been identified for their ability to promote plant growth in tomatoes (Tahir et al., 2017a ). Previous studies focused mainly on VOCs derived from plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria. The main objectives of our study were to investigate selected
This study compared shredded newspaper, wheat straw (Triticum aestivum L.) mulch, and bare soil as surface treatments under sweet corn [Zea mays L., var. Saccharata (Surt.)], field corn (Z. mays L.), soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], and processing tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). In a replicated study with limited mechanical weed control and no chemical weed control in 1990, and no weed control except for the mulch in 1991, the mulches provided a cooler, moister soil environment and effective suppression of most annual and some perennial weeds. The rank order of yields was the same for all three crops in 1990: newspaper mulch > wheat straw mulch > bare soil cover. In 1991 the rank order for yield was: soybeans/newspaper mulch > wheat straw > bare soil (P < 0.01); field corn/newspaper mulch > bare soil > wheat straw (P > 0.10). The straw and newspaper mulches had similar effects on yield, weed control, soil moisture, and soil temperature. They were significantly different from bare soil in many crop and mulch combinations studied. A brief evaluation of high rates of newspaper mulch showed no apparent growth problems for corn and soybeans and no heavy metal accumulation in the soil. Since shredded newspaper from community recycling programs in available at low cost ($40-50/ton vs. $90-100/ton for straw), this material is an attractive soil-management alternative in horticultural and agronomic production systems.
73 ORAL SESSION 22 (Abstr. 154-160) Vegetable (Tomato): Culture and Management
of both experiments are presented subsequently. Attributes. The fresh produce used for the study was tomatoes because they are widely grown locally and organically in Minnesota. In our experimental design, there were two qualitative attributes
Tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most important and popular vegetable crops in the world. The current world tomato production is 170.7 million tons from an area of 5 million hectares ( FAOSTAT, 2014 ). Tomato is produced and consumed
107 POSTER SESSION (Abstr. 441–448) Postharvest Physiology–Tomatoes
1 Current address: Dekalb Argentina S.A., Ruta Nacional 226, km 7, Mar del Plata (7600), Argentina. Journal paper no. 162 of the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center. We thank G. Kalloo, for providing seed of H24 tomato line, and the
. Funding for the research was provided by the California Tomato Board. The cost of publishing this paper was defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. Under postal regulations, this paper therefore must be hereby marked advertisement solely to
52 ORAL SESSION 14 (Abstr. 101–106) Vegetables: Tomato Breeding
Production costs have been analyzed in several studies using such normative approaches as budgeting and mathematical programming, and positive approaches as estimation of production, cost, or profit functions. This study used budgeting methods to analyze the costs and benefits of adopting integrated crop management (ICM) or organic methods versus conventional agriculture for tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. saccharada), and pumpkins (Cucurbita pepo L.). Data were collected using field studies conducted at the Rutgers University Snyder Research and Extension Farm, Pittstown, N.J. Time and motion study techniques were used to record machinery use and labor quantities. Records of production inputs and yields were also collected. These records were then converted to a 1.0-acre (0.4-ha) basis to constructed crop budgets. Results show that ICM systems are more profitable than conventional and organic systems. Organic systems had the lowest net returns. However, because of the organic price premium, the net returns were fairly close to those for conventional and ICM systems.