Search Results
Abstract
Germinated spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) seed (radicle length 3 to 12 mm) were subjected to dehydration under uncontrolled room conditions for 3 to 25 days before planting. Although diminishing over time, some seedlings emerged after all dehydration periods. Seedling height and dry weight responded similarly. Dehydration of germinated seed for ≥15 days was required before seedling emergence was reduced by 50% of that produced by undehydrated germinated seed. Three cultivars responded similarly to length of dehydration period in respect to seedling emergence and vigor.
Abstract
Only one of 12 chemical compounds was effective in stimulating suberization and wound periderm activity in cut potato seed pieces. Polyram applied as a 7% dust had a consistently favorable effect on suberization. However, it did not stimulate wound periderm activity as efficiently as it did suberization in cut seed pieces from any of the clones.
Response of triploid watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) cv. Tiffany] to fertilizer source (FS) [poultry litter (PL) vs. commercial fertilizer (CF)1, black plastic mulch (BPM), and spunbonded floating row cover (SFC) was evaluated in 1990 on an East Texas Fuquay-Darco sandy loam soil. Plant growth and percent soluble solids were equated by FS. Vine fresh weight, number and total melon weight per plot, average melon weight, and percent soluble solids were increased 27%, 29%, 45%, 24%, and 17%, respectively, by BPM when compared to no mulch treatment. BPM + SFC treatment decreased vine fresh weight but increased total melon number which in turn increased plot weight. PL increased plant P, K, and Mg 16%, 12%, and 24%, respectively, when compared to CF. Plant Ca was increased 21% by CF. Plant N, P, Ca, and Mg were increased 18%, 16%, 22%, and 15% by the use of BPM. A reduction in plant N was found when SFC was used alone and with treatments lacking BPM or BPM + SFC. Mean soil temperature was increased on the average 2°C at 10 cm depth by BPM when compared to all other treatments. Mean 24 hr air temperature 2 cm above BP and bare ground under SFC was increased 5°C above ambient.
This study was conducted to determine the effect of within-row plant spacing and mulching on growth, quality, and yield of an experimental semi-savoy spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) genotype `Ark-310' to produce a high-quality fresh-market product. Spinach transplants were established in the field on 13 Nov. 1995 and 3 Dec. 1997. Within-row spacings were 15 and 25 cm, and mulching treatments were bare-soil and black polyethylene mulch. Plants were destructively sampled weekly (1996) or bi-weekly (1998) for leaf area (LA), leaf number, leaf dry weight (LDW); and root dry weight (RDW) measurements. Plants grown on plastic mulch at 25-cm spacing had the greater LA, LDW, and RDW than when grown at 15-cm spacing on mulch or bare-soil. Leaf number and specific leaf area (LA/LDW) were less affected by either spacing or mulching. The amount of soil on harvested leaves was lowest on plants grown on plastic mulch in both years. In one year, total yields (MT/ha) were 42% higher when plant spacing decreased from 25 cm to 15 cm, while mulch increased yields by 20 %, a response that was independent of plant spacing. These effects were not evident in the year with higher rainfall. It appears that for a root-cut or loose leaf spinach, yield efficiency and product cleanliness of `Ark 310' spinach may be further improved by combining high plant density with efficient irrigation and fertilization programs under mulch and drip.
Abstract
Selected gibberellin A3 (GA3) rates and application dates on yield and harvest efficiency of the savoy spinach (Spinacea oleracea) cultivar ‘Iron Duke’ were evaluated. The most favorable yield response was achieved under fall conditions with 15-20 g GA3/ha applied 7–14 days prior to the anticipated harvest date. When cool temperatures (5° to 12°C) prevailed during the treatment and posttreatment periods, increased GA3 rates and prolonged response times were necessary. Gibberellin A3 did not induce bolting when applied as early as 1 Nov. but applications later than 15 Feb. enhanced the rate of seed stalk development.
In a field experiment, fertilizer source (poultry litter vs. commercial), plastic mulch, row cover, and fertilizer rate (residual from 1990 study vs. additional) were applied in factorial combinations to determine the effect on vegetative growth and production of triploid watermelons. Litter (3.12 % total N) was re-applied at the rate of 13.2 Mt·ha-1 along with commercial fertilizer (6N-10.5P-20K) at 1.1 Mt·ha-1. Plastic mulch showed the greatest influence on vegetative growth and production variables by increasing vine length 26.1 cm, leaf area 61.8 cm2, yield 4207 kg·ha-1, melon number 741 ·ha-1, and average melon weight 0.8 kg, over unmulched plots. Plastic mulch with or without row cover increased melon number significantly when compared to plots without mulch or row covers. Poultry litter increased vine length, yield, and average melon weight 15.4 cm, 1971 kg·ha-1, and 0.5 kg, respectively, when compared to commercial fertilizer. Poultry litter in combination with row cover increased yield by 3864 kg ·ha-1 over commercial fertilizer with row cover, and approximately 2567 kg·ha-1 over poultry litter and commercial fertilizer without row cover. Additional fertilizer increased average melon weight 1.3 kg.
Fresh-market spinach production has risen in the United States in the past few years as well as total value of the crop. Increased crop value may be attributed to more “value added” spinach products being produced and marketed. Public awareness of nutrition is rising due to more information being distributed concerning cancer prevention, antioxidants, and neutraceuticals. Spinach is high in the carotenoids beta-carotene and lutein, a known antioxidant for the prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is also high in vitamins A, C, E, and folate, fiber, and the mineral iron. In this respect, spinach producers have an advantage over growers of salad vegetables such as lettuce. While this is an advantage, more innovative “value added” methods of marketing this product to the consumer are needed. A dark-green, semi-savoy spinach type developed at the Univ. of Arkansas was studied to determine shelf-life and storage capabilities of root cut plants in transparent clamshell containers. Plants were held at temperatures ranging from 1 to 6 °C. Leaf turgidity and visual characteristics were rated on a 1 to 5 scale. Acceptable characteristics and shelf-life of spinach stored in clamshell containers were seen up to 14 to 21 days when plants were stored at or near 1 °C. These results indicate that spinach packaged in transparent clamshell containers will maintain an acceptable shelf-life and could be beneficial to fresh market spinach producers.
A temperature experiment with two cultivars of muskmelon (`Gold Rush' and `Mission') was conducted in growth chambers to determine how main vine leaf appearance rates responded to temperature. We identified three cardinal temperatures for leaf appearance rate: the base temperature (10 °C) at which leaf appearance rate was zero, an optimum temperature where leaf appearance rate was at a maximum (34 °C) and an upper threshold temperature (45 °C) where leaf appearance rate returned to zero. Using these three cardinal temperatures, we constructed a simplified thermal unit accumulator for hourly measurements of air temperature. Main vine plastochron interval (PI), thermal time to harvest and final yield was determined for three cultivars of muskmelon (`Explorer', `Goldrush', and `Mission') grown in the field over six transplanting dates. The PI was calculated for each cultivar-transplanting date combination as the reciprocal of the slope of main vine node number vs. accumulated hourly thermal units (Tu). The PI was significantly affected by both cultivar and transplanting date. Final yield was sharply reduced in the last two planting dates, presumably due to high temperature stresses impacting reproductive development. As air temperatures warmed during the field experiment, the time interval from transplanting to 10% final harvest were reduced by between 21 to 28 days among the three cultivars and the first four transplanting dates. Our goal was to construct a simple muskmelon phenology model that could be run with easily obtainable weather station data and used by growers to quantify phenological development and aid in projecting harvest dates. We also wanted to test whether main vine node number was a useful description of vegetative development for muskmelon.
Triploid watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thunb.) was grown on the same plots in 1990 and 1991 and fertilized with either poultry litter or commercial fertilizer. Additional treatments included bare soil or plots mulched with black polyethylene, and plots with or without spunbonded fabric row covers over both bare soil and mulch. Watermelon yields were unaffected by fertilizer source in 1990 but were significantly higher for poultry litter than for commercial fertilizer treatment in 1991. Polyethylene mulch significantly increased postharvest soil NO3 and leaf N concentrations in 1990 and increased yield and yield components in both years. There were no beneficial effects of row covers on yield in either year, presumably because no early-season freezes occurred.
Triploid watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thunb.) was grown on the same plots in 1990 and 1991 and fertilized with either poultry litter or commercial fertilizer. Additional treatments included bare soil or plots mulched with black polyethylene, and plots with or without spun-bonded fabric row covers over both bare soil and mulch. Watermelon yields were unaffected by fertilizer source in 1990 butwere significantly higher for poultry litter than for commercial fertilizer treatment in 1991. Polyethylene mulch significantly increased postharvest soil NO3 and leaf N concentrations in 1990 and increased yield and yield components in both years. There were no beneficial effects of row covers on yield in either year, presumably because no early-season freezes occurred.