scholarly journals Containerized Onion Transplants: A Management System to Enhance Growth, Yield, and Quality

HortScience ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-69
Author(s):  
Maria A. Macias-Leon ◽  
Daniel I. Leskovar
Keyword(s):  
Growth Yield ◽  
The United States ◽  
Seedling Density ◽  
Leaf Elongation ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Commercial Practice ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Leaf Elongation Rate ◽  
Direct Seeded ◽  
Economical Alternative

In the United States, most short-day onions are direct seeded. With this method, plant stands can be reduced because of extreme temperatures, weed pressure, and soil-borne diseases. Containerized transplants offer an alternative method of stand establishment with less seedling losses while producing uniform bulb sizes and high marketable yield. However, the use of transplants is not a widespread commercial practice because of the high cost of production. This study aims to select the best transplant strategies to improve onion crop performance in semiarid regions of southwest Texas or similar environments. Three sequential transplanting dates of early, mid, and late season (14 Nov., 8 Dec., and 9 Jan.) and two seedling densities of one seed per cell (T1) and three seeds per cell (T3) were evaluated on growth, yield, bulb quality, and phytonutrient content of three onion cultivars, two yellow (‘Caramelo’ and ‘Don Victor’), and one red (‘Lambada’). During early development, late-transplanted onions had an increase in plant height and greater leaf elongation rate than early and midtransplanted onions, whereas early plantings required more days to reach maturity than mid and late plantings. Overall, early and midtransplanting dates resulted in higher yields than late plantings. Although increasing seedling density (T3 vs. T1) did not significantly reduce marketable yield in early plantings, T1 produced a higher number of jumbo and colossal bulb sizes than T3. Onion quality was mostly affected by cultivar and not by transplant strategies. The technique of establishing onions from transplants grown from one plant per cell (T1) or multiple plants (T3) from early November to early December provides a practical and economical alternative to achieve earlier crops, while reducing the length of the production season, as planting date is delayed.

scholarly journals Early Season Growth, Yield, and Fruit Quality of Standard and Mini Watermelon Grafted onto Several Commercially Available Cucurbit Rootstocks

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 459-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew B. Bertucci ◽  
Katherine M. Jennings ◽  
David W. Monks ◽  
Jonathan R. Schultheis ◽  
Penelope Perkins-Veazie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
The United States ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Early Season ◽  
Flesh Firmness ◽  
Lycopene Content

Grafting watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a common practice in many parts of the world and has recently received increased interest in the United States. The present study was designed to evaluate early season growth, yield, and fruit quality of watermelon in response to grafting and in the absence of known disease pressure in a fumigated system. Field experiments were conducted using standard and mini watermelons (cv. Exclamation and Extazy, respectively) grafted onto 20 commercially available cucurbit rootstocks representing four species: giant pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima), summer squash (Cucurbita pepo), bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), and interspecific hybrid squash [ISH (C. maxima × Cucurbita moschata)]. Nongrafted ‘Exclamation’ and ‘Extazy’ were included as controls. To determine early season growth, leaf area was measured at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after transplant (WAT). At 1 WAT, nongrafted ‘Exclamation’ produced the smallest leaf area; however, at 3 WAT, nongrafted ‘Exclamation’ produced the largest leaf area in 2015, and no differences were observed in 2016. Leaf area was very similar among rootstocks in the ‘Extazy’ study, with minimal differences observed. Marketable yield included fruit weighing ≥9 and ≥3 lb for ‘Exclamation’ and ‘Extazy’, respectively. In the ‘Exclamation’ study, highest marketable yields were observed in nongrafted ‘Exclamation’, and ‘Exclamation’ grafted to ‘Pelops’, ‘TZ148’, and ‘Coloso’, and lowest marketable yields were observed when using ‘Marvel’ and ‘Kazako’ rootstocks, which produced 47% and 32% of nongrafted ‘Exclamation’ yield, respectively. In the ‘Extazy’ study, the highest marketable yield was observed in nongrafted ‘Extazy’, and ‘Kazako’ produced the lowest yields (48% of nongrafted ‘Extazy’). Fruit quality was determined by measuring fruit acidity (pH), soluble solids concentration (SSC), lycopene content, and flesh firmness from a sample of two fruit from each plot from the initial two harvests of each year. Across both studies, rootstock had no effect on SSC or lycopene content. As reported in previous studies, flesh firmness was increased as a result of grafting, and nongrafted ‘Exclamation’ and ‘Extazy’ had the lowest flesh firmness among standard and mini watermelons, respectively. The present study evaluated two scions with a selection of 20 cucurbit rootstocks and observed no benefits in early season growth, yield, or phytonutrient content. Only three of 20 rootstocks in each study produced marketable yields similar to the nongrafted treatments, and no grafted treatment produced higher yields than nongrafted ‘Exclamation’ or ‘Extazy’. Because grafted seedlings have an associated increase in cost and do not produce increased yields, grafting in these optimized farming systems and using fumigated soils does not offer an advantage in the absence of soilborne pathogens or other stressors that interfere with watermelon production.

scholarly journals The Effects of Different Tillage Systems and Cultivars on Growth, Yield and Quality of Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) in a Semi-Arid Sub-Tropical Environment

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Phiwokwakhe A. Dlamini ◽  
Michael T. Masarirambi ◽  
Paul K. Wahome ◽  
Mfanzile A. Dzimba
Keyword(s):  
Growth Yield ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Agricultural Crop ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Minimum Tillage ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Tillage Methods

Conservation agriculture is a concept for resource-saving agricultural crop production system that serves to achieve acceptable profits and sustaining production while conserving the environment. The popularity of zucchini also known as baby marrow in the Kingdom of Eswatini has increased in recent years specifically for its economic value in the foreign market. This study was carried out at Malkerns Research Station, Malkerns in the Middleveld of the Kingdom of Eswatini to assess the effectiveness of different tillage methods and cultivars on growth, yield and quality of zucchini. The tillage methods used were zero, basin and mulch tillage. Furrow tillage was used as a control. The results showed that tillage methods had significant (P<0.05) differences in growth and yield of zucchini. Minimum tillage plants exhibited lowest number of leaves (9.5), vine length (36.4 cm), leaf area index (2.5) and number of flowers (6), number of fruits (1.3) and marketable yield/plant (4.6 ton/ha). Non-significant (P>0.05) differences were obtained from plants grown under basin, mulch and furrow tillage. The highest vine length (69.6cm), leaf number (17.0), LAI (3.6), and marketable yield (15.7 ton/ha) were obtained in zucchini plants grown under basin tillage system. However, there were no significant (P>0.05) differences in accumulation in leaves of zucchini plants of mineral content. In terms of the cultivars there were no significant (P>0.05) differences in vegetative growth. Star 8023 showed superiority in terms of number of fruits and marketable yield. It was observed that minimum tillage was less suitable in zucchini production as compared to other tillage systems. For higher production in zucchini, basin, furrow and mulch may be used. The best cultivar to use is star 8023.

Influence of Four Weed Species on the Growth, Yield, and Quality of Direct-Seeded Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Weed Science ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 394-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. Monaco ◽  
A. S. Grayson ◽  
D. C. Sanders
Keyword(s):  
Lycopersicon Esculentum ◽  
Tomato Fruit ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Datura Stramonium ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Tomato Yield ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Direct Seeded ◽  
Shoot Weight

Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum‘Roma VF’) and four weeds were grown in various combinations in field plots in 1973 and 1974. Season-long interference by jimsonweed (Datura stramoniumL.), tall morningglory [Ipomoea purpurea(L.) Roth], and common cocklebur (Xanthium pensylvanicumWallr.) at densities of 11, 43, and 86/m2reduced tomato yields in 1973. In 1974, tomato yields were reduced by these three broadleaf weeds at densities of 2.7, 5.4, 8.1, and 11/m2. Season-long interference by large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis(L.) Scop.] reduced tomato yield at densities of 55, 215, and 430/m2in 1973 and 11, 22, 33, and 55/m2in 1974. The fresh weight of tomato shoots decreased with all weed densities in both years. Total weed shoot weight increased with density and individual weed weights decreased with increasing densities. Tomato fruit quality, as measured by soluble solids, acidity, and color, was not influenced by the various weeds and densities.

Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization on Yield and Quality of Endive

2009 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 193-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Adamczewska-Sowińska ◽  
Cecylia Miłowana Uklańska
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fertilization ◽  
Nutritional Value ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Nitrate Accumulation ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Nitrogen Application Rate

Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization on Yield and Quality of EndiveThe aim of the experiments carried out in 2007-2008 was to assess the effect of various nitrogen doses on the growth, yield and nutritional value of two endive cultivars Cigal and Excel. The effects of two types of fertilizers were compared: that of ammonium nitrate with that of the product Entec-26. On the basis of the results obtained, it was shown that endive cv. Excel produced a marketable yield that was on average by 35.5% higher than that of the cultivar Cigal. A significantly higher marketable yield of endive was obtained by fertilizing with a single dose of the fertilizer Entec-26, particularly at the rates of 90 and 135 kg N·ha-1, and also 180 kg N·ha-1. The experiments also revealed a significant effect of the fertilization method and nitrogen application rate on the biological value of the endive cultivars under evaluation. The cultivar Excel was characterized by a higher degree of nitrate accumulation, whereas the cultivar Cigal had a higher vitamin C content, dry weight, and chlorophyll content.

scholarly journals Influence of Commercially Available Organic vs Inorganic Fertilizers on Growth Yield and Quality of Carrot

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
HM Zakir ◽  
MN Sultana ◽  
KC Saha
Keyword(s):  
Organic Fertilizer ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Biochemical Properties ◽  
Root Diameter ◽  
Recommended Dose ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Inorganic Fertilizers ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Individual Root

An experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Farm, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to evaluate the  response of Biomeal, a commercial organic fertilizer in combination with inorganic fertilizers on growth, yield and quality named of carrot. The maximum gross yield (29.27 t ha-1) of carrot was obtained from T4 treatment [recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers (RDIF) + ½ recommended dose of Biomeal (RDB)], while the second lowest gross yield (18.73 t ha-1) was recorded in  alone RDB treatment. Carrot plants treated with RDIF showed the highest values for fresh weight of individual root (67.13 g), marketable yield (18.74 t ha-1), shoot length (47.87 cm), individual root diameter (10.91 mm) and nitrogen content in carrot (2.48%). Among the biochemical properties, the maximum amount of reducing sugar and total sugar (5.15 and 10.51%, respectively) were obtained from T7 treatment (RDIF + RDB). In context of carotene, the highest amount (4.92%) was found in T4 treatment (RDIF + ½ RDB). Considering major nutrients and biochemical properties of carrot, it can be inferred that Biomeal alone is not sufficient enough but it has positive influence when it is applied in combination with inorganic fertilizers. The study  also revealed that there was no significant contribution of Biomeal to increase organic carbon, N, P, S and Ca content in post  harvest soils. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v5i1.11551 J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 5(1): 39 - 45, 2012  

scholarly journals 212 Effects of Plant Density on Growth, Yield, and Quality of Fresh-market Sweet Corn

HortScience ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 478E-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiuming Hao
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Sweet Corn ◽  
Sugar Content ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Plant Size ◽  
Fresh Market ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
High Plant Density

In summer 1998, two sh2, fresh-market, sweet corn cultivars (`Candy Corner'—large plant size, and `Swifty'—small plant size) were grown at 5, 6.5, 8, and 9.5 plants/m2 to investigate the effects of plant density on growth, photosynthesis, biomass, yield, and quality. Biomass and leaf area per plant were not affected by plant density. Therefore, biomass and leaf area per unit area were increased with increasing plant density. Plant height, leaf chlorophyll, leaf photosynthesis, and transpiration (measured with the LI-COR 6400 portable photosynthesis system) were not affected by plant density. Total cob weight (husk off) and number of ears harvested from plants were increased with increasing plant density. However, marketable yield (number of marketable ears) was not affected by plant density and marketable cob weight (husk off) decreased with increasing plant density due to the reduction in ear size with high plant density. There was a significant increase in percentage of unmarketable ears at plant density higher than 6.5 plant/m2 with `Candy Corner'. Kernel sugar content (°Brix) in both cultivars increased with plant density. According to the results of this experiment, the optimum plant density for fresh-market sweet corn was 5 to 6 plants/m 2.

scholarly journals Sweet Onion (Allium cepa) Plant Growth and Bulb Yield and Quality as Affected by Potassium and Sulfur Fertilization Rates

HortScience ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (12) ◽  
pp. 1592-1595 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Carlos Díaz-Pérez ◽  
Jesús Bautista ◽  
Anthony Bateman ◽  
Guna Gunawati ◽  
Cliff Riner
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Burkholderia Cepacia ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
The United States ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Fertilization Rates ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Bulb Yield

‘Vidalia’ onions are sweet, short day, low pungency, yellow Granex-type bulbs that are popular in the United States. The relationships of sweet onion bulb yield and quality with potassium (K) and sulfur (S) concentrations are not fully understood. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of K and S fertilization rates on sweet onion plant growth and bulb yield and quality. Experiments were conducted at the Horticulture Farm, Tifton Campus, University of Georgia, in the Winters of 2012–13 and 2013–14. The experiment had five treatments (K/S rates: 56/80, 112/126, 168/172, 224/218, and 280/264 kg·ha−1 of K and S, respectively). K/S rates had no effect on onion biomass of roots, bulbs, and shoots during the growing season. Marketable and total number and weight of onion bulbs and individual bulb weight were also unaffected by K/S rate. Incidences of bolting, double bulbs, Botrytis leaf blight (Botrytis cinerea), and sour skin (Burkholderia cepacia), and bulb dry weight, soluble solids content (SSC), and pungency (pyruvate concentration) were unaffected by K/S rates. In conclusion, K/S rates had little effect on plant growth and bulb yield and quality. The lack of response of onion plants to K/S rates, even at the lowest rate suggests that some of the K absorbed by plants originated from K already present in the soil before planting. The average K content of sweet onion whole plants was 80 kg·ha−1 K. Thus, under our experimental conditions, application of K rates above the recommended value (84 kg·ha−1 K) are unnecessary and will likely not improve plant growth, yield, or quality. Regarding S, rates higher than 80 kg·ha−1 S are probably unnecessary and will not enhance either plant growth or bulb yield or quality of sweet onion.

scholarly journals Effects of Powdery Mildew on Vine Growth, Yield, and Quality of Concord Grapes

Plant Disease ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Gadoury ◽  
Robert C. Seem ◽  
Roger C. Pearson ◽  
Wayne F. Wilcox ◽  
Richard M. Dunst
Keyword(s):  
Powdery Mildew ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
The United States ◽  
Juice Quality ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Vine Growth ◽  
Concord Grapes ◽  
Sugar Levels ◽  
Powdery Mildew Pathogen

Vitis labruscana ‘Concord’ is a widely planted grape cultivar grown in the United States for processing into juice and other products. Concord fruit are sporadically but sometimes severely damaged by the grape powdery mildew pathogen, Uncinula necator. The effects of powdery mildew on vine growth, yield, and quality of Concord grapes at three levels of cropping intensity commonly found in commercial grape production were determined in vineyard studies. Top-wire cordon-trained Concord vines were balance pruned, pruned to retain 80 nodes, or minimally pruned. Replicated plots of the foregoing were then either protected from powdery mildew by regular fungicide applications, or were inoculated and left unsprayed. Over a 4-year period, the effects of foliar infection on vine growth, yield, and juice quality of unsprayed vines were compared with vines that received a conventional protection program of four fungicide applications. Failure to control powdery mildew resulted in a chronic reduction in wood maturity measured as the number of nodes on canes that developed periderm. The reduction in nodes did not reduce yield, possibly due to compensation in shoots produced from the remaining nodes. Powdery mildew did not affect bud survival or vigor, measured as the number of shoots produced per node on retained canes. The most significant effects of powdery mildew were on berry sugar levels and juice color and acidity, which on the unsprayed vines were sometimes reduced below minimally acceptable thresholds for processed grapes. Significant reductions due to powdery mildew in these parameters occurred in all three pruning treatments, but were most pronounced at higher cropping levels.

scholarly journals Effects of Air Quality on Growth, Yield, and Quality of Watermelon

HortScience ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 1045-1047 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard G. Snyder ◽  
James E. Simon ◽  
Richard A. Reinert ◽  
Michael Simini ◽  
Gerald E. Wilcox
Keyword(s):  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Foliar Injury ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Ambient Concentrations ◽  
Significant Yield ◽  
Marketable Fruit

Watermelon, Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum & Nakai cv. Sugar Baby, were grown in the field as a fall crop in open-top chambers (OTC) in southwestern Indiana with either charcoal-filtered (CF) or nonfiltered (NF) air. Ozone and sulfur dioxide were continuously monitored in OTC and ambient air. There was a significant decrease in marketable yield by weight (19.9%, P = 0.05), percentage of marketable fruit by number (20.8%, P = 0.10), and total yield by weight (21.5%, P = 0.05) from plants grown in the NF air treatment compared with those grown in CF air. Ozone-induced foliar injury was significantly greater on plants grown under NF conditions. Ambient concentrations of 03 in southwestern Indiana caused foliar injury (P = 0.10) and significant yield loss to a fall crop of watermelons.

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