Feasibility of Trellised Cucumber Production

Trellising was evaluated for its effects on yields of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) cultivars Dasher II, Marketmore 76, and PetoTripleMech at Lane and Wilbutton, Okla. Trellising improved total and marketable yield at both locations compared with ground culture. `PetoTripleMech', evaluated as a fresh-market cultivar, produced yields equal to, or higher than, the other cultivars. Average marketable fruit weight was not affected by trellising but was affected by cultivar at Lane, with `PetoTripleMech' having the heaviest fruit. Economic analysis indicated that trellising is a viable management system for small-scale cucumber production.

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PRODUCTION AND ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF TRELLISING CUCUMBERS

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.25.9.1067c ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 25 (9) ◽

pp. 1067c-1067

Author(s):

V. M. Russo ◽

B. W. Roberts ◽

R. J. Schatzer

Keyword(s):

Fruit Weight ◽

Economic Feasibility ◽

Small Scale ◽

Fresh Market ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Cucumis Sativus L ◽

Net Returns ◽

Production Economic ◽

Marketable Fruit ◽

Better Than

Trellising was investigated for intensive, small-scale, fresh market cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) production. Economic feasibility of trellising was examined. The cultivars Dasher II, Marketmore 76, and PetoTripleMech were evaluated using trellising and ground culture at two locations in Oklahoma. The cultivar PetoTripleMech is normally grown as a processing cucumber. Here it was evaluated as a fresh market entry. Trellising significantly improved marketable yield of the three cultivars at both locations in comparison to ground culture. PetoTripleMech yields were equal to, or better than, the fresh market standards Dasher II and Marketmore 76. Average marketable fruit weight was not affected by trellising. Economic analysis indicated that trellising is a viable management system for small-scale cucumber production because the gross and net returns to the producer were increased by 20% and 10% respectively.

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Purple Nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) Control with Fumigant and Pebulate Combinations in Tomato

Weed Technology ◽

10.1614/wt-04-088r2.1 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 575-579 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

James P. Gilreath ◽

Bielinski M. Santos

Keyword(s):

Methyl Bromide ◽

Field Trials ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

Cyperus Rotundus ◽

Fresh Market ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Purple Nutsedge ◽

Marketable Fruit

Field trials were conducted to determine the effect of fumigant-pebulate combinations on purple nutsedge density in fresh market tomato. Treatments consisted of methyl bromide plus chloropicrin (MBr plus Pic) [67:33] at rates of 270 and 130 kg/ha, respectively; Pic plus pebulate at 400 and 4.5 kg/ha, respectively; metham (MNa) plus pebulate at 485 and 4.5 kg/ha, respectively; dazomet plus pebulate at 950 and 4.5 kg/ha, respectively; and 1,3-dicholopropene plus Pic (C-17) [87:13] plus pebulate at 392 and 4.5 kg/ha, respectively. At 12 wk after treatment, MBr plus Pic controlled purple nutsedge more effectively (10 plants/m2) than the fumigant-pebulate combinations (50 to 70 plants/m2). Compared to MBr plus Pic, Pic plus pebulate had a 14% lower marketable yield. No differences in marketable yield were noted with dazomet plus pebulate or C-17 plus pebulate compared to MBr plus Pic. However, MNa plus pebulate produced a 15% higher yield than MBr plus Pic. Additionally, MNa plus pebulate had 15% higher marketable fruit weight than MBr plus Pic.

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Influence of Cultivar, Growing Media, and Cluster Pruning on Greenhouse Tomato Yield and Fruit Quality

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/hortsci.19.2.395 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 395-399 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Hanna Y. Hanna

Keyword(s):

Fruit Quality ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

The Other ◽

Pine Bark ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Growing Media ◽

Greenhouse Tomato ◽

Tomato Yield ◽

Marketable Fruit

Cultivars and growing media are important components of a successful greenhouse tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) operation. Two studies were conducted simultaneously and independently in two 30 × 96-ft greenhouses in Spring 2006 and 2007 (January–July) to assist producers in selecting appropriate cultivars and reducing production cost. The first study was conducted to evaluate yield, fruit weight, fruit quality, and shelf life of ‘Geronimo’, ‘Quest’, and ‘Trust’ tomatoes planted in perlite and pruned to three or four fruit per cluster. The second study was conducted to determine the initial cost of perlite, pine bark, and rockwool growing media and their effect on yield of ‘Quest’ pruned to three or four fruit per cluster. ‘Geronimo’ produced the highest total marketable yield and ‘Trust’ produced the lowest. ‘Trust’ produced more cull yield and lower fruit weight than ‘Geronimo’ or ‘Quest’. Pruning clusters to three fruit increased total marketable yield and fruit weight, and reduced cull yield of all cultivars. Only ‘Geronimo’ produced higher early marketable yield at four fruit per cluster. All cultivars produced higher early marketable yield in 2007 than in 2006. Tested cultivars had similar fruit content of potassium and sodium and similar concentration of soluble solids. ‘Trust’ fruit had a higher pH than the other two cultivars. About 92% of ‘Quest’ tomatoes remained marketable after storage at 67 °F for 1 week. ‘Geronimo’ and ‘Trust’ had only 83% and 78% marketable fruit, respectively, under the same conditions. Initial costs to grow greenhouse tomatoes in perlite were higher than in rockwool, and were the lowest in pine bark. Plants grown in perlite produced higher total marketable yield than plants grown in either of the other media. They produced lower cull yield than plants grown in rockwool, but produced similar cull yield to plants grown in pine bark. Pruning clusters to three fruit increased total marketable yield and fruit weight in both studies. Pruning clusters to four fruit increased cull yield in both studies regardless of planting year.

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DENSELY PLANTED OKRA FOR DESTRUCTIVE HARVEST

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.30.3.438a ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 30 (3) ◽

pp. 438a-438

Author(s):

Yaying Wu ◽

Brian A. Kahn ◽

John B. Solie

Keyword(s):

Plant Density ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

High Density ◽

Fruit Yield ◽

Abelmoschus Esculentus ◽

Mature Fruit ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Harvest Timing ◽

Plant Arrangement ◽

Marketable Fruit

We are developing a mechanical harvest system for okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]. Our objective was to identify a high-density (HD) plant arrangement and a harvest timing that would maximize marketable fruit yield per hectare with a destructive harvest. We compared destructively harvested plants grown at spacings of (in cm) 15 × 15, 23 × 23, and 30 × 30 with hand-harvested plants grown at 90 × 23 cm. Within HD treatments, marketable fruit weight increased inconsistently as plant density increased. The 30 × 30-cm spacing was not dense enough. Branching decreased and the position of the first marketable fruit attachment moved up as plant density increased. Delaying destructive harvest until many over-mature fruit were present often did not increase marketable fruit yield and always reduced the proportion of total harvested fruit weight due to marketable fruit. Overall, percentages of marketable yield obtained by destructive harvests of HD plants were low compared to the cumulative marketable yield from control plants. However, the labor-saving potential was high. A prototype machine for harvest of HD okra has been developed, and further testing is planned.

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EFFECTS OF SOIL FUMIGANTS (METHAM SODIUM VS. METHYL BROMIDE) AND PLASTIC MULCH ON YIELD OF TOMATOES

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.27.11.1171b ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 27 (11) ◽

pp. 1171b-1171 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Steve Kovach ◽

James Brown ◽

Walter Hogue ◽

Larry Curtis ◽

William S. Gazaway

Keyword(s):

Methyl Bromide ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Black Plastic ◽

Marketable Fruit ◽

Soil Fumigants ◽

Metham Sodium

Drip-irrigated tomato (`Sunny') plants were treated with five levels of fumigant in combination with three levels of mulch. Fumigants were metham sodium at two rates, 475 and 950 L/ha, a 67% methyl bromide + 33% chloropicrin formulation (164.5 kg/ha, and a 98% methyl bromide + 2% chloropicrin formulation (329 kg/ha). Mulching levels were 1.25 mil silver on black polyethylene (plastic), blue-black latex mulch sprayed over the plant beds, and no mulch. Plants treated with metham sodium (950 L/ha) had a significantly higher number of marketable fruit than plants treated with no fumigant or the 98% methyl bromide + 2% chloropicrin formulation. Marketable fruit weight was not significantly affected by the five fumigation levels. Plants grown with black plastic mulch had a significantly higher marketable yield than plants grown with no mulch, 58,100 kg/ha vs. 50,800 kg/ha, respectively. The level of mulching did not significantly affect the marketable number of fruit.

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Potassium Application and Leaf Sufficiency Level for Fresh-market Tomatoes Grown on a Midwestern United States Fine-textured Soil

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.16.2.0247 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 247-252 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

H.G. Taber

Keyword(s):

Growth Habit ◽

Total Yield ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Size Difference ◽

Fresh Market ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Leaf Petiole ◽

Indeterminate Growth Habit ◽

Loam Soil ◽

Marketable Fruit

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) response to potassium (K) fertilization on a well-drained, central Iowa loam soil testing low in exchangeable K was evaluated over a 3-year period. Each year the experimental design was a factorial, split-plot randomized complete block with K rate as the whole unit (0 to 332 lb/acre). The subunit was cultivar, either `Mountain Spring' (determinate growth habit) or `Jet Star' (indeterminate growth habit). Fruit harvest began the first week of August and continued weekly for 5 to 8 weeks. For all years there was a significant K rate and cultivar effect for all parameters, but no interaction except for marketable fruit size and unmarketable fruit produced. Increasing the K rate to 103 lb/acre increased fruit size of both cultivars to a maximum of 8.9 oz, but year accounted for greater fruit size difference than the choice of cultivar. Maximum marketable yield for both cultivars occurred at 220 lb/acre K with `Jet Star' producing 13% more fruit than `Mountain Spring', 359 vs. 319 cwt/acre, respectively. Cullage was high, mostly as a result of blotchy ripening disorders, with `Jet Star' consistently producing more culls than `Mountain Spring'. Increasing K rate did not reduce the percentage of culls, which remained constant at about 29% of total yield. Whole-leaf K and leaf petiole sap K levels linearly increased with additional K rate for the two sample periods at flowering and mid-harvest. The whole-leaf K sufficiency level for both cultivars at the flowering stage of growth was determined to be 3.15% and dropped to 1.30% K by mid-harvest. Critical petiole leaf sap K values (using a dilution of 1:1 sap to water) could not be determined at flowering, but at mid-harvest the critical value was about 2200 to 2800 ppm K.

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In-row Distance in Triploid Miniwatermelon Cultivars Affects Yield and Quality in Diverse Environments in the Southeastern United States

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/hortsci.19.3.538 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 538-545

Author(s):

Richard L. Hassell ◽

Jonathan R. Schultheis ◽

Wilfred R. Jester ◽

Stephen M. Olson ◽

Gilbert A. Miller

Keyword(s):

South Carolina ◽

Citrullus Lanatus ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Row Spacing ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Marketable Fruit ◽

Eastern North Carolina ◽

Location Interaction

The goals of these studies were to determine how miniwatermelon (Citrullus lanatus) cultivars differed and responded to plant in-row spacing in terms of percentage of marketable fruit and yields, and if plant spacing impacted internal fruit quality. Three genetically diverse triploid miniwatermelon cultivars (Mohican, Petite Perfection, and Xite) were selected. These cultivars were evaluated in field locations at northern Florida (Quincy), central South Carolina (Blackville), coastal South Carolina (Charleston), and eastern North Carolina (Kinston) at five within-row distances. Within-row distance included 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 inches. All plots were15 ft long with row middles 9 ft apart. Fruit were categorized as marketable if they weighed between 3.1 and 9.0 lb per fruit. Within this range further categories were divided as follows: ≤3.0 lb (cull), 3.1 to 5.0 lb (small), 5.1 to 7.0 lb (average), 7.1 to 9.0 lb (large), and ≥9.1 lb (cull). There was a cultivar by location interaction, suggesting that the three cultivars responded differently at each of the four locations. ‘Petite Perfection’ was among the highest yielding at all locations except Quincy, where it was the lowest yielding cultivar. As with total yields, the percentage of marketable fruit was similar for some cultivars across locations. Cultivar Petite Perfection produced the highest percentage of marketable fruit at three of the four locations. The exception was the Quincy site where ‘Xite’ had the highest percentage of marketable fruit. Within-row plant distances and populations affected total marketable yield, both for fruit weight and number per plant, regardless of cultivar and location. As the plant population increased from eight plants per plot (21-inch in-row spacing) to 12 plants per plot (15-inch in-row spacing), total marketable miniwatermelon fruit yields increased in total fruit number as well as total weight. There was a cultivar by location interaction for the percentage of soluble solids and the rind thickness measurements, suggesting that some cultivars responded differently at each of the four locations. Quality effects were more apparent with ‘Mohican’ and ‘Xite’, as they were more responsive to location than ‘Petite Perfection’.

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Fertilizer Substitutions in Hydroponically Grown Greenhouse Tomatoes

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.9.1.59 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 59-65 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A.P. Papadopoulos ◽

S. Pararajasingham ◽

X. Hao

Keyword(s):

Fruit Quality ◽

Total Yield ◽

Growth Yield ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

Crop Growth ◽

Partial Substitution ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Nutrient Film Technique ◽

Marketable Fruit ◽

Crop Growth Stage

Experiments were carried out to evaluate two salts, K2SO4 and NaCl, as materials to supplement the electrical conductivity (EC) of the basic nutrient solution in nutrient film technique (NFT). The effects of these materials on the growth, yield and fruit quality of greenhouse tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) grown by NFT were quantified. These effects were tested by increasing the recirculating solution EC from a base value of 1500 μS·cm-1 to that suitable for the crop growth stage with normal feed (macronutrients), 0.38 m (0.53 lb/gal) K2SO4 or 1.14 m (0.55 lb/gal) NaCl, at a common pH of 6.2. In 1995 and 1996, there were no significant effects of the treatments on crop growth. In 1995, the early marketable yield was significantly lower when K2SO4 was used but the yield at the end of the season did not differ among the treatments. Furthermore, with K2SO4, the proportion of grade #1 fruit in early total yield was lower than in the control, while, fruit biomass content was higher than in the NaCl treatment. In 1996, the cumulative marketable fruit weight was unaffected by the treatments. A trend toward high number of large grade fruit occurred with the NaCl treatment. The pH and EC of the fruit homogenate were favorably affected by the NaCl treatment. Adding K2SO4 or NaCl in partial substitution of macronutrients in the recirculating solution may have a role in NFT systems in not only reducing environmental pollution (from nitrates and phosphates) and fertilizer costs, but also in improving fruit quality and, therefore, profit margins.

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Plum Tomato Cultivar Evaluation Using Microirrigation

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.33.3.455a ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 455a-455

Author(s):

T.K. Howe ◽

A.A. Csizinszky

Keyword(s):

Lycopersicon Esculentum ◽

Management System ◽

Large Range ◽

Total Yield ◽

The Other ◽

Tomato Cultivar ◽

Small Fruit ◽

Medium Range ◽

Marketable Fruit

Plum tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivars were evaluated in a full-bed mulch, microirrigation management system. Yield and horticultural characteristics were assessed for four entries, `Marina', `Spectrum 882', `Supra', and `Veronica', during Spring and Fall 1997. Harvested marketable fruit were separated by size into extra large, large, medium, and small categories. Spring: Total marketable yields from three harvests combining all fruit sizes ranged from 46.6 t·ha–1 for `Supra' to 57.1 t·ha–1 for `Veronica'. `Veronica' produced significantly higher total yield than the other three cultivars. There were no significant differences among the cultivars in yield of extra large (range: 2.3 to 2.9 t·ha–1) or large (range: 11.4 to 13.0 t·ha–1) fruit. Only `Veronica' (22.7 t·ha–1) and `Supra' (18.9 t·ha–1) were significantly different from each other in the yield of medium fruit. Veronica' produced significantly more small fruit (19.2 t·ha–1) than any other cultivar. Cull fruit yields ranged from 11.1 t·ha–1 for `Veronica' to 16.9 t·ha–1 for `Supra', which was significantly greater than the other cultivars. Fall: Total marketable yields from six harvests were not significantly different among the cultivars, ranging from 22.0 t·ha–1 for `Spectrum 882' to 31.4 t·ha–1 for `Marina'. Extra large fruit yields ranged from 2.0 t·ha–1 for `Supra' to 6.3 t·ha–1 for `Marina', the only cultivars significantly different from each other. There were no significant differences among the cultivars in yields of large (range: 7.9 to 13.8 t·ha–1), medium (range: 8.7 to 13.8 t·ha–1) or small fruit (range: 2.7 to 3.4 t·ha–1). Cull fruit yields ranged from 37.2 t·ha–1 for `Supra' to 47.4 t·ha–1 for `Veronica'. Cuticle cracking (rain check), black shoulder and nipple-tipped blossom ends were the primary defects in the fall. `Marina' and `Veronica' produced significantly more cull fruit than either `Supra' or `Spectrum 882'.

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Effects of Grafting on Morphophysiological and Yield Characteristic of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) Grafted onto Wild Relative Rootstocks

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants9111583 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 1583

Author(s):

Ibrahim Musa ◽

Mohd Y. Rafii ◽

Khairulmazmi Ahmad ◽

Shairul Izan Ramlee ◽

Muhammad Asyraf Md Hatta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solanum Melongena ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

Fruit Yield ◽

High Rate ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Wild Relative ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Marketable Fruit ◽

Graft Success

Grafting is regarded as an integral component of sustainable vegetable production. It is important in the management of soil-borne diseases, and reports suggest that grafting with viable rootstocks can enhance crop growth and yield. This research was conducted using splices and cleft grafting techniques to investigate graft compatibility among varieties of high yielding eggplant scion (MCV1, MCV2, CCV1, CCV2, CCV3, NCV, and TCV) grafted onto wild rootstocks (MWR, BWR, and TWR) to study their morphophysiological and yield characteristics. High yielding scions grafted onto wild relative rootstocks were compared with two controls including self-grafted and non-grafted. All the scion had a high rate of germination (≥95%) and remarkable graft success (100%) was recorded in MCV1, MCV2, and TCV using the cleft techniques. Generally, the use of rootstocks resulted in higher total and marketable fruit yield compared to the non-grafted and self-grafted scion plants, respectively. In particular, MWR and TWR rootstock conferred the highest vigour to the scion, resulting in the highest values recorded for total and marketable fruit yield, number of fruits per plant and average fruit weight. A similar result was obtained in fruit length and diameter, where long and wide fruits were observed in scions grafted onto MWR and TWR rootstocks, respectively. Grafting of high yielding eggplant scion onto resistant MWR, BWR and TWR eggplant rootstock was found to be beneficial for eggplant cultivation. The remarkable compatibility and vigour of the rootstock with scion led to the improvement in total and marketable yield of the fruits. As such, it can be concluded that the use of wild relative rootstocks of eggplant species can be a valuable method of improving eggplant production.

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