly by treatments. Fruit yields were 25.1, 5.5, and 17.5 T/ha with the mulch, no-mulch single, and the no mulch split application treatments, respectively. Total N utilizations by plant shoots, immature fruit, and harvested fruit were 41.8% (94 kg/ha), 7.6% (17 kg/ha), and 23.9% (54 kg/ha) of the applied N with the 3 treatments, respectively. Nitrogen quantities utilized from the soil with the 3 treatments were 27, 11, and 15 kg N/ha, respectively.
Abstract
Maintenance of adequate available soil N for bell pepper (Capsicium annuum L.) growth is essential to high production in Florida and requires mulching, fertilizer placement, and timing of fertilizer application. Slow-release N was supplied as sulfur-coated urea, isobutylidene diurea (1BDU), or ureaformaldehyde and was compared at 3 N rates with soluble sources such as urea, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium sulfate on ‘Yolo Wonder’ pepper. In the first season, highest yields and N concentrations of tissue occurred where IBDU and urea were applied broadcast with mulch as compared with band placement. In the second season, broadcast fertilizer placement with mulch was compared with 3 split-fertilizer applications without mulch. Fruit yield was affected by a significant interaction among N sources, N rates, and mulch. Highest fruit yields were obtained with SCU and IBDU applied under mulch at 224 kg N/ha. Leaf N was higher during the season with slow-release N than with soluble N. Soil analyses data from samples taken throughout the season showed that N source and rate significantly influenced the soil available N measured as urea-N, NH4-N, and NO3-N.
Modeling the growth of field-grown tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) should assist researchers and commercial growers to outline optimal crop management strategies for specific locations and production systems. A generic crop-growth model (CROPGRO) was previously adapted to simulate the growth of fresh-market tomato under field conditions. Plant growth and development of field-grown tomato, and fruit yields, will be outlined and compared to model predictions for a number of locations in Florida, nitrogen fertilizer rates, and irrigation management practices. Possible application of the model to quantify effects of crop management on crop production will be discussed using simulated yield values for a wide range of environmental conditions.
Nitrate concentrations in the springs and rivers in northern Florida have been increasing, and several state agencies are interested in implementing nitrogen management programs on farms to reduce N entering the groundwater. Watermelon was grown in the first season of a six-season project under various cultural and fertilization programs to investigate the relationship of N management with N leaching. Treatments were a factorial arrangement of two cultural systems (polyethylene mulch with drip-irrigated beds and unmulched, overhead irrigated beds) and three N fertilization programs [N at the extension-recommended rate, N at the commercial-watermelon-producer rate (1.5 times recommended), or N at the recommended rate with 50% of N from poultry manure]. Nitrate in the soil beneath the watermelon crop was monitored at the 2-m depth with porous-crop suction lysimeters and soil sampling. Yields were greater with the mulch/drip irrigation system compared with the unmulched/sprinkler cultural system; however, fertilization program had no effect on yield. Nitrate-N concentrations in the soil solution at the 2-m depth with all fertilizer treatments were only slightly elevated (3 to 5 mg·L-1) above that in the unfertilized soil (< 1.0 mg·L-1) early in the season when no rain fell. Later in the season, soil solution nitrate-N concentrations at the 2-m depth increased to >50 mg·L -1 with the unmulched treatment and with the greater fertilization rate. Polyethylene mulch, drip irrigation, and recommended N rate combined to maintain groundwater nitrate-N concentration below 10 mg·L-1 for most of the production season and only slightly above 10 mg·L-1 during the summer off-season when rainfall was frequent.
A single lime application of 5.4 t/ha per 20 cm increment of soil to a depth of 60 cm controlled bacterial wilt (Psendomonas solanacearum E. Smith) up to 2 years in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) growing in a naturally infested soil. `Sunny' with 64% disease incidence, was the most susceptible, `Capitan' (20%) was intermediate, and `Caraibo' (5%) and `Hawaii 7997' (2%) were the least susceptible. Incorporation of lime 40 to 60 cm deep reduced bacterial wilt incidence in 'Capitan' by 75%, and 60% in `Sunny'. The number of bacteria in the soil was not affected by lime treatment. Soil pH and total Caincreased linearly with time and with depth of lime incorporation. Bacterial wilt control in `Sunny' and `Capitan' was associated with an increase in pH. Liming to 40 or 60 cm generally increased leaf Ca and decreased Mn, Zn, and Cu. `Hawaii 7997' contained significantly higher concentrations of Ca, Mg, and K, and lower Cu compared to 'Sunny'. `Hawaii 7997' produced significantly higher yields than the other cultivars. Deep lime incorporation increased fruit weight of `Sunny' by 184% and 'Capitan' by 79% as compared with 0 lime.
Growth and production uniformity of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) as influenced by conventional seepage irrigation and by subsurface drip irrigation was evaluated in field studies during two seasons in plots 16 rows (18.3 m) wide and 183 m long. Seepage irrigation water was supplied through ditches located on each side of each plot. Drip irrigation water was distributed through buried tubes placed under the beds 6.1 m apart extending the length of the rows. Water application throughout the plots was accomplished more rapidly with the subsurface drip system and water use during the two seasons was 33% less than with the conventional seepage system. Tuber yield during the first season was similar with the two irrigation systems. During the second season, plant growth, tuber development, and tuber yield were sampled on alternate rows beginning on each outside bed, at each end of each plot, and in the middle of the plots. Irrigation method and bed location among the 16 beds had little influence of potato growth and development. With water flow from north to south, plant growth, and tuber yield were significantly higher from potatoes growing at the north end, lowest in the plot center, and intermediate from potatoes growing at the south end. These data indicate that potato production with the two irrigation systems was similar.
One of the proposed alternative chemicals for methyl bromide is 1,3-D. The most common forms of 1,3-D products are cis- or trans-isomers of 1,3-D with the fungicidal agent, chloropicrin, containing such mixtures as 65% 1,3-D and 35% chloropicrin (C-35). Soil fumigants are commonly applied under a polyethylene film in Florida raised bed vegetable production. Much of the research regarding cropping system effects of alternative fumigants to methyl bromide has focused primarily on plant growth parameters, with little regard to the atmospheric fate of these chemicals. The objective of this research was to determine both the atmospheric emission of 1,3-D under different plastic film treatments and to evaluate effects of application rates of 1,3-D and C-35 on plant pests, growth, and yield of Sunex 9602 summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.). Results showed that use of a high barrier polyethylene film (or virtually impermeable film - VIF) greatly reduced fumigant emission compared to ground cover with conventional polyethylene films or uncovered soil. Summer squash seedling survival was a severe problem in several of the 1,3-D alone treatments where no fungicidal agent was added, whereas C-35 resulted in excellent disease control at both full and one-half of the recommended application rates for this chemical. Both 1,3-D and C-35 provided good plant stands and higher yields when applied at their recommended application rates. However, all squash yields were lower than typical squash production levels due to late planting and early winter frost kill. Chemical names used: 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D); trichloronitropropene (chloropicrin).
Two newly released cultivars of small watermelons [Citrullus lunatus (Thumb.) Matsum and Naki], `Mickylee' and `Minilee', plus two other cultivars, Baby Fun and Sugar Baby, were stored at various temperatures from 1 to 21C for up to 4 weeks plus 1 week at 21C over two seasons. All cultivars were susceptible to chilling injury (CI) when stored below 7C; however, `Minilee' was less susceptible than the other cultivars tested. Chilling injury increased with storage length. Conditioning at 26C for 3 days before storage at 1C reduced CI and increased the percentage of marketable watermelons after storage. Decay percentage increased with storage time and was highest on fruit held at 1C where CI led to decay. The flesh of `Mickylee' and `Minilee' was firmer than that of the other cultivars tested and `Mickylee' and Minilee' retained their firmness better during storage. Total soluble solids concentration decreased with increased storage temperature. `Minilee' watermelons were superior to the other three cultivars in postharvest storage potential and exhibited the least CI and decay.
Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) was grown to evaluate various chemicals as possible alternatives to methyl bromide as a soil fumigant. Due to pest pressures from weeds, nematodes, and soil fungi, the use of a broad-spectrum fumigant is essential for economical tomato production. Methyl bromide (MBr) is the fumigant of choice for most growers using polyethylene mulch culture. In 1991, MBr was identified to be in a group of chemicals allegedly responsible for depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has since called for a phaseout of MBr by the year 2001. At several locations in Florida, alternative soil fumigants were evaluated including 98% MBr-2% chloropicrin (Pic) at 450 kg·ha–1, 67% MBr 33% –Pic (392 kg·ha–1), Pic (390 kg·ha–1), 1,3-dichloropropene + 17% Pic (1,3-D+C17) at 327 L·ha–1, and metham sodium (935 L·ha–1). Metham sodium was also applied by drip irrigation as well as enzone (1870 L·ha–1). Dazomet (448 kg·ha–1) was surface applied and incorporated. Pebulate (4.5 kg·ha–1) was incorporated with some treatments. Pic and 1,3-D+C17 treatments provided control of nematodes and soil fungi. With the addition of pebulate, some nutsedge control also was obtained. Tomato fruit yields with 1,3-D+C17 + pebulate and with Pic + pebulate ranged from 86% to 100% of that obtained with MBr treatments. Pest control and crop production were lower with the other treatments than with the above combinations and with MBr. These studies indicate that no one pesticide can provide the broad spectrum control provided by MBr.