scholarly journals Influence of Plant Density and Cultivar on Mini Triploid Watermelon Yield and Fruit Quality

2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 553-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Alan Walters

Mini triploid (seedless) watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) are a growing segment of the U.S. watermelon market due to their small, one-serving size. Although mini triploid watermelons were first released and commercially grown about 6 years ago, little information is available for optimum planting densities that are needed to achieve the greatest percentage of marketable fruit in the 3- to 8-lb range. In 2006 and 2007, the fruit grade distribution response to six plant densities (2489, 3111, 4149, 6223, 8297, and 12,446 plants/acre) of four mini watermelon cultivars (Betsy, Petite Treat, Valdoria, and Vanessa) was measured at the Southern Illinois University Horticulture Research Center in Carbondale. ‘SP-1’ was used as the in-row pollenizer at 25% of the total planting. Although all cultivars responded similarly to the plant densities evaluated, ‘Vanessa’ provided the greatest fruit number and weight per acre, and percentage of fruit in the mini grade, compared with the other cultivars. Marketable mini triploid watermelon yield dramatically increased with closer in-row spacings. At lower plant densities (wider in-row spacings), a greater proportion of icebox-sized fruit (>8 lb) was produced, and the amount of marketable, mini-sized fruit (3–8 lb) declined. The grade distribution of mini triploid watermelon numbers and weights were the greatest at the highest plant density evaluated [0.5 ft in-row spacing (12,446 plants/acre)], with about 80% of the total yield in the mini grade. The greatest net revenues were also obtained at this high density. This study indicated that it is critical for producers of mini triploid watermelons to recognize the dramatic impact that plant density has on marketable fruit yield (3–8 lb). Growers of mini triploid watermelons will see a drastic improvement in revenues with closer in-row spacings compared with the approximate 2 ft in-row spacings currently used (about 4000 plants/acre). The increased cost of higher plant densities are more than offset by the greater return on investment.

1985 ◽  
Vol 104 (3) ◽  
pp. 615-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. R. Benjamin ◽  
R. A. Sutherland ◽  
D. Senior

SummaryThree experiments examined the effects of sowing rate and between-row spacing on the plant density and yield of red beet.The proportion of seeds which produced mature plants decreased when the mean distance to the nearest neighbour was less than 5 cm. In these experiments, this distance was governed by within-row spacing. Thus, plots with narrow-spaced rows achieved a higher plant density than those with wide-spaced rows, when sown with the same weight of seed.Total yield of beet per unit area decreased with increasing plant density. Maximum yields per unit area of small beet were achieved at high plant densities, whereas maximum yields of large beet were achieved at low plant densities. The effect of between-row spacing on yield was much smaller than that of density, and was important only for crops harvested early. Shoot yield per unit area was measured in two experiments and was not affected by row spacing in either. Shoot yield was not affected by plant density in one experiment, but, in the other, tended to a maximum value with increasing plant density.


2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 670-678 ◽  
Author(s):  
ROGÉRIO PERES SORATTO ◽  
TIAGO ARANDA CATUCHI ◽  
EMERSON DE FREITAS CORDOVA DE SOUZA ◽  
JADER LUIS NANTES GARCIA

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of plant densities and sidedressed nitrogen (N) rates on nutrition and productive performance of the common bean cultivars IPR 139 and Pérola. For each cultivar, a randomized complete block experimental design was used in a split-plot arrangement, with three replicates. Plots consisted of three plant densities (5, 7, and 9 plants ha-1) and subplots of five N rates (0, 30, 60, 120, and 180 kg ha-1). Aboveground dry matter, leaf macro- and micronutrient concentrations, yield components, grain yield, and protein concentration in grains were evaluated. Lower plant densities (5 and 7 plants m-1) increased aboveground dry matter production and the number of pods per plant and did not reduce grain yield. In the absence of N fertilization, reduction of plant density decreased N concentration in common bean leaves. Nitrogen fertilization linearly increased dry matter and leaf N concentration, mainly at lower plant densities. Regardless of plant density, the N supply linearly increased grain yield of cultivars IPR 139 and Pérola by 17.3 and 52.2%, respectively.


2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 323-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Carlos Álvarez-Hernández ◽  
Javier Zaragoza Castellanos-Ramos ◽  
César Leobardo Aguirre-Mancilla ◽  
María Victoria Huitrón-Ramírez ◽  
Francisco Camacho-Ferre

Cucurbita maxima x Cucurbita moschata rootstock are used to prevent infection with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum in watermelon production; however, this rootstock is not effective against nematode attack. Because of their vigor, the grafted plants can be planted at lower plant densities than the non-grafted plants. The tolerance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum and Meloidogyne incognita was assessed in watermelon plants grafted onto a hybrid of Citrullus lanatus cv Robusta or the Cucurbita maxima x Cucurbita moschata cv Super Shintoza rootstocks. The densities of plants were 2083 and 4166 plants ha-1. Non-grafted watermelons were the controls. The Crunchy Red and Sangría watermelon cultivars were used as the scions, it the latter as a pollinator. The experiments were performed for two production cycles in soils infested with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum and Meloidogyne incognita. The incidence of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum was significantly greater in the non-grafted than in the grafted plants. The grafted plants presented similar resistance to Fusarium regardless of the rootstock. The root-knot galling index for Meloidogyne incognita was significantly lower in plants grafted onto Citrullus lanatus cv Robusta than onto the other rootstock. The yields of plants grafted onto Citrullus lanatus cv Robusta grown at both plant densities were significantly higher than in the other treatments.


1978 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 383-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Darwinkel

The effect of plant density on the growth and productivity of the various ear-bearing stems of winter wheat was studied in detail to obtain information on the pattern of grain production of crops grown under field conditions. Strong compensation effects were measured: a 160-fold increase in plant density (5-800 plants/m2) finally resulted in a 3-fold increase in grain yield (282 to 850 g DM/m2). Max. grain yield was achieved at 100 plants/m2, which corresponded to 430 ears/m2 and to about 19 000 grains/m2. At higher plant densities more ears and more grains were produced, but grain yield remained constant. Tillering/plant was largely favoured by low plant densities because these allowed tiller formation to continue for a longer period and a greater proportion of tillers produced ears. However, at higher plant densities more tillers/unit area were formed and, despite a higher mortality, more ears were produced. The productivity of individual ears, from main stems as well as from tillers, decreased with increasing plant density and with later emergence of shoots. In the range from 5 to 800 plants/m2 grain yield/ear decreased from 2.40 to 1.14 g DM. At 800 plants/m2 nearly all ears originated from main stems, but with decreasing plant density tillers contributed increasingly to the number of ears. At 5 plants/m2, there were 23 ears/plant and grain yield/ear ranged from 4.20 (main stem) to 1.86 g DM (late-formed stems). Grain number/ear was reduced at higher densities and on younger stems, because there were fewer fertile spikelets and fewer grains in these spikelets. At the low density of 5 plants/m2, plants developed solitarily and grain yield/ear was determined by the number of grains/ear as well as by grain wt. Above 400 ears/m2, in this experiment reached at 100 plants/m2 and more, grain yield/ear depended solely on grain number, because the wt. of grains of the various stems were similar. The harvest index showed a max. of about 44% at a moderate plant density; at this density nearly max. grain yield was achieved. At low plant densities the harvest index decreased from 45% in main stems to about 36% in late-formed stems. However, no differences in harvest index existed between the various ear-bearing stems if the number of ears exceeded 400/m2. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)


1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 195
Author(s):  
T. Botwright ◽  
N. Mendham ◽  
B. Chung

Summary. The effect of plant density on growth, development, yield and quality of kabocha (buttercup squash) (Cucurbita maxima) was examined during 1992–93, at a field site in Cambridge, Tasmania. Plant densities ranged between 0.5 and 4.7 plants/m2. Marketable and total yields were fitted to a yield–density model. Total yield followed an asymptotic trend, approaching 33 t/ha at 4.7 plants/m2, while marketable yield had a parabolic relationship with density. Marketable yield increased to a maximum of 18 t/ha at 1.1 plants/m2, while declining at higher densities because of increased numbers of undersized fruit. Yield of vine marked and callused fruit did not vary with density, but represented a significant proportion of the total yield at all densities. High plant density reduced vegetative growth per plant due to competition for limited resources; as shown by decreased leaf area, number and length of vines, and plant dry weight. Yield tended to decline at high densities because of fewer female flowers and increased fruit abortion per plant. Plants at low densities had more vegetative growth but decreased yields, as increased abortion of fruit relative to the higher plant densities left only 1–2 large fruit per plant. Economic returns varied with plant density. At high densities, variable costs increased (particularly due to high seed cost) while gross income declined reflecting the relationship between marketable yield and plant density. The gross margin therefore declined at high densities.


2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 467-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Dittmar ◽  
David W. Monks ◽  
Jonathan R. Schultheis ◽  
Katherine M. Jennings

Studies were conducted in 2006 at Clinton and Kinston, NC, to determine the influence of halosulfuron POST (over the crop plant) or POST-directed (to the crop) on growth and yield of transplanted ‘Precious Petite’ and ‘Tri-X-313’ triploid watermelon. Treatments included a nontreated control, 39 g/ha halosulfuron applied POST-directed to 25% of the plant (distal or proximal region), POST-directed to 50% of the plant (distal or proximal; Precious Petite only), and POST. Watermelon treated with halosulfuron displayed chlorotic leaves, shortened internodes, and increased stem splitting. Vines were longest in the nontreated control (Tri-X-313 = 146 cm, Precious Petite = 206 cm) but were shortest in the POST treatment (Tri-X-313 = 88 cm, Precious Petite = 77 cm). Halosulfuron POST to watermelon caused the greatest injury (Tri-X-313 = 64%, Precious Petite = 67%). Halosulfuron directed to 25 or 50% (distal or proximal) of the plant caused less injury than halosulfuron applied POST. Stem splitting was greatest when halosulfuron was applied to the proximal area of the stem compared with POST-directed distal or POST. Internode shortening was greatest in treatments where halosulfuron was applied to the distal region of the stem. However, Tri-X-313 in the POST-directed 25% distal treatment produced similar total and marketable fruit weight as the nontreated control at Clinton. Fruit number did not differ among treatments for either cultivar. At Kinston, Precious Petite nontreated control and POST-directed 25% distal end treatment had greater marketable fruit weight than the POST-directed 50% proximal and POST treatments. The current halosulfuron registration allows POST application between rows or PRE. Limiting halosulfuron contact to no more than 25% of the watermelon plant will likely improve crop tolerance.


1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. MORRISON ◽  
P. B. E. McVETTY ◽  
R. SCARTH

To determine the effects of varying plant densities on summer rape (Brassica napus L.), the cultivar Westar was seeded in 15- and 30-cm row spacings at seeding rates of 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, and 12.0 kg ha−1. Plants seeded in 15-cm rows yielded more per area, produced more pods per plant and lodged less than those in 30-cm rows. Higher yields were associated with a more even plant distribution and a lower degree of intra-row competition. There were no significant protein, oil and chlorophyll concentration differences between the row spacing treatments. The highest yields (kg ha−1) were achieved with the 1.5 and 3.0 kg ha−1 seeding rates. Summer rape compensated for lower plant densities with the production of more branch racemes. As seeding rate increased, competitive mortality increased, resulting in greater etiolation at bolting, and greater lodging at harvest. Seed oil and protein concentrations were not affected by seeding rate. However, seed chlorophyll concentration decreased with increased seeding rate.Key words: Brassica napus, plant density, seed quality, rape (summer)


2012 ◽  
pp. 105-110
Author(s):  
Ádám Lente

In the crop season of 2010 (rainy year), we studied the effect of three agrotechnical factors (sowing time, fertilization, plant density) and four different genotypes on the agronomical characteristics of sweet corn on chernozem soil in the Hajdúság. The experiments were carried out at the Látókép Experimental Farm of the University of Debrecen. In the experiment, two sowing dates (27 April, 26 May), six fertilization levels (control, N30+PK, N60+PK, N90+PK, N120+PK, N150+PK) and four genotypes (Jumbo, Enterprise, Prelude, Box-R) were used at two plant densities (45 thousand plants ha-1, 65 thousand plants ha-1). The amount of precipitation in the season of 2010 was 184 mm higher, while the average temperature was 0.8 oC higher in the studied months than the average of 30 years. Weather was more favourable for sweet maize at the first sowing date, if we consider the yields, however, if we evaluate the agronomical data and yield elements (number of cobs, cob length and diameter, the number of kernel rows, the number of kernels per row) it can be stated that the size of the fertile cobs was greater at the second sowing date due to the lower number of cobs. The largest number of fertile cobs was harvested in the case of the hybrid Enterprise (72367.9 ha-1) in the higher plant density treatment (65 thousand ha-1) at the fertilization level of N120+PK when the first sowing date was applied. The largest cobs were harvested from the hybrid Box-R (cob weight with husks: 516.7 g, number of kernels in one row: 45.7) at the lower plant density (45 thousand plants ha-1) in the second sowing date treatment. Cob diameter and the number of kernel rows were the highest for the hybrid Prelude.


HortScience ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 520-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
V.M. Russo

There is little known about how cultural methods affect yields of nonpungent jalapeño peppers (Capsicum annuum L.). Seedlings of the nonpungent jalapeño peppers `Pace 103', `Pace 105', `Pace 108', `Dulce', and `TAM Sweet2', as well as the pungent jalapeño peppers `Delicias' and `TAM Jalapeño1', used for comparison, were grown in a greenhouse with either one or two seedlings per cell in transplant trays. Transplanting to the field was in mid-April and mid-June of 2000 and 2001. In-row spacing was 0.46 m between transplanting sites. Density was varied by placing either one or two seedlings at a transplant site with resultant plant densities of 24,216 or 48,432 plants/ha. Marketable and cull yields, on a per hectare basis, were determined. In both years there were more fruit produced, and higher yields (25+% greater), at the higher plant density, especially for the mid-April planting. The exception for the mid-April planting date was `TAM Jalapeño1', which was not different at the two densities. If the increased income from higher yield can compensate for the cost of producing two seedlings in each transplant tray cell, then this technique should be employed when these types of peppers are used in early plantings.


HortScience ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-152
Author(s):  
Francisco Javier Núñez ◽  
Maria Victoria Huitrón ◽  
Manuel Díaz ◽  
Fernando Diánez ◽  
Francisco Camacho-Ferre

In Spain, the adoption of the triploide ‘Queen of Hearts’ (Citrullus lanatus Thunb.) watermelon cultivar has brought important changes in the production of seedless watermelon thanks to its magnificent acceptance by the market. The experiments on triploid watermelon presented here examined innovative production techniques that would guarantee the productivity and quality of this cultivar in plastic greenhouses and improve cost-effectiveness, serving growers. Crop intensification was tested under a “temporary trellis” management system, increasing plant density from 2500 plants/ha in the traditional or creeping crop system to 10,000 plants/ha. The “temporary trellis” system was combined with fruit set through the localized application of a 150- to 200-mg·L−1 solution of 1-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-3-phenylurea (CPPU). The increase of grafted watermelon plant density to 1 plant/m2 gave rise to an increase in early harvest measured as the number of fruits per surface area compared with the traditional system with a density of 0.25 plant/m2. In addition, a process of temporary trellising facilitates choosing female flowers for applying CPPU. The °Brix and pulp firmness quality parameters did not show significant differences between “temporary trellised” and creeping crops.


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