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- Author or Editor: Reuben B. Beverly x
Brushing (40 strokes per 1.5 minutes, twice daily) or moisture stress conditioning (MSC) (daily nonlethal dry-down cycles) reduced seedling growth of two cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) cultivars in 1991 and three squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) cultivars in 1991 and 1992. In both years, watermelon [Citrullus lanatus Thunb. (Matsum. & Nakai)] cultivars varied in responsiveness to brushing; brushing reduced stem length 0% to 44% over four cultivars in 1992. MSC reduced growth of all cultivars. Brushing increased the rate of water loss from detached leaves of cucumber, squash, and watermelon, whereas MSC decreased water loss from leaves of cucumber and squash. In 1991, under well-watered posttransplant conditions, MSC increased the mean relative growth rate (RGR) of cucumber and watermelon transplants in the greenhouse. Brushing increased the RGR of watermelon transplants. In 1992, MSC increased the RGR of squash and watermelon transplants grown under posttransplant drought-stressed conditions, while brushing had no effect. Both conditioning treatments controlled plant growth in the greenhouse without diminishing subsequent plant performance.
In response to a mail survey of the landscape maintenance and lawn care (LM-LC) industry in metropolitan Atlanta, we learned that 76% of respondents fertilized lawns and turf and 68% fertilized ornamental beds. Less than one-fourth of those who provided fertilization services offered an organic fertility option; for those who reported an organic option, an average of 25% of their residential customers used such a service. Complete fertilizers (N-P2O5-K2O), ammonium nitrate, urea, and N solutions were the products applied by most respondents. Average amounts of N per application were ≈1.5 lb/1000 ft2 on lawns and 1.1 lb/1000 ft2 on ornamentals. Of firms that provide fertilization services, 88% use a predetermined application schedule, whereas 88% use visual observation and 69% use soil testing to guide fertilizer management. Only 5% reported using tissue analysis as a fertilizer management strategy. Nitrogen fertilizers were applied most frequently in the spring, with nearly equal amounts applied in summer and fall. Phosphorus was applied most commonly in the fall or spring. Relatively few firms reported applying significant amounts of either N or P in winter. Most respondents indicated that they received adequate information about fertilizers, but few received information about organic fertilization. Commercial sales representatives and trade magazines were cited most often as sources of information; university specialists were the least-cited formal source of information concerning fertilization. We have suggested some research and educational issues to be addressed based on these results.
Vegetable soybean (Glycine max L.) represents a potential high-value specialty crop for small farmers in the southern Piedmont region of the United States; practical and affordable mechanical harvest technology will facilitate production. A trial planting of vegetable soybean was used to test the ability of a commercial one-row harvester used currently for snap bean and lima bean production systems to harvest soybean. The upright growth habit and excessive herbage of vegetable soybean necessitated harvest in two passes over the row, which produced in-pod yield of 7050 lb/acre (7900 kg ha-1). Adaptation of this technology has the potential to facilitate development of a vegetable soybean production industry.
Abstract
The Georgia transplant industry is based upon production of vegetable transplants in field seedbeds. Since transplants are hand-pulled and packed in crates for shipping, stem strength is important to the survival of the transplants. During a project studying transplant production, we observed differences in stem strength as a result of soil amendments added to the seedbeds. Stem strength of plants has been analyzed using shearing devices, and several methods of analyzing and interpreting shear force data have been reported (2-4). This report compares three methods of analyzing data from field research on broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. Group Italica) transplant production to determine the most appropriate means of identifying treatment effects on stem strength.
Abstract
In the article “Analysis of Shear Force Data in Broccoli Transplant Studies”, by Joyce Griffin Latimer, Reuben B. Beverly, and Bill Blum [HortScience 23(3):627, June 1988], line 8 of the second paragraph should read “…amendment), organic (20 kg Pro-Mix BX,…”, not 10 kg.
Optimizing growing conditions and, thereby, plant growth reduces the susceptibility of plants to many disease and insect pest problems. Educating lawn or landscape management professionals and homeowners about plant health management reduces the need for chemical intervention. Pesticides combined with N and P fertilizers contribute to water pollution problems in urban areas; thus, it is important to manage the amount, timing, and placement of chemicals and fertilizers. To educate consumers applying pesticides and fertilizers in residential gardens, we must educate the sales representatives and others who interact most closely with consumers. Evidence suggests that knowledge about the effects of chemicals is limited and that warning labels are not read or are ignored. Integrated pest management (IPM) offers alternatives to conventional chemical treatments, but such methods are not used commonly because of their relatively high cost and their uncertain impact on pests. Pest detection methods and using pest-resistant plants in landscapes are simple and, in many cases, readily available approaches to reducing the dependence on chemical use. Research on effective, low-cost IPM methods is essential if chemical use in landscape management is to decrease. Current impediments to reducing the pollution potential of chemicals used in the landscape include the limited number of easily implemented, reliable, and cost-effective alternative pest control methods; underfunding of research on development of alternative pest control measures; limited knowledge of commercial operators, chemical and nursery sales representatives, landscape architects, and the general public concerning available alternatives; reluctance of the nursery industry to produce, and of the landscape architects to specify the use of, pest-resistant plant materials; lack of economic or regulatory incentive for professionals to implement alternatives; inadequate funding for education on the benefits of decreased chemical use; and the necessity of changing consumer definition of unacceptable plant damage. We need to teach homeowners and professionals how to manage irrigation to optimize plant growth; use sound IPM practices for reducing disease, weed, and insect problems; and minimize pollution hazards from fertilizers and pesticides.
Pesticides have been the primary method of pest control for years, and growers depend on them to control insect and disease-causing pests effectively and economically. However, opportunities for reducing the potential pollution arising from the use of pesticides and fertilizers in environmental horticulture are excellent. Greenhouse, nursery, and sod producers are using many of the scouting and cultural practices recommended for reducing the outbreak potential and severity of disease and insect problems. Growers are receptive to alternatives to conventional pesticides, and many already use biorational insecticides. Future research should focus on increasing the effectiveness and availability of these alternatives. Optimizing growing conditions, and thereby plant health, reduces the susceptibility of plants to many disease and insect pest problems. Impediments to reducing the use of conventional pesticides and fertilizers in the environmental horticulture industry include 1) lack of easily implemented, reliable, and cost-effective alternative pest control methods; 2) inadequate funding for research to develop alternatives; 3) lack of sufficient educational or resource information for users on the availability of alternatives; 4) insufficient funding for educating users on implementing alternatives; 5) lack of economic or regulatory incentive for growers to implement alternatives; and 6) limited consumer acceptance of aesthetic damage to plants. Research and broadly defined educational efforts will help alleviate these impediments to reducing potential pollution by the environmental horticulture industry.