Frequency of Manure Application in Organic versus Annual Application of Synthetic Fertilizer in Conventional Vegetable Production

The cost of transporting manure can affect profit. Manure was applied either annually or biennially to bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), cv. Jupiter, cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), cv. Earli Pik, and sweet corn (Zea mays var. rugosa Bonaf.), cv. Incredible (se endosperm genotype), produced using organic methods and compared with production of these crops using conventional methods and annually applied synthetic fertilizer. Conventional and organically maintained portions of the field were separated by a 25-m buffer zone planted with sweet corn, which was provided with manure. The experiment was conducted from 2005 to 2008 at Lane, OK. Nutrient contents of soil and edible portions were determined as were yields. Economic analyses comparing costs of production and profit were conducted. There were yield responses resulting from year. Bell pepper yield was little affected by type of fertilizer application. Cucumber and sweet corn benefited from use of manure over conventional fertilizer. There was no pattern of alternating increased or decreased nutrient content in edible portions or in the soil as a result of annual or biennial application of manure. Treatment with manure produced higher returns than did conventional fertilizer. Annual treatment with manure produced higher returns in bell pepper and sweet corn than did treatment with manure in alternate years; the opposite was true for cucumber. Annual application of manure appears to be necessary for most of the vegetable crops tested.

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Sensitivity of Phytophthora capsici on Vegetable Crops in Georgia to Mandipropamid, Dimethomorph, and Cyazofamid

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-12-11-1082-re ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 96 (9) ◽

pp. 1337-1342 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

K. L. Jackson ◽

J. Yin ◽

P. Ji

Keyword(s):

Disease Management ◽

Mycelial Growth ◽

Phytophthora Capsici ◽

Chemical Compounds ◽

Bell Pepper ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Vegetable Crops ◽

Phytophthora Blight ◽

Significant Component ◽

Serious Disease

Phytophthora blight, caused by Phytophthora capsici, is a serious disease in vegetable production, and selective use of fungicides continues to be a significant component of disease management programs. The effect of three chemical compounds—mandipropamid, dimethomorph, and cyazofamid—on asexual stages of P. capsici collected from bell pepper and cucurbits in Georgia was assessed in this study. Forty isolates of P. capsici were determined to be sensitive to mandipropamid and dimethomorph based on mycelial growth, zoospore germination, and sporangial production. Concentrations that were 50% effective (EC50 values) of mandipropamid that inhibited mycelial growth, zoospore germination, and sporangial production of the isolates averaged 0.03, 5.70, and 0.02 μg/ml, respectively. EC50 values of dimethomorph in inhibiting mycelial growth, zoospore germination, and sporangial production averaged 0.24, 0.10, and 0.46 μg/ml, respectively. The majority of isolates were either resistant or intermediately sensitive to cyazofamid at 500 μg/ml or lower concentrations based on mycelial growth or sporangial production, although all the isolates were sensitive to this compound based on zoospore germination, with an average EC50 of 0.04 μg/ml. The results indicated that P. capsici populations in Georgia have not developed resistance to mandipropamid and dimethomorph whereas, for the majority of the isolates, certain asexual stages were resistant to cyazofamid.

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Nutrient Application Reduction to Vegetable Production Land Through Soil Testing and Demonstration Plots

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.31.4.670d ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 670d-670

Author(s):

J.M. White ◽

C.A. Neal ◽

E.A. Hanlon ◽

S. Cox

Keyword(s):

Water Management ◽

Nutrient Loading ◽

Sweet Corn ◽

Cultural Practices ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

Organic Soils ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Lake Apopka ◽

Application Rates ◽

Cooperative Project

A cooperative project between the Univ. of Florida Cooperative Extension Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Consolidated Farm Services Agency to address farm nutrient use and water management in the Lake Apopka hydrologic unit area of Florida began in 1991. This area was selected due to the vegetable production on the organic soils (muck) and sandy soils north of Lake Apopka, Florida's most polluted large lake. Discharge of nutrient-laden water into the lake from the 4050-ha vegetable production area has been implicated as a major contribution to the hypereutrophic status of the lake. Changes in cultural practices including water management, which would lead to a reduction in nutrient loading, should aid in the restoration of the lake. A grower survey of fertilizer application rates was conducted each year for 4 years with the baseline established by the 1991 survey. Demonstration plots using soil tests as the basis for fertilizer rates compared to normal grower rates of fertilizer were established for carrots, sweet corn, and celery. In 1995, muck growers had reduced their total application of N by 16%, P 52%, and K 32%, without reducing yields or quality. Nutrient applications were reduced by over 656 t/year over the years surveyed. Farms have saved fertilizer and reduced environmental risks.

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Earth-Kind® Vegetable Production in the Home Garden Using Mushroom and City Compost

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.24.4.480 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 480-483

Author(s):

Joseph G. Masabni ◽

S. Alan Walters

Keyword(s):

Calcium Nitrate ◽

Solanum Melongena ◽

N Fertilizer ◽

Bell Pepper ◽

Home Garden ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Vegetable Crops ◽

Mushroom Compost ◽

Vegetable Gardening ◽

Home Gardener

A field study was conducted in 2010 and 2011 to determine the suitability of Earth-Kind® production principles for home vegetable gardening. Earth-Kind® production encourages water and energy conservation, and reduction of fertilizer and pesticide use. Seven vegetable cultivars [Sweet Banana and bell pepper (Capsicum annuum); Celebrity and Juliet tomato (Solanum lycopersicum); Spacemaster cucumber (Cucumis sativus); Ichiban eggplant (Solanum melongena); Spineless Beauty zucchini (Cucurbita pepo)] were grown in mushroom compost (MC) or city compost (CC). Both composts were incorporated preplant into the soil with shredded wood mulch placed over them. In each year, nitrogen (N) fertilizer (15.5N–0P–0K from calcium nitrate) was applied preplant to CC plots to bring initial soil fertility levels similar to MC plots. No additional fertilizer was applied during the growing season. Drip irrigation was supplemented weekly. One application each of neem oil and pyrethrin (organic insecticides) and chlorothalonil (synthetic fungicide) was applied before harvest in 2010, but none was applied in 2011. Results indicated that Earth-Kind® technique could be effectively implemented in a home vegetable garden. MC is better suited for Earth-Kind® vegetable production than CC for some vegetables. Banana pepper, bell pepper, and zucchini had twice the yield in MC plots when compared with CC plots. No yield differences (P > 0.05) were observed between composts for tomato, eggplant, or cucumber. With proper irrigation and soil preparation practices such as addition of compost and mulch, Earth-Kind® vegetable gardening techniques can be used for selected vegetable crops without additional N fertilizer or pesticides. Furthermore, Earth-Kind® vegetable gardening can be successful as long as the home gardener understands that low yields may result from using this production method. However, often the home gardener is more concerned about producing vegetables using sustainable, environmentally friendly methods than maximizing yields.

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Response of Four Vegetable Crops to Fluridone-treated Irrigation Water

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.6.4.396 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 396-400

Author(s):

Stratford H. Kay ◽

Ross B. Leidy ◽

David W. Monks

Keyword(s):

Irrigation Water ◽

Sweet Corn ◽

Sandy Loam ◽

Matter Content ◽

Bell Pepper ◽

Loamy Sand ◽

Vegetable Crops ◽

Humic Matter ◽

Zea May ◽

Aquatic Herbicide

Greenhouse studies examined the effects of an aquatic herbicide (fluridone) in irrigation water on four vegetable crops growing on two soils. Tests on Fuquay loamy sand (0.3% humic matter) and Portsmouth fine sandy loam (4.1% humic matter) examined fluridone concentrations ≤250 μg·L−1. Injury to sweet corn (Zea may L.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), bell pepper (Capsicum annum L.), and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) on these soils varied with soil type and stage of plant growth. Seedlings or new transplants were more susceptible to fluridone damage than older plants. All plants showed more injury on Fuquay loamy sand, which had the lowest humic matter content. Injury to cucumber occurred only to seedlings exposed to 250 μg·L−1 on the Fuquay loamy sand. Bell pepper was the most sensitive crop to fluridone. The “no observed effects level” below which no significant injury of a crop occurred over both soil types and both stages of crop maturity was 5 μg·L−1 for sweet corn, bell pepper, and tomato and 100 μg·L−1 for cucumber.

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Efficacy of Bacterial or Fungal Soil Amendments on Vegetables Following Peanut

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.41.6.1395 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 41 (6) ◽

pp. 1395-1399

Author(s):

Vincent M. Russo

Keyword(s):

Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Nutrient Content ◽

Field Trials ◽

Growth Cycle ◽

Bell Pepper ◽

Vegetable Crops ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Navy Bean ◽

Fertilizer Rate

Amendment of soil with microorganisms during the growth cycle of one crop may affect development of succeeding crops. Species of Rhizobium bacteria or abuscular-mycorrhizal fungi were added alone to, or in combination with, potting soil in pots in a greenhouse. Controls were no amendments. Seed of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) were planted and two levels of a combination NPK fertilizer, the recommended and one-fourth the recommended rate, were applied. After harvest of peanut and remoistening of soil, seed of the bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) or navy bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were sown into the same planting medium in pots without additional inoculation with microbes. Dry weights of above-ground vegetative and edible portions of crops were determined. Inoculum type only affected peanut top and total dry weights. The recommended fertilizer level did not affect peanut yield but did cause improvement in bell pepper and navy bean yield over that of the deficient fertilizer rate. In field experiments, peanut was planted into soil receiving Rhizobium spp. bacteria, or arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi alone or in combination. Controls consisted of no amendment. Only the recommended fertilizer rate was used. In the next 2 years, bell pepper or navy bean were established in plots without use of additional microbial amendment. Yields and nutrient contents of crops were determined. Type of inoculum did not affect yield or nutrient content in any crop. Bell pepper marketable yield was unaffected by year, and navy bean seed yield was higher in 2004 than in 2005. In both years, navy bean yields were below U.S. averages. Concentrations of most nutrients in edible portions of bell pepper and navy bean were lower in 2004 than in 2005. Results of the field trials were generally similar to those of greenhouse studies. Use of inocula did not provide substantial benefits to yield or nutrient content of peanut or vegetable crops that followed.

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Yields of Bell Pepper, Sweet Corn, and Peanut in Rotations

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.38.7.1341 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 38 (7) ◽

pp. 1341-1343 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Vincent M. Russo

Keyword(s):

Sweet Corn ◽

Market Price ◽

The United States ◽

Bell Pepper ◽

First Year ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Southern Plains ◽

Abiotic And Biotic Factors ◽

One Year ◽

High Yields

Abiotic and biotic factors, and government farm policy, affect peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production especially in the Southern Plains of the United States. A coincident increase in vegetable production has led to interest in diversification of production on land that has historically supported peanut. A multi-year experiment was conducted from 1998 to 2001 to determine how rotating bell pepper (Capsicum annuum var. annuum L.) and sweet corn (Zea mays L.) with peanut affect yields of all three crops. In the first year, the site was planted to peanut, except for those areas of the field that would have monocultured bell pepper or sweet corn throughout the experiment. In following years, parts of the field that were planted with peanut were planted with either peanut, bell pepper, or sweet corn. Except for the monocultured crops, plots had 2 years of peanut and one year each of bell pepper or sweet corn in one of four rotations. Yields were determined and terminal market value was assigned to crops. Cumulative yields for monocultured bell pepper and sweet corn were 27.8 and 22.8 Mg·ha-1 after 4 years. The best yield of bell pepper or sweet corn in any rotation was 15.3 or 11.3 Mg·ha-1, respectively. Rotation did not affect peanuts, and cumulative yields for monocultured peanut were 8.39 Mg·ha-1 and averaged 2.13 Mg·ha-1 per year in rotations. Cumulative yields for all crops in rotations where vegetables were planted in the last 2 years averaged 21.5 Mg·ha-1 as opposed to 13.8 Mg·ha-1 when vegetables were planted in the middle 2 years of a 4-year rotation. Yields of all crops were modified by environmental conditions, and terminal market price affected crop value so that high yields were not always associated with high returns.

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How Can You Reduce Flooding Damage to Vegetable Crops?

EDIS ◽

10.32473/edis-ss425-2003 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 2003 (14) ◽

Author(s):

Yuncong Li ◽

Renuka Rao ◽

Stewart Reed

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Sweet Corn ◽

Flood Damage ◽

Cooperative Extension Service ◽

Publication Date ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Vegetable Crops ◽

University Of Florida ◽

Bush Bean ◽

Synthetic Hormones

Several management practices have been reported to help crops partially or entirely overcome flood damage. For example, the application of nitrogen (N) fertilizers overcomes N deficiency, while natural or synthetic hormones are used to correct hormone imbalances, and the addition of fungicides help control soil-borne pathogens. We recently conducted a flooding experiment with bush bean, cowpea, and sweet corn. This article recommends some practices to alleviate flooding damage of vegetables. This document is SL 206, one of a series of the Soil and Water Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication Date: August 2003. SL 206/SS425: Practices to Minimize Flooding Damage to Commercial Vegetable Production (ufl.edu)

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The Effects of Mixed Source Fertilizer Application on Vertisol Fertility and Growth of Mustard

Journal of Tropical Soils ◽

10.5400/jts.2017.v22i3.139-148 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 139-148

Author(s):

Jauhari Syamsiyah ◽

Sumarno Sumarno ◽

Suryono Suryono ◽

Nur Echsan Muhamat Rajab ◽

Ida Aryaningrum

Keyword(s):

Block Design ◽

Nutrient Content ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Available P ◽

Fresh Weight ◽

Total N ◽

Organic C ◽

Nutrient Contents ◽

Exchangeable K

Soil fertility is a crucial factor determining the growth and yield of plants. The increase of nutrient content and availability in soil can be achieved by fertilization. A field experiment was conducted using a Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD) with two factors and three replications in order to study the effects of Mixed Source of Fertilizer (MSF) application on the nutrient contents in Vertisol and its relationship to the growth and yield of mustard. The first factor was the three MSF formulas (F1, F2, F3) and second factor was the doses of MSF (0; 2.5; 5.0; 7.5; 10 Mg ha-1) applied to the soil. At the end of the experiment, the soil pH, CEC, organic-C, total-N, available-P and exchangeable-K contents were measured. The results show that there are no significant differences on the soil chemical characteristics, such as pH, organic-C content, available-P, exchangeable-K, -Ca and -Mg measured after application of different MSF formulas to the soil. Meanwhile, the increase of MSF doses applied to the soil significantly increases organic-C content, total-N, available-P and exchangeable-K in the soil. The significant increase of available-P (by 29.13%) and total-N (by 24.1%) occured after application of MSF at 5.0 Mg ha-1 and the increase of exchangeable-K (by 50%) is achieved after application of 7.5 Mg ha-1, in comparison to that without MSF application. The height and fresh weight of mustard increase in accordance with the increase of MSF doses applied. The application of 10.0 Mg ha-1 MSF results in the highest height and fresh weight of the mustard up to 63.9% and 620%, respectively. The height and fresh weight of mustard are positively correlated to the total-N, available-P and exchangeable-K in the soil. The MSF is an alternative fertilizer that can be used to improve Vertisol fertility and plant growth.

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Supplemental Fertilizer Application in the BMP Era for Vegetable Crops Grown in Florida in the BMP Era

EDIS ◽

10.32473/edis-hs163-2003 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 2003 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Eric Simonne ◽

George Hochmuth

Keyword(s):

Production Management ◽

Irrigation Management ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

Cooperative Extension Service ◽

Extension Service ◽

Publication Date ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Vegetable Crops ◽

Global Approach ◽

University Of Florida

This publication is one of a series entitled Fertilizer and Irrigation Management in the BMP Era. This series is divided into nine principles described in the Introduction Chapter (HOS-897). This publication is part of Principle 3, "Monitor Crop Nutritional Status and Discover How Healthy the Plants Are." BMP implementation requires a global approach to production management. However, for presentation purposes, each aspect of vegetable production is described in a separate publication. This document is HS906, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: January 2003. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs163

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Yield and Nutrient Content of Bell Pepper Pods from Plants Developed from Seedlings Inoculated, or Not, with Microorganisms

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.45.3.352 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 45 (3) ◽

pp. 352-358 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Vincent M. Russo ◽

P. Perkins-Veazie

Keyword(s):

Mineral Content ◽

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽

Am Fungi ◽

Nutrient Content ◽

Bell Pepper ◽

Beneficial Bacteria ◽

Fresh Weight ◽

Planting Dates ◽

Nutrient Contents ◽

Organically Grown

The effectiveness of microorganisms applied in production of vegetable transplants has had mixed results. Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) transplants were grown in a greenhouse using organic methods and the organic-certified potting mix was inoculated, or not, with beneficial bacteria or arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, or both. Other transplants were grown in the same greenhouse with a conventional potting mix, which was not inoculated. Transplants were established in the field at various planting dates in a Bernow or Stigler soil and grown using conventional or organic methods. Pod yield and nutrient contents were determined. Yields of organically grown plants were similar to those of conventionally grown plants when both were grown on the Bernow soil. When grown on both soil types, yield was higher for the Bernow than for the Stigler soil. Treatment had little effect on pod mineral content. Chlorophylls, total carotenoid, and vitamin C contents of pods from plants grown on the Stigler soil were generally lower than those from plants grown on the Bernow soil. Average pod fresh weight for plants developed from seedlings inoculated with beneficial bacteria or AM fungi was greater than that from plants developed from conventionally grown seedlings. Inoculation did not improve fresh pod weights over that from plants developed from organically grown, but not inoculated, seedlings. Amending potting mix with the microorganisms tested did not provide extraordinary benefit or detriment for use in production of bell pepper.

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