scholarly journals Densely Planted Okra for Destructive Harvest: I. Effects on Yield

HortScience ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 1360-1364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaying Wu ◽  
Brian A. Kahn ◽  
Niels O. Maness ◽  
John B. Solie ◽  
Richard W. Whitney ◽  
...  

Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] was grown at various highly dense (HD) plant populations for destructive harvest, and compared with control plants grown at spacings of 90 × 23 cm and harvested repeatedly by hand. Our objectives were to identify a HD plant arrangement and an optimum harvest timing to maximize marketable fruit yield per hectare with a single destructive harvest, and to evaluate the potential for regrowth of cut plants followed by one or more subsequent harvests. Within HD treatments, marketable fruit weight per hectare tended to increase as the plant population density increased. Spacings of 30 × 30 cm and wider were not dense enough for the destructive harvest system due to a low marketable yield potential. Wide spacings did favor regrowth of cut plants in two experiments, but total marketable yields were still highest with the highest plant populations tested. Delaying destructive harvest until many overmature fruit were present did not consistently affect marketable fruit yield, but always decreased the proportion (by weight) of marketable fruit to total harvested fruit. Overall, percentages of marketable yield obtained by destructive harvests of plots with HD plant populations were low relative to the cumulative marketable yield from control plots. The lack of concentrated fruit set in okra remains a limiting factor for destructive harvest. However, the labor-saving potential of this system should stimulate further research.

HortScience ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 438a-438
Author(s):  
Yaying Wu ◽  
Brian A. Kahn ◽  
John B. Solie

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.


HortScience ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 1365-1369
Author(s):  
Yaying Wu ◽  
Brian A. Kahn ◽  
Niels O. Maness ◽  
John B. Solie ◽  
Richard W. Whitney ◽  
...  

Research was conducted to develop a cultural system that would permit a destructive mechanical okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] harvest. This paper reports on studies to determine the responses of okra plant architecture to various highly dense (HD) plant populations, and to consider the implications of those responses for destructive mechanical harvest. Growing okra in plant arrangements more densely planted than the control (which was spaced at 90 × 23 cm) did not affect overall plant heights. The position of the first bloom or fruit attachment and of the first marketable fruit attachment tended to become higher on the stem as plant population density increased, especially when comparing plants from the 15 × 15 cm spacing to control plants. The number of marketable fruit per plant was usually unaffected by plant population. Branch number and defruited dry weight per plant decreased as plant population density increased. Plant architecture did not affect the ability of an experimental mechanical harvester to recover marketable fruit from three different okra cultivars grown in a HD arrangement. The lack of concentrated marketable fruit set, rather than plant architecture, was the main limiting factor to the success of densely planted okra for destructive harvest.


Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1583
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Musa ◽  
Mohd Y. Rafii ◽  
Khairulmazmi Ahmad ◽  
Shairul Izan Ramlee ◽  
Muhammad Asyraf Md Hatta ◽  
...  

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.


Author(s):  
K. C. Dahal ◽  
M. D. Sharma ◽  
R. Sapkota

 Thirteen selected chilli genotypes were evaluated in randomized completely block design with three replications to study the flowering, fruit set and yield potential during spring-summer of 2005 at Khajura, Banke (Western terai district of Nepal). High temperature, long drought period and hot wind blow during flowering and fruiting period severely affected the fruit set and fruit size. Only 18.81% flowers set fruits while 72.41% of set fruits reached to marketable size (harvesting). Wide variations observed in yield potential of the genotypes ranging total fruit number per plant from 6 to 71 and in total fruit yield 7.97 to 95.33 q/ha. The genotype Mr. Lee No. 3 Selex produced maximum marketable fresh fruit yield (90.69 q/ha) which was 234.5% higher than that of Jwala (standard check) with 50.57% fruit set and 74.93% fruit retention. One fruit per plant was 0.63 and 0.52 coefficient of fruit set (%) and fruit retention (%) respectively. Highly significant coefficient of determination (R2=0.86) of the product of fruit number per plant and 100 fruit weight (g) against fresh fruit yield (q/ha) showed that chilli genotypes yield can be predicted considering fruit number per plant and fruit weight in hot and dry summer condition.Journal of the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science.Vol. 33-34, 2015, page: 229-236


HortScience ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 430a-430
Author(s):  
A.W. Caylor ◽  
W.A. Dozier ◽  
J. Pitts

Latron AG-98 (formerly named Triton AG-98) was applied to 8-year-old `Surecrop' peach trees on Lovell rootstock at 0%, 2%, 4%, and 6% (v/v) on 13 Mar. 1990 and 1992 and 28 Mar. 1991. Our objective was to determine the effect Latron AG-98 had on percentage of blossoms removed, fruit set, total fruit count and yield, and marketable fruit weight. The percentage of blossoms removed increased with increasing rates of Latron AG-98. The 4% and 6% rates removed the greatest percentage of blooms in all 3 years. The number of fruit per 50 cm of shoot length, number of fruit removed by hand-thinning, percent fruit set, total fruit number, and total fruit yield decreased with increasing rates of Latron AG-98 in 1990 and 1992 but not in 1991. The marketable fruit weight increased with increasing rates of Latron AG-98 in 1990 and 1992 but not in 1991. Latron AG-98 was not effective in 1991 because of a 2-day delay in application. Latron AG-98 was effective in removing blossoms from `Surecrop' peach at all three rates. However, the 4% and 6% rates reduced the yields below a commercially acceptable level. The 2% rate of Latron AG-98 could be useful as a tool to reduce the labor required to hand-thin peaches.


HortScience ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (9) ◽  
pp. 885-887 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.S. NeSmith

Watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum & Nakai] cultivars StarBrite and Crimson Sweet were grown during 1991 and 1992 in rows 1.5 m apart at plant spacings of 0.9, 1.5, or 2.2 m. Total fruit yield, marketable fruit yield, fruit-weight distribution, and estimated gross returns were determined for each spacing treatment. Total and marketable fruit yields were greater overall for `StarBrite' than for `Crimson Sweet'. Except for 1991 `Crimson Sweet' yields, marketable fruit yields per unit land area increased 29% to 34% as plant spacing decreased from 2.2 to 0.9 m. The yield component contributing the most to increased yields with high-density plantings was increased fruit count per unit land area. Average fruit weight responded only slightly to decreased plant spacing. Fruit-weight distribution on a relative frequency scale was stable regardless of plant spacing or production year. The potential for increasing gross returns per unit land area exists by increasing watermelon plant populations beyond the current Georgia recommendation of 2500 to 3000 plants/ha.


2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-156
Author(s):  
Edyta Kosterna ◽  
Anna Zaniewicz-Bajkowska ◽  
Jolanta Franczuk ◽  
Robert Rosa ◽  
Krystyna Chromińska ◽  
...  

Effect of synthetic mulches on melon (Cucumis meloL.) yieldingA field experiment was carried out in 2006-2008. The study examined the effect of soil mulching with synthetic materials (black polyethylene film, black polypropylene nonwoven 50 g m-2, and black polypropylene fabric 94 g m-2) on the fruit yield and quality of two melon cultivars (‘Seledyn’ and ‘Yupi’) grown in the field under the climatic conditions of central-eastern Poland. Specimens grown without mulching served as the control. The climatic conditions during the study years had a significant influence on the level of total, marketable and early yield of melon. The highest melon yield was obtained in 2007, which was characterised by the most favourable weather conditions for melon cultivation. The comparison of the cultivars showed that ‘Seledyn’ was better adapted to the climatic conditions of Poland. From cultivation, this cultivar achieved significantly higher early and total fruit yield compared with ‘Yupi’. ‘Seledyn’ was also characterised by a higher share of early yield of the total yield, a higher number of fruit in the early yield and a higher mean fruit weight. In turn, ‘Yupi’ produced a significantly higher share of marketable yield of the total yield and a higher number of marketable fruit.


HortScience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (11) ◽  
pp. 1171b-1171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Kovach ◽  
James Brown ◽  
Walter Hogue ◽  
Larry Curtis ◽  
William S. Gazaway

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.


HortScience ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 642-652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elio Jovicich ◽  
Daniel J. Cantliffe ◽  
Peter J. Stoffella ◽  
Dorota Z. Haman

Frequent fertigation of soilless-grown bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) can increase fruit production, but development of fruit disorders may offset the increase in yield of first-quality (blemish-free) fruit in greenhouses with minimal environmental control. Fruit yield and quality were studied as affected by water volumes and nutrient concentration levels, delivered with irrigation events initiated after determined cumulative solar radiation levels, in ‘HA3378’ bell pepper from October to May in north–central Florida. Irrigation events occurred after solar radiation integral levels (SRI; ±SD) 1.7 ± 0.42, 3.7 ± 0.42, 5.7 ± 0.42, 7.7 ± 0.42, and 9.7 ± 0.42 kW·min−1·m−2, which led to mean number of daily irrigation events of 61 ± 31, 26 ± 12, 17 ± 8, 12 ± 5, and 10 ± 4 respectively. In peat mix, perlite, and pine bark media, volume per irrigation event and concentration levels of the nutrient solution were, in the first experiment, 74 mL standard (74-s), and in a second concurrent experiment, 74 mL half-standard (74-½s) or 3) 37 mL standard (37-s). In both studies, combined marketable fruit yields of first quality and second quality (minor cracking patterns and yellow spots) increased linearly with decreasing SRI (increased events per day). First-quality fruit weight with 74-s was unaffected by media and, in a quadratic response to SRI, reached 5.4 kg·m−2 at 5.7 kW·min−1·m−2. First-quality weight with 74-½s and 37-s did not differ. Weight was unaffected by SRI in peat mix and perlite, and a quadratic response was recorded in pine bark, with yields of ≤3.6 kg·m−2. Fruit cracking incidence decreased with increased SRI, and was generally greater in pine bark. Incidence of yellow spots doubled with 74-½s compared with 37-s, and decreased linearly with increased SRI; the disorder was minor with 74-s. Compared with 37-s, 74-½s decreased fruit with blossom-end rot by 14%, increased marketable fruit weight by 10% in media with the lowest water-holding capacity (perlite, pine bark), and increased nutrient use efficiency. With any media used, the SRI set point of 5.7 kW·min−1·m−2 (daily mean of 17 irrigation events) and 74 mL, at standard nutrient concentration levels, appeared to produce greater blemish-free fruit yield than delivering 37 mL/event or half-concentrated 74 mL/event within the range of SRI means of 1.7 to 9.7 kW·min−1·m−2 (61–10 irrigation events/day). Disorder-tolerant pepper cultivars, better temperature control, and August plantings are additional suggestions for irrigation management to increase first-quality fruit yield.


2001 ◽  
Vol 126 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Michael Glenn ◽  
Gary J. Puterka ◽  
Stephen R. Drake ◽  
Thomas R. Unruh ◽  
Allen L. Knight ◽  
...  

Particle film technology is a developing pest control system for tree fruit production systems. Trials were performed in Santiago, Chile, and York Springs, Pa., Wenatchee and Yakima, Wash., and Kearneysville, W. Va., to evaluate the effect of particle treatments on apple [Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill. var. domestica (Borkh) Manst.] leaf physiology, fruit yield, and fruit quality. Leaf carbon assimilation was increased and canopy temperatures were reduced by particle treatments in seven of the eight trials. Yield and/or fruit weight was increased by the particle treatments in seven of the eight trials. In Santiago and Kearneysville, a* values of the fruit surface were more positive in all trials although a* values were not increased in Wenatchee and Yakima. Results indicate that particle film technology is an effective tool in reducing heat stress in apple trees that may result in increased yield potential and quality.


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