Effect of conventional and organic production systems on the yield and quality of field tomato cultivars grown in Tunisia

Field studies were conducted during 2010 and 2011 in Knoxville, TN; Lubbock, TX; and Mount Vernon, WA; to compare high tunnel and open-field organic production systems for season extension and adverse climate protection on lettuce (Lactuca sativa) yield and quality. The climates of these locations are diverse and can be typified as hot and humid (Knoxville), hot and dry (Lubbock), and cool and humid (Mount Vernon). In both years, 6-week-old lettuce seedlings of ‘New Red Fire’ and ‘Green Star’ (leafy type), ‘Adriana’ and ‘Ermosa’ (butterhead type), and ‘Coastal Star’ and ‘Jericho’ (romaine type) were transplanted in the late winter or early spring into subplots covered with black plastic and grown to maturity (43 to 65 days). Lettuce harvest in Knoxville occurred at 50 to 62 days after transplanting (DAT), with open-field lettuce harvested an average of 9 days earlier compared with high tunnel plots both years (P > 0.0001). The earlier than anticipated harvests in the open-field in Knoxville in 2010 were due to lettuce bolting. In Lubbock, high tunnel lettuce was harvested an average 16 days earlier in 2010 compared with open-field lettuce (P > 0.0001), while in 2011, high temperatures and bolting required that open-field lettuce be harvested 4 days earlier than lettuce grown in high tunnels. On average, lettuce cultivars at Mount Vernon matured and were harvested 56 to 61 DAT in 2010 and 54 to 64 DAT in 2011 with no significant differences between high tunnel and open-field production systems. Total and marketable yields at Mount Vernon and Lubbock averaged across cultivars were comparable in both high tunnel and open-field plots. At Knoxville, although total yields were significantly higher (P > 0.0062) in high tunnels than open-field plots, incidence of insect, disease, and physiological damage in high tunnel plots reduced lettuce quality and marketable yield (P > 0.0002). Lettuce head length:diameter ratio (LDR) averaged across cultivars was equal between high tunnel and the open field at all three locations. High tunnel production systems offer greater control of environments suitable for lettuce production, especially in climates like Knoxville and Lubbock where later-planted open-field systems may be more susceptible to temperature swings that may affect lettuce quality. These results suggest that although high tunnel culture alone may influence lettuce yield and quality, regional climates likely play a critical role in determining the impact of these two production systems on marketable lettuce yields.

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Yield and fruit quality of apple from conventional and organic production systems

Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0100-204x2008000300007 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 43 (3) ◽

pp. 333-340 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Cassandro Vidal Talamini do Amarante ◽

Cristiano André Steffens ◽

Álvaro Luiz Mafra ◽

Jackson Adriano Albuquerque

Keyword(s):

Fruit Quality ◽

Management System ◽

Production Systems ◽

Titratable Acidity ◽

Organic Production ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Apple Trees ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Solids Content

The objective of this study was to assess the yield and fruit quality of apple produced with a conventional and an organic production systems in Southern Brazil. The orchards consisted of alternate rows from 10 to 12-year old 'Royal Gala' and 'Fuji' apple trees on M.7 rootstocks, grown as slender spindles, on 4x6 m spacing. Eighteen apple trees of each cultivar and management system were randomly selected and assessed for nutrition, flowering, fruit set, yield, and fruit quality during two growing seasons (2002/2003 and 2003/2004). The organic management system resulted in lower concentrations of K, Mg, and N in leaves and fruits, and in smaller fruits for both cultivars, and lower fruit yield for 'Fuji' than from the conventional production system. For both cultivars, fruits from the organic orchard harvested at commercial maturity had a more yellowish skin background color, higher percentage of blush in the fruit skin, higher soluble solids content, higher density, higher flesh firmness, and higher severity of russet than fruits from the conventional orchard. Fruit from the organic orchard had lower titratable acidity in 'Royal Gala', and higher incidence of moldy core and lower incidence of watercore in 'Fuji', than fruit from the conventional orchard. A non-trained sensory panel detected no significant differences for fruit attributes of taste, flavor and texture between fruit from the production systems for either cultivar.

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Effect of Gibberellic Acid on Growth, Yield, and Quality of Leaf Lettuce and Rocket Grown in a Floating System

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy9070382 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 382 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Alessandro Miceli ◽

Alessandra Moncada ◽

Leo Sabatino ◽

Filippo Vetrano

Keyword(s):

Gibberellic Acid ◽

Nutrient Solution ◽

Production Systems ◽

Growth Yield ◽

Mineral Nutrient ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Floating System ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Leaf Lettuce

Gibberellins (GAs) are growth hormones strongly involved in a wide variety of physiological activities. Currently, gibberellins are commercially used to enhance phenotypic characteristics, earliness, and productivity of many vegetable and ornamental crops. In this work, the efficacy of supplementation of low levels of gibberellic acid (0, 10−8, 10−6, and 10−4 M GA3) through the mineral nutrient solution of a floating system on yield and quality of leaf lettuce and rocket plants was tested. The marketability of plants was lost when 10−4 M GA3 was added to the mineral nutrient solution. This study demonstrated that the addition of 10−4 M GA3 exceeded the acceptable threshold for use in hydroponics production systems. Below the concentration of 10−4 M, the presence of GA3 in the mineral nutrient solutions (MNS), especially at 10−6 M GA3, stimulated plant growth and enhanced the yield. Various morphological and physiological traits were enhanced by GA3 treatments (biomass accumulation, leaf expansion, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency (WUE), Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), etc.), with superimposable trends in both lettuce and rocket. The addition of 10−6 M GA3 to the nutrient solution of a hydroponic floating system can promote growth and quality of lettuce and rocket plants.

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The effect of climatic conditions on the quality of medium-growth chicken meat in organic production systems

Organic Agriculture ◽

10.1007/s13165-020-00309-z ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (S1) ◽

pp. 109-116

Author(s):

A. Sarmiento ◽

C. Palacios ◽

I. Revilla ◽

A. M. Vivar-Quintana

Keyword(s):

Production Systems ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Chicken Meat ◽

Organic Production

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Influence of organic amendments on growth, yield and quality of wheat and on soil properties during transition to organic production

10.31220/osf.io/2zbwj ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Gopinath KA

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Transition Period ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

Mineral Fertilizer ◽

Application Rate ◽

Organic Production ◽

Fertilizer Treatment ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Application Rates

A transition period of at least two years is required for annual crops before the produce may be certified as organically grown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the three organic amendments on yield and quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and on soil properties during transition to organic production. The organic amendments were composted farmyard manure (FYMC), vermicompost and lantana (Lantana spp. L.) compost applied to soil at four application rates (60, 90, 120 and 150 kg N ha-1). The grain yield of wheat in all the treatments involving organic amendments was markedly lower (36-65 % and 23-54 % less in the first and second year of transition, respectively) compared with the mineral fertilizer treatment. For the organic treatments applied at equivalent N rates, grain yield was higher for FYMC treatment closely followed by vermicompost. In the first year of transition, protein content of wheat grain was higher (85.9 g kg-1) for mineral fertilizer treatment whereas in the second year, there were no significant differences among the mineral fertilizer treatment and the highest application rate (150 kg N ha-1) of three organic amendments. The grain P and K contents were, however, significantly higher for the treatments involving organic amendments than their mineral fertilizer counterpart in both years. Application of organic amendments, irrespective of source and rate, greatly lowered bulk density (1.14-1.25 Mg m-3), and enhanced pH (6.0-6.5) and oxidizable organic carbon (13-18.8 g kg-1) of soil compared with mineral fertilizer treatment after two-year transition period. Mineral fertilized plots, however, had higher levels of available N and P than plots with organic amendments. All the treatments involving organic amendments, particularly at higher application rates, enhanced soil microbial activities of dehydrogenase, -glucosidase, urease and phosphatase compared with the mineral fertilizer and unamended check treatments. We conclude that the application rate of 120 and 150 kg N ha-1 of all the three sources of organic amendments improved soil properties. There was, however, a 23-65% reduction in wheat yield during the two years of transition to organic production.

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Yield and quality of seeds of lettuce genotypes produced under organic management

Journal of Seed Science ◽

10.1590/2317-1545v41n3220435 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 41 (3) ◽

pp. 352-358

Author(s):

Josiany Thamara Alves Souza ◽

Cândido Alves da Costa ◽

Delacyr da Silva Brandão Junior ◽

João Batista de Campos Menezes ◽

Warley Marcos Nascimento ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dry Matter ◽

Germination Rate ◽

Swine Manure ◽

Organic Production ◽

Organic Management ◽

Physical Test ◽

Organic Cultivation ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Grand Rapids

Abstract: is one of the main vegetable species used in organic production. However, studies and research in the organic area are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the yield and quality of seeds of lettuce genotypes produced in two consecutive years under an organic management system. Two plantations were installed under open field conditions corresponding to autumn/winter in 2016 and 2017. Ten lettuce genotypes were evaluated in four replications using a biofertilizer made from swine manure in the management and manual harvesting of seeds. Evaluations consisted of seed yield (in kg.ha−1), physical test (1000-seed weight), and germination and vigor test (first germination count, germination rate index, and seedling dry matter). The genotype Cubana and two Grand Rapids had higher yields under the tested conditions. Higher seed weights were recorded in 2017. Both genotypes Grand Rapids reached the minimum germination standard established for commercialization (80%). Vanda and AC 5058 showed a better performance for germination rate index and first germination count, while Cinderela had a better seedling dry matter. These varieties were promising for organic cultivation.

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Effect of drip and sprinkle irrigation on yield and quality of five tomato cultivars in southwestern Ontario

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/cjps95-043 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 75 (1) ◽

pp. 225-230 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

C. S. Tan

Keyword(s):

Water Potential ◽

Soil Water ◽

Soil Water Potential ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Moisture Regime ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Tomato Cultivars ◽

Irrigation Treatments ◽

Sprinkle Irrigation

The purpose of this study was to assess yield and quality of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) in response to drip (DI) and sprinkle irrigation (SI) in southwestern Ontario. Three irrigation treatments, DI, SI and no irrigation (NI) and five tomato cultivars, FM6203, H2653, H722, OH7814 and PUR812, grown on a Fox sandy loam soil, were evaluated during four growing seasons between 1986 and 1989. Both DI and SI increased the marketable tomato yield in 3 of 4 yr. In general, DI resulted in higher tomato yields than SI, but this was only statistically significant in 1 yr. Sprinkle irrigation out performed drip irrigation in one hot, dry year in 1988. Throughout the 4 yr, OH7814 was consistently high yielding, H2653 was consistently low yielding and FM6203, H722 and PUR812 performed more consistently than the other cultivars. In wet years, yield differences due to cultivar treatments were greater than those due to irrigation treatments, while in dry years, yield differences due to both irrigation and cultivar treatments were highly significant. Soluble solids and total solids were decreased by DI and SI. The DI produced the most uniform soil moisture regime, followed by SI. The NI plots had the greatest degree of water stress, as indicated by the low soil water potential, low stomatal conductance and elevated crop canopy temperature. Key words:Lycopersicon esculentum, yield, soil water potential

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Yield of determinate tomato cultivars grown in a closed hydroponic system as affected by plant spacing

Horticultura Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0102-053620170217 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

pp. 258-264 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Martin M Maboko ◽

Christian P Du Plooy ◽

Silence Chiloane

Keyword(s):

Plant Density ◽

Summer Season ◽

Plant Spacing ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Fall Season ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Plant Densities ◽

Tomato Cultivars ◽

Hydroponic Systems

ABSTRACT In South Africa there are no established spacing recommendations for determinate tomato cultivar production under closed hydroponic systems. This study was conducted to determine yield and quality of hydroponically grown determinate tomato cultivars at different plant densities. Four determinate tomato cultivars (Dynimo, Mariana, Mion and Sama) were subjected to four plant densities (10, 16, 20 and 25 plants/m2) during the spring/summer and summer/fall seasons. Experimental layout was a randomized complete block design in a factorial scheme of four plant spacing x four cultivars with three replicates. There were no significant differences in marketable yield between the cultivars tested during the spring/summer and summer/fall seasons. Cultivar Mion showed higher incidence of blossom end rot, while Mariana showed the highest fruit rot during the spring/summer season as compared to the other cultivars. During the spring/summer season, marketable yield increased with increased plant density with the highest yield obtained at 25 plants/m2 followed by 20 plants/m2. During the summer/fall season, plant density did not show a significant effect on total and marketable yield although a tendency for declined yield with increased density was observed. Number of fruit per plant as well as fruit size decreased with increased plant density during both seasons which did not have an effect on overall yield per plot area. Increasing the plant density to 25 plants/m2 can improve marketable yield of determinate tomato cultivars during spring/summer season while using a plant density of 10 plants/m2 will be more cost effective during the summer/fall season. This information will enable farmers to optimise yield and quality of determinate tomato cultivars under closed hydroponic systems.

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Long-life tomato cultivars growing under the hydroponic Nutrient Film Technique

Scientia Agricola ◽

10.1590/s0103-90162002000400027 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 59 (4) ◽

pp. 803-806 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ronan Gualberto ◽

Paulo Sérgio Rabelo de Oliveira ◽

Francisco Vilela Resende

Keyword(s):

Block Design ◽

Crop Season ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Randomized Block Design ◽

Nutrient Film Technique ◽

Tomato Cultivars ◽

Long Life ◽

Cropping Seasons ◽

Season Interaction

Farmers are interested in hydroponic tomato cultivation because of the high demand of high quality products by the consumers. Three trials here carried out under greenhouse conditions in Marília, SP, Brazil, using the hydroponic nutrient film technique, in order to evaluate yield and quality of long-life salad tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) varieties, during 1998 and 1999. Four varieties (Carmen, Diva, Graziela, and Vita) were tested using a randomized block design, with six replications. The variety x crop season interaction effect was significant, meaning that varieties have distinct performances during the different cropping seasons. The Vita variety presented commercial valid yield, with mean fruit weights higher than the other varieties.

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