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Many small and part-time commercial vegetable growers in Alabama rely on rainfall to provide irrigation for their crops. This, coupled with limited financial resources, creates situations where poor-quality produce and low yields are common. Working cooperatively with county extension agents, growers that met a series of criteria and that could benefit from drip irrigation were identified. An on-farm result demonstration and educational program was developed to help combat this problem by emphasizing the importance of irrigation and introducing affordable drip irrigation systems for these growers. County agents and growers participated in an educational program, which involved a daylong course covering the basics of drip irrigation and hands-on training with all components of the drip system. Necessary background information on each site was collected and a drip irrigation system was designed for each site. Next, each grower was provided with all of the necessary materials and equipment needed to install the system. The overall flexibility in the basic design was stressed and several growers modified their systems with items that provided various levels of automation, or the capacity to fertigate. Fifteen on-farm demonstrations in 14 counties were developed ranging from 0.08 to 0.60 ha in size. Cost for this equipment (layflat, fittings, drip tape, regulators, filter) was ≈$230 per site. Success of each demonstration varied. Overall, growers were positive about using drip irrigation and that it was affordable. Most planned on continuing or expanding its use next season.

In 1996, more than 72,000 acres of vegetables were produced in Alabama. This number has been steadily increasing since the mid-1980s. Growers and county agents requested information on which vegetable varieties performed well in Alabama. To support a growing vegetable industry, Auburn Univ. committed itself to developing an extensive vegetable variety trial (VVT) program focusing on rapid dissemination of results. Presently, replicated trials are held at nine experiment stations, each representing a unique growing environment. The VVTs are divided into a spring and fall section. The spring trials evaluate spring/summer planted crops such as tomato, peppers, watermelon, sweetpotato, eggplant, southernpea, lettuce, melons, cucumber, summer squash, and others. Fall trials examine cole crops, winter squash, pumpkin, and other late-summer/fall-planted crops. Turn around time from final harvest of the final crop to placing the report in the county agent's or grower's hands is 2 to 3 months. Good support is received from industry through financial contributions and/or materials. More than 3000 copies of the spring and fall VVT reports are distributed annually at field days, statewide and county meetings, and in direct mailings. Other research projects, such as projects on nutritional composition of vegetables, postharvest quality, and consumer acceptance, have been supported by materials from the VVT program. Without overwhelming support and commitment from the State of Alabama, Auburn Univ., grower organizations, and industry, the VVT program would not be the success that it is today providing timely and needed information to strengthen the growing vegetable industry in Alabama.

In 1994 and 1995, a study was conducted in Crossville, Ala., to determine if differences in leaf P concentration and crop yield occurred when P was broadcast or band-applied. Phosphorus (0, 34, 67, 101, and 134 kg P/ha) was banded (2 × 2) or broadcast and incorporated before planting. Other nutrients were applied based on current recommendations and soil testing. In 1994, as level of P increased from 0 to 150 kg P/ha, fresh weight of harvested ears increased quadratically. In 1995, fresh weight of harvested ears did not differ among broadcast treatments; however, there was a linear increase in yield among banded P treatments. There was no difference in fresh weight of harvested ears between banding and broadcasting in either year. Percent P in corn ear leaves did not differ among treatments. There was no difference in P leaf concentrations between the banded and broadcast treatments, indicating that yield response occurred because of rate of P application as opposed to method.

Although the effect of various N fertilizers on tomato yield and quality has been previously examined, much of this research was conducted in hydroponic or green-house studies. The objective of this research was to examine the effect of N fertilizer sources (ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃), potassium nitrate (KNO₃), urea (CO(NH₂)₂), urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), and calcium nitrate (Ca(NO₃)₂) on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) growth, yield, and fruit quality. The 2-year experiment was conducted using black plastic mulch covered raised beds with drip fertigation. A total of 180 lb acre (202 Kg·ha⁻¹) N was applied with each N source, with 25% applied preplant and premulch and remaining N applied as 10 weekly applications of 13.5 lb/acre (15.2 kg·ha⁻¹). If an N source contained Ca or K, that amount was applied to all other N sources (preplant and fertigated) as potassium chloride (KCl) or calcium chloride (CaCl₂). Collected data included plant height, leaf N concentration, and yield. Different N sources had varying and inconsistent effects on fruit yield and quality. Although plant height and stem diameter from UAN treatments were always smaller than those from other N sources, this effect did not extrapolate to decreased total marketable yield. Differences in N concentration of tomato leaf tissue were not consistent with N source and were not related to differences in tomato yield. There were few differences in yield and quality of nonmarketable fruit due to N source. In this one-site, 2-year study, it appears that any of the N sources studied would be suitable for tomato production, if price of N fertilizer materials are the same.

The effect of various mulch colors (black, yellow, red, blue, white, and aluminum) on growth and development of `Vates' collards was evaluated in Fall 1996 at the E.V. Smith Research Center in Shorter, Ala. Black polyethylene mulch was installed onto raised, fumigated beds, then sprayed with a 1: 2 (v/v) mixture of exterior oil-based enamel paint to paint thinner with one of the five mulch colors listed. Five-week-old plants were transplanted into beds. Beginning two weeks after transplanting and continuing every other week thereafter, heads were harvested to determine head fresh weight and dry weight. Hourly soil temperatures at 10 cm soil depth were recorded and growing degree days (GDDs) with a base temperature of 4.4 °C were calculated. At two weeks after transplanting, average head fresh and dry weight were highest for the aluminum-colored treatment with head fresh (24.7 and 12.3 g, respectively) and dry weights (2.7 and 1.3 g, respectively) twice that of the yellow treatment (P ≤ 0.05). By four weeks after transplanting and up through the final harvest, marketable yield and average head fresh weights did not differ among the treatments (17,900 kg/ha, 1.4 kg per head, respectively). The red and black mulch treatments accumulated more GDDs than the other treatments, but total marketable yields did not differ among any treatments.

IPM teams from Alabama, North Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee composed of growers, private consultants, and faculty defined IPM on fresh-market tomatoes and created a survey from this definition to evaluate the level of IPM used by growers in the southeastern U.S. The survey included three sections: cultural practices, pesticide application techniques, and specific pest management practices, and was distributed to tomato growers in the region by mail, at county meetings, and through other relevant venues. Additionally, growers were asked to identify problems (insect, disease, and nonpest, i.e., cultural) and beneficial technology or research developments. Results of the survey revealed that in North Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and South Carolina more than 75% of the tomato acreage is in the medium or high IPM category. These states have met or exceeded the State IPM teams' criteria for practicing IPM and have met the Federal mandate of IPM implementation on 75% of the fresh-market tomato cropland. Tomato producers listed early blight, late blight and bacterial spot as their main disease problems; tomato fruit worm, thrips, and aphids as their primary insect problems; and poor weather conditions, government regulation, and labor issues as their primary nonpest problems. Producers throughout the region felt that the development of resistant varieties would help them increase production the most. The State IPM teams outlined a clear definition of IPM in fresh-market tomato production and the survey results established a baseline that can be used to measure the success of programs to increase IPM adoption. The results will aid in focusing the Extension/research agenda in the universities in the Southeast.

High tunnels (HT) can reduce negative environmental strains on crop production and have been shown to extend the growing season for many small fruits and vegetables. Because HTs require relatively low initial investment compared with standard greenhouse structures, they are well suited for the small to mid-size grower. HTs provide a practical means of entry into intensive crop production for farmers who direct market their produce. By using HTs, direct market farmers may create a special marketing niche which set's them apart by offering locally grown vegetables, cut flowers, small fruits, and herbs earlier in the growing season and into the fall after frost. This project examined 1) the potential use of HTs for the production of fresh-market tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and strawberries (Fragaria spp.) and 2) the seasonal market potential for these crops in Alabama. Viable markets were determined by conducting surveys at regional locations throughout Alabama, such as farmers markets, grocery stores, shopping centers, etc. Upscale restaurants were also surveyed to determine the demand for locally grown herbs. These surveys were used to determine target markets by asking demographic questions and determining spending habits. Justification for establishing a direct farmer-to-consumer market or a direct farmer to restaurant market for HT products was determined.

The use of composted waste materials as an alternative source of potting media has received much interest in recent years. Our objective was to incorporate composted, ground poultry litter into a standard greenhouse potting mix, and evaluate the effect of the poultry litter on vegetable transplants grown in the greenhouse and transplanted to the field. Treatments consisted of potting mixes of 100% potting media or 50/50 media/poultry litter. Collards (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala DC.), broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica Plenck.), cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata L.) and three tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivars were utilized as test crops. A nutrient solution treatment of 8 oz of 8N-11P-7K fertilizer or 8 oz of water was added when transplants were set in the field. Plant weight and nitrogen content were measured weekly during the greenhouse production stage, and final crop yield was recorded at harvest. Any effect from the inclusion of poultry litter in the potting media on cole crop (collards, broccoli, cabbage) transplant dry weight had disappeared by the fourth week of sampling in the greenhouse, and final yield of cole crops was unaffected by either type of potting mix or presence or absence of starter nutrient solution. Dry weight of tomato transplants was not affected by type of potting media. Differences in tomato yield due to type of potting mix were observed, as plots with transplants grown in the 50/50 mix had greater nonmarketable yields (`Bonnie' and `Big Boy'). Yield of `Big Boy' tomato was increased by the addition of starter nutrient solution. It appears that composted, uniformly prepared waste materials are suitable for production of vegetable transplants.

Multidisciplinary integrated pest management (IPM) teams from seven states in the southeastern United States (Alabama, North Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee) met to develop standards for adopting IPM in fresh-market tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) production. Teams were composed of growers, private consultants, extension personnel, and faculty. IPM practices available for use on tomatoes in the southeastern United States were identified and a survey to assess the current level of adoption of IPM practices was developed. The survey also allowed growers to identify insect, disease, and production problems; beneficial technology and research developments; and other information relevant to IPM adoption. In northern Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and South Carolina, IPM adoption by tomato growers was classified as medium or high on >75% of the fresh-market tomato acreage surveyed. It appears these states may have met the federal mandate for IPM adoption. Tomato producers listed early blight, late blight, bacterial spot, bacterial speck, and bacterial wilt as the main disease problems; tomato fruit worm, thrips, and aphids as the primary insect problems; and poor weather conditions, government regulation, and labor as their primary production problems. Twenty-six percent of the producers throughout the region felt that the development of insect- and disease-resistant varieties would be most helpful to increase production.

Initiated by DC Sanders, the Southeastern Vegetable Crops Guidelines (SVCG) represents a major regional collaborative effort of Extension Specialists from Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina whose aim is to produce an annually updated, all-in-one, fits on the dashboard of your truck reference for commercial vegetable growers and Extension workers for the Southeastern US. The first edition was developed in 1998 and published in 1999 as a “for pay” publication, but subsequent editions have employed a partnering with a corporate sponsor and publication company resulting in faster turnaround for printing and a no-cost publication. Each August, a team of Extension Vegetable Specialists, Extension Plant Pathologist, Extension Weed Specialists and Extension Entomologist from around the southeastern US meet for the Southeastern Extension Vegetables Workers (SEVEW) meeting. At this 2-day meeting, the participants' primary focus is to review, rewrite, refine, and update the current year's recommendations for the next edition of the SVCG. Although this publication is mainly used by the states listed, researchers and specialists from other states (FL, KY, OK, VA, TN) annually participate in this meeting. The SEVEW meeting has developed into an opportune forum for dialogues and exchanges updating each other as to the present critical issues in our respective states. Several land-grants are in the process of or are counting the SVCG/SEVEW as part of their federally-mandated multistate programming. Additionally, the SEVCG and SEVEW meeting are officially recognized as a Regional Project by CSREES. The 2005 edition can be found at http://www.aces.edu/dept/com_veg/2005_SEVCG.pdf.