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Field studies were conducted in 1996 on two pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) cultivars, `Howden' (vining-type growth habit) and `Wizard' (semi-bush growth habit), at two locations to determine the effect of plant population and row width on marketable yield. Increasing plant populations from 2990 to 8960 plants per hectare resulted in significantly greater fruit number and yield at both locations and for both varieties. Average fruit size declined at the highest populations. Increasing row width from 1.8 to 3.6 m resulted in a slight but significant decrease in number of fruit per hectare with no effect on other yield parameters. At one location, the effect of row width on yield and number of fruit per hectare depended on the population. At low populations, row width did not influence yield or fruit number; at high populations, wide rows produced lower yield and fewer fruit than narrow rows. The results demonstrate that growers may increase pumpkin yield by increasing plant populations but should use narrower row widths and wider in-row spacing. Growers who choose higher populations should ensure that all inputs are optimized to reduce potential plant-to-plant competition and use regionally adapted cultivars.
Field studies were conducted at two locations in 1995 to determine the effect of spacing, nitrogen application, and variety on pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) marketable yield. Pumpkin yield was unaffected by three rates of applied N (67, 112, or 157 kg N·ha-1). Marketable fruit number per hectare increased with both 'Howden' and 'Wizard' pumpkins as in-row plant spacing decreased from 1.2 to 0.3 m. Average fruit size significantly decreased at the closer spacing, but the decline in mass was much greater in nonirrigated as compared to irrigated plots. This resulted in a significantly greater yield in the irrigated plots at the closer spacing, while there was no significant increase in yield without irrigation. The results demonstrate that growers may increase the number of fruit per unit area with closer spacing but optimal soil moisture may be a prerequisite for the increase.
Abstract
A field trial was conducted to determine whether B deficient soils (B at 0.27 µl·liter–1) contribute to low yield and fruit malformation in strawberries. B rates of 0, 1.1, 2.2, and 4.5 kg·ha–1 were applied to the soil before planting ‘Tristar’ and ‘Benton’ strawberries on 9 Apr. 1985. Soil hot-water extractable B levels in Aug. 1985 were 0.34, 0.53, 0.85, and 1.13 µl·liter–1; leaf B levels were 47, 56, 72, and 102 µl·liter–1, respectively. The effect of B rates on leaf concentration diminished as the season progressed and had no effect the following year. B application had no effect on yield or deformity the first harvest year, but decreased yield of ‘Tristar’ the second harvest year.