scholarly journals High Tunnels or a Poor Man's Greenhouse?

HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 1143B-1143
Author(s):  
William Lamont ◽  
Michael Orzolek
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Control ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Heating System ◽  
Marketing Channels ◽  
Trickle Irrigation ◽  
High Tunnel ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
High Tunnels ◽  
External Connection ◽  
Electrical Connections

After being interviewed by a newspaper reporter on high tunnels and explaining in great detail what a high tunnel is and how it is different from a greenhouse, you can guess my shock to read the headline “High Tunnels—A Poor Man's Greenhouse.” High tunnels do not offer the precision of conventional greenhouses for environmental control, but they do sufficiently modify the environment to enhance crop growth, yield, and quality and provide some frost protection, but their primary function is to elevate temperatures a few degrees each day over a period of several weeks. In addition to temperature control, there are benefits of wind and rain protection, soil warming, aid in control of insects, diseases, varmints, and birds. They are relatively inexpensive, about $1.30/sq. ft., excluding labor. This system is particularly appealing to new-entry growers with limited capital who utilize retail-marketing channels. High tunnels like plastic-covered greenhouses are generally quonset-shaped with a peak, constructed of metal bows that are attached to metal posts, which have been driven into the ground about 2 feet deep. They are covered with one layer of 6-mil greenhouse-grade polyethylene, and are ventilated by manually rolling up the sides each morning and rolling them down in early evening. There is no permanent heating system, although it is advisable to have a standby portable propane unit to protect against unexpected below-freezing temperatures. There are no electrical connections. The only external connection is a water supply for trickle irrigation.

scholarly journals Lettuce Yield and Quality When Grown in High Tunnel and Open-Field Production Systems Under Three Diverse Climates

2012 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 659-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell W. Wallace ◽  
Annette L. Wszelaki ◽  
Carol A. Miles ◽  
Jeremy S. Cowan ◽  
Jeffrey Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Open Field ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
High Tunnel ◽  
Mount Vernon ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
High Tunnels ◽  
Lettuce Yield ◽  
Field Plots ◽  
Field Production

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.

scholarly journals Rowcovers and High Tunnels Enhance Crop Production in the Northeastern United States

1993 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Otho S. Wells ◽  
J. Brent Loy
Keyword(s):  
Return On Investment ◽  
Capital Investment ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Environmental Control ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Management Program ◽  
High Tunnel ◽  
High Tunnels ◽  
Season Extension ◽  
Selection Of

Crop growth is enhanced with the use of relatively inexpensive rowcovers and high tunnels. Even though these structures do not provide the same degree of environmental control as greenhouses, they modify the climate sufficiently to lengthen the growing season from 1 to 4 weeks in the spring and 2 to 8 weeks in the fall. Rowcovers generally remain over a crop for 2 to 4 weeks, whereas a high tunnel may function for an entire growing season. Both systems require a relatively low capital investment, provide a good return on investment, and improve the ability of new growers to succeed in the crop production business. The selection of either rowcovers or high tunnels will depend on the management program of a grower; however, both growing systems potentially are economically viable means of season extension.

scholarly journals Engineering Principles Impacting High-tunnel Environments

2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gene A. Giacomelli
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Plant Growth ◽  
Control Systems ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Environmental Control ◽  
High Technology ◽  
High Tunnel ◽  
High Tunnels ◽  
Season Extension ◽  
New Crop

High tunnels are a special type of greenhouse with primary operational goals of season extension, crop quality improvement, and new crop production opportunities to reach unique markets. From an engineering viewpoint, high tunnels have many of the same design concerns as larger, more complex greenhouses. They capitalize on the greenhouse effect as do all enclosed plant growth structures. However, less automated environmental control systems are required for the desired crop production. Tunnel designs are less complex and less expensive than large high-technology greenhouse ranges, but they must be designed and constructed with the fundamental assurance of structural stability, safety, efficient layout, appropriate environmental control, and effective crop management in mind.

scholarly journals Winter Production of Asian Leafy Greens in High Tunnels Using Biodegradable Mulches

Horticulturae ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 454
Author(s):  
Tongyin Li ◽  
Geoffrey T. Lalk ◽  
Qianwen Zhang ◽  
Zhiheng Xing ◽  
Guihong Bi
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Cabbage ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Mineral Nutrient ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Subtropical Climate ◽  
Vegetable Crops ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
High Tunnel ◽  
High Tunnels

Use of season extension tools such as high tunnels and diverse vegetable crops have been crucial in improving competitiveness of vegetable growers in Mississippi who operate on small- to medium-sized farms. Chinese cabbage, also known as pak choy or bok choy, has become increasingly popular due to numerous cultivar choices, fast maturity, high productivity, tolerance for frost, and its potential use for winter production in high tunnels in a subtropical climate. Five Chinese cabbage cultivars including ‘Asian Delight’, ‘Black Summer’, ‘Red Pac’, ‘Rosie’, and ‘Tokyo Bekana’ were evaluated for plant growth, yield, and mineral nutrient concentrations when grown with three types of biodegradable plastic mulches (BDMs) and one polyethylene (PE, or plastic) mulch in a high tunnel in two experiments from 30 October 2019 to 18 March 2020. The five tested cultivars varied in plant height, widths, leaf SPAD, fresh and dry plant weights, marketable yield, and macro- and micro-nutrient concentrations. ‘Tokyo Bekana’ produced the highest marketable yield and fresh and dry plant weights in both experiments. The three BDMs resulted in similar marketable yield and mineral nutrients in tested cultivars and similar temperatures of leaf, mulch, and substrate compared to the PE mulch. The high tunnel provides a viable way for the winter production of selected Chinese cabbage cultivars in a subtropical climate with possible different yields between production cycles due to varying microenvironment in those months.

Агрономическая эффективность промышленной (голландской) технологии возделывания картофеля

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Coy ◽  
A.V. Shuravilin ◽  
O.A. Zakharova
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Positive Response ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Correlation And Regression Analysis ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Quality Of Products ◽  
High Degree ◽  
The Impact

Приведены результаты исследований по изучению влияния промышленной технологии возделывания картофеля на развитие, урожайность и качество продукции. Выявлена положительная реакция растений на подкормку K2SO4 в период посадки. Корреляционно-регрессионный анализ урожайности и качества клубней выявил высокую степень достоверности результатов опыта. Содержание нитратов и тяжелых металлов в клубнях было ниже допустимых величин.The results of studies on the impact of industrial technology of potato cultivation on growth, yield and quality of products. There was a positive response of plants to fertilizer K2SO4 in the period of planting. Correlation and regression analysis of yield and quality of tubers revealed a high degree of reliability of the results of experience. The contents of nitrates and heavy metals in tubers was below the permissible values.

Drip Irrigation and Stand Establishment Affect Yield and Quality of Cantaloupe

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 545d-545
Author(s):  
D.I. Leskovar ◽  
J.C. Ward ◽  
R.W. Sprague ◽  
A. Meiri
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Silty Clay ◽  
Dry Land ◽  
Stand Establishment ◽  
Yield And Quality

Water pumping restrictions of high-quality irrigation water from underground aquifers is affecting vegetable production in Southwest Texas. There is a need to develop efficient deficit-irrigation strategies to minimize irrigation inputs and maintain crop profitability. Our objective was to determine how growth, yield, and quality of cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L. cv. `Caravelle') are affected by irrigation systems with varying input levels, including drip depth position and polyethylene mulch. Stand establishment systems used were containerized transplants and direct seeding. Field experiments were conducted on a Uvalde silty clay loam soil. Marketable yields increased in the order of pre-irrigation followed by: dry-land conditions, furrow/no-mulch, furrow/mulch, drip-surface (0 cm depth)/mulch, drip-subsurface (10-cm depth)/mulch, and drip-subsurface (30 cm depth)/mulch. Pooled across all drip depth treatments, plants on drip had higher water use efficiency than plants on furrow/no-mulch or furrow/mulch systems. Transplants with drip-surface produced 75% higher total and fruit size No. 9 yields than drip-subsurface (10- or 30-cm depth) during the first harvest, but total yields were unaffected by drip tape position. About similar trends were measured in a subsequent study except for a significant irrigation system (stand establishment interaction for yield. Total yields were highest for transplants on drip-subsurface (10-cm depth) and direct seeded plants on drip-subsurface (10 and 30 cm depth) with mulch.

EFFECT OF ORGANIC MANURING ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF SWEET ORANGE

2014 ◽  
pp. 121-125
Author(s):  
B. Ghosh ◽  
T.K.S. Irenaeus ◽  
S. Kundu ◽  
P. Datta
Keyword(s):  
Sweet Orange ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Yield And Quality

scholarly journals Foliar Urea with N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide for Sustainable Yield and Quality of Pineapple in a Controlled Environment

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 6880
Author(s):  
Mohammad Amdadul Haque ◽  
Siti Zaharah Sakimin ◽  
Phebe Ding ◽  
Noraini Md. Jaafar ◽  
Mohd Khanif Yusop ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Loss ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Urea Solution ◽  
Urease Inhibitor ◽  
N Losses ◽  
N Accumulation ◽  
Yield And Quality

In agricultural production, nitrogen loss leads to economic loss and is a high environmental risk affecting plant growth, yield, and quality. Use of the N fertilizer with a urease inhibitor is thus necessary to minimize N losses and increase the efficiency of N. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) on the growth, yield, and quality of pineapple. The experiment involved two foliar fertilizer treatments: 1% (w/v) urea solution with NBPT (2.25 mL kg−1 urea) was treated as NLU (NBPT Liquid Urea), and the same concentration of urea without NBPT served as the control. Both were applied 12 times, starting 1 month after planting (MAP) and continuing once a month for 12 months. The application of urea with NBPT notably increased the above-ground dry biomass per plant (20% and 10% at 8 and 12 MAP, respectively), leaf area per plant (23% and 15% at 8 and 12 MAP, respectively), N accumulation per plant (10%), PFPN (Partial Factor Productivity) (13%), and average fruit weight (15%) compared to the treatment with urea alone (control). The analysis of quality parameters indicated that urea with NBPT improves TSS (Total Soluble Solids) (19%), ascorbic acid (10%), and sucrose (14%) but reduces the total organic acid content (21%) in pineapple. When using urea with a urease inhibitor (NBPT), there was a significant improvement in growth, yield, quality, and nitrogen use efficiency, with the additional benefit of reduced nitrogen losses, in combination with easy handling. Hence, urea with a urease inhibitor can be used as a viable alternative for increasing pineapple yield by boosting growth with better fruit quality.

scholarly journals Impact of Shade and Fogging on High Tunnel Production and Mineral Content of Organically Grown Lettuce, Basil, and Arugula in Georgia

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 625
Author(s):  
Savanah Laur ◽  
Andre Luiz Biscaia Ribeiro da Silva ◽  
Juan Carlos Díaz-Pérez ◽  
Timothy Coolong
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Content ◽  
Planting Date ◽  
High Tunnel ◽  
Lactuca Sativa L ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Shade Cloth ◽  
High Tunnels ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
Organically Grown ◽  
The Impact

This study evaluated the impact of shade cloth and fogging systems on the microclimate at the plant canopy level and yield of basil (Oscimum basilicum L.), arugula (Eruca vesicaria subsp. Sativa L.), and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) planted in mid-September and early October in high tunnels. Fogging systems were installed at canopy level in plots within shaded (30%) and non-shaded high tunnels. Average air temperatures in the shaded high tunnels were 0.9 °C lower than non-shaded high tunnels during the day. Shade cloth significantly reduced soil temperatures during the day and night periods by 1.5 °C and 1.3 °C, respectively, compared to non-shaded treatments. Fogging systems did not have an impact on air temperature, soil temperature, or relative humidity, but did increase canopy leaf wetness. Shade and fogging did not impact the yield of any of the crops grown. Yield was impacted by planting date, with earlier planting result in higher yields of lettuce and basil. Yields for arugula were greater during the second planting date than the first. Planting date and shade cloth interacted to affect the concentrations of macronutrients.

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