SPSS (version 17; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) and means were separated using the Waller–Duncan t test ( P < 0.05). Minimal mow and no-mow plots were analyzed separately. Table 1. Composition of low-input turfgrass mixtures and blends evaluated at the
sweetpotatoes. Fertilizer treatment in the CRS study in 2016 had a minimal role in IN incidence, although there was a significant mow × fert × c-temp interaction ( Table 6 ). Mow or not mow treatments in which K 2 SO 4 was applied were not significantly
maintenance practices of mowing, irrigating, fertilizing, and applying pesticides must be completed to determine net C sequestration rates ( Bandaranayake et al., 2003 ; Pickett et al., 2008 ; Pouyat et al., 2006 ). In general, fertilizer and irrigation
plant material and indicates that vines should continue to be in demand for renovation and replanting activities for at least the near future. Another component of long-term business models under consideration is the use of periodic mowing, which
Abstract
A hand-held electric-powered disk grinder, with a rotation frequency of 12,500 rpm, was modified as a rotary turf mower designed for rapid clipping collection with minimal disturbance of the root zone of turfgrass grown in small containers. The mower housing and discharge tube were constructed from PVC pipe. Beveled edges of a tempered steel blade generated sufficient air flow inside the mower housing when the blade was rotated rapidly to transport clippings through the discharge tube into a catcher. The friction-held catcher, constructed from PVC pipe that could be rapidly attached and removed from the exhaust tube, was capped with a fine mesh aluminum wire screen that permitted air flow exhaust. Mowing surface guides of heavy gauge wire were used to obtain uniform mowing heights. Mowing small containers with the hand-held power mower reduced operational time 62%, when compared to hand-operated clippers.
Evapotranspiration (ET) of three perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cultivars and one cultivar each of colonial bentgrass (Agrostis tenuis L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L.) was measured in the field. Soil water depletion was measured with a neutron probe. Under minimal maintenance (i.e., no irrigation and infrequent mowing), ET was not significantly different for five perennial grasses. All grasses used more water than the bare-ground treatment. Soil water uptake was greatest in the upper soil layer (O to 25 cm) and decreased with depth. Few differences in water uptake were noted among grasses within each soil layer.
Abstract
A mechanized system for harvesting strawberries with minimal damage to fruit is proposed. Cultural requirements involve placing plastic or fiber mesh netting over the beds before growth of leaves and inflorescences begins, permitting leaves and fruit to develop above the netting. The prototype machine developed for the system mows off leaves, raises the netting, cuts off pedicels of fruit supported on the netting and delivers the fruit to a conveyor and bulk box before rolling up the netting for storage. The harvester is supported under and can readily be adapted to most conventional garden tracter designs. Observations on a small sample of fruit harvested by the machine suggest the possibility of a sizable reduction in amount of injury to fruit compared with earlier designs.
conventional strawberries, mechanical control (tillage or mowing) is the only option available to organic strawberry growers and can be difficult with grasses because of their ability to reroot when tilled in wet conditions, and regrow after mowing ( Smith et
Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., cv. Sunny) plants were grown in a sustainable agricultural system of mulches: black plastic, paper, hairy vetch, crimson clover, and hairy vetch + rye. Total yields were highest with hairy vetch (85.8 t ha-1) and lowest with paper mulch (30.0 t ha-1). The low fertilizer input hairy vetch, crimson clover and hairy vetch + rye treatments received one-half the N-P-K fertigation that was applied to other treatments. Immediately before mowing the cover crops, samples were analyzed. Five weeks after transplanting the tomatoes and at the end of 12 weeks, leaf samples were analyzed for macro- and micro-nutrients. Results of the cover crop analyses indicated minimal differences in N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, B, and Fe concentrations. Tomato leaf analyses at 5 weeks after field planting showed that, among the macro-nutrients, only K was significantly higher in the hairy vetch, hairy vetch + rye, crimson clover, and black plastic treatments than in bare soil and paper mulch. End-of-season leaf analyses showed that significantly higher K was found in the vetch + rye treatment compared to all other treatments.
%, 50%, and 25%, respectively. At 35 mm, the change was 54%, 93%, and 25%, whereas the change was 72%, 123%, and 4.6% at 25-mm mowing height when drought levels increased from control to 75%, 50%, and 25%, respectively. The change was minimal (4.6%) in