Microirrigation Equipment for Okra Cultivation in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Drip irrigation presents higher distribution efficiency than sprinkler irrigation. Proper system design and the use of pressure-compensating emitters have important roles in irrigation uniformity and efficiency, which directly affect plant growth. This study evaluated the performance of four pressure-compensating and noncompensating emitters and the effects of these irrigation equipment on the yield of three okra [Abelmoschus esculentus] varieties cultivated in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Trials were performed in two seasons (Spring and Fall 2016), and tested four types of irrigation equipment (flow control drip tape, thin wall drip line, thin wall drip tape, and heavy wall drip line) and three varieties of okra (‘Clemson Spineless 80’, ‘Clemson Spineless’, and ‘Chant’), arranged on a complete randomized block design with three replications. Irrigation was performed based on reference evapotranspiration and measured daily using an automated weather station. Soil moisture, electrical conductivity (EC), and soil temperature were monitored using capacitance sensors. The ability of the irrigation equipment to increase pressure was evaluated in the laboratory, in experimental modules using clean water, and while simulating three different slopes (leveled, uphill, and downhill). In the field trial, yield and leaf physiological parameters were influenced by season (P < 0.05) and the percentage of the marketable yield was influenced by variety (P < 0.05); however, fruit morphological parameters and soluble solids content were variety-dependent (P < 0.01). The pressure-compensating emitters maintained water flow within the range indicated by the manufacturers when used within the recommended pressure range. Distribution uniformity decreased over time for all equipment except the heavy wall drip line in Fall 2016. Irrigation equipment did not impact okra morphological attributes and yield, indicating that the same productivity can be successfully maintained while improving irrigation efficiency. Equipment should be selected based on price and irrigation efficiency to reduce the amount of water used.

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Edible-pod Peas as High-value Crops in the U.S. Virgin Islands

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech03438-16 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 26 (5) ◽

pp. 683-689 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rhuanito S. Ferrarezi ◽

Stuart A. Weiss ◽

Thomas C. Geiger ◽

K. Paul Beamer

Keyword(s):

Total Yield ◽

Poor Performance ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Plant Size ◽

Virgin Islands ◽

Fruit Yield ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

The U.S

Snow pea (Pisum sativum var. saccharatum) and sugar snap pea (P. sativum var. macrocarpon) are high-value crops typically grown in temperate regions. Temperature is the main limiting factor to growing edible-pod peas in warmer U.S. states and territories. The objective was to evaluate edible-pod peas performance in tropical climates and to make cultivar recommendations to farmers in the U.S. Virgin Islands based on fruit yield. Trials were performed in two consecutive years (2014 and 2015), testing six cultivars of edible-pod peas: three snow pea (Little Sweetie, Mammoth Melting, and Oregon Giant) and three sugar snap pea (Super Sugar Snap, Cascadia, and Sugar Sprint) in a complete randomized block with four replications. ‘Little Sweetie’ produced the highest total fruit yield for the season (15,442 kg·ha−1) and ‘Mammoth Melting’ (4249 kg·ha−1) and ‘Sugar Sprint’ (3349 kg·ha−1) produced the lowest total fruit yield in Year 1. The same trend happened in Year 2, where ‘Little Sweetie’ (14,322 kg·ha−1) and ‘Super Sugar Snap’ (12,511 kg·ha−1) were higher yielding and ‘Mammoth Melting’ (4582 kg·ha−1) and ‘Sugar Sprint’ (1929 kg·ha−1) were the lowest yielding cultivars. ‘Mammoth Melting’ showed a marketable yield below 80% of total yield in Years 1 and 2. ‘Mammoth Melting’ and ‘Super Sugar Snap’ produced the tallest plants in Year 1, while ‘Mammoth Melting’ was significantly taller than the others in Year 2. As expected, sugar snap pea presented fruit soluble solids concentration (SSC) 2.7% to 6.5% higher than snow pea. The snow pea cultivars had longer mean fruit length (81 to 86 mm) than sugar snap pea (60 to 68 mm). The opposite trend occurred with fruit thickness; sugar snap pea averaged 28.5% thicker than snow pea. The shoot dry weight of ‘Sugar Sprint’ was on average 78.5% smaller than ‘Mammoth Melting’ and ‘Oregon Giant’, resulting in poor performance due to small plant size. ‘Mammoth Melting’ and ‘Super Sugar Snap’ had the lowest chlorophyll content compared with the other cultivars. Results of this experiment indicate that edible-pod peas have potential as a specialty, short-season, high-value crop when grown in the cool–dry winter months of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Of the cultivars tested, Little Sweetie was the highest yielding cultivar evaluated within the environmental and geographical conditions of this study for two consecutive years.

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Effects of different methods to control the parasitic weed Phelipanche ramosa (L.) Pomel in processing tomato crops

Italian Journal of Agronomy ◽

10.4081/ija.2016.681 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 10 (1s) ◽

pp. 39 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Grazia Disciglio ◽

Francesco Lops ◽

Antonia Carlucci ◽

Giuseppe Gatta ◽

Annalisa Tarantino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Control Strategies ◽

Block Design ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Department Of Agriculture ◽

Parasitic Weed ◽

Complete Control ◽

Tomato Plants ◽

Processing Tomato ◽

Phelipanche Ramosa

The root-parasitic weed Phelipanche ramosa (L.) Pomel represents a major problem for processing tomato crops. The control of this holoparasitic plant is difficult, and better understanding of treatment methods is needed to develop new and specific control strategies. This study investigated 12 agronomic, chemical, biological and biotechnological strategies for the control of this parasitic weed, in comparison with the untreated situation. The trial was carried out in 2014 at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Environment of the University of Foggia (southern Italy), using processing tomato plants grown in pots filled with soil from a field that was heavily infested with P. ramosa. After transplantation, top dressing was performed with 70 kg ha–1 nitrogen. A randomised block design with 3 replicates (pots) was adopted. During the growing cycle of the tomato, at 70, 75, 81 and 88 days after transplantation, the number of parasitic shoots (branched plants) that had emerged in each pot was determined, and the leaf chlorophyll of the plants was measured using a soil-plantanalysis- development meter. At harvesting on 8 August 2014, the major quanti-qualitative yield parameters were determined, including marketable yield, mean weight, dry matter, soluble solids, and fruit colour. The results show lower chlorophyll levels in the parasitised tomato plants, compared to healthy plants. None of the treatments provided complete control against P. ramosa. However, among the methods tested, Radicon® biostimulant (Radicon, Inc., Elk Grove Village, IL, USA), compost activated with Fusarium oxysporum, nitrogen and sulphur mineral fertilisers, EnzoneTM soil fumigant (Elliott Chemicals Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand), and a resistant tomato genotype mitigated the virulence of the attacks of this parasite. These effects should be improved by combining some of these treatments, especially for gradual and continued reduction in the seed bank of the parasite in the soil. For the tomato yields across the different treatments, there were no significant differences seen; however, the yields showed an improving trend for treatments with lower presence of the P. ramosa weed.

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Can Sustained Deficit Irrigation Save Water and Meet the Quality Characteristics of Mango?

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture11050448 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 448

Author(s):

Leontina Lipan ◽

Aarón A. Carbonell-Pedro ◽

Belén Cárceles Rodríguez ◽

Víctor Hugo Durán-Zuazo ◽

Dionisio Franco Tarifa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Irrigation Water ◽

Deficit Irrigation ◽

Block Design ◽

Water Productivity ◽

Titratable Acidity ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Total Phenolic ◽

Drought Tolerant ◽

Randomized Block Design ◽

Peel Color

Mango is one of the most cultivated tropical fruits worldwide and one of few drought-tolerant plants. Thus, in this study the effect of a sustained deficit irrigation (SDI) strategy on mango yield and quality was assessed with the aim of reducing irrigation water in mango crop. A randomized block design with four treatments was developed: (i) full irrigation (FI), assuring the crop’s water needs, and three levels of SDI receiving 75%, 50%, and 33% of irrigation water (SDI75, SDI50, and SDI33). Yield, morphology, color, titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), organic acids (OA), sugars, minerals, fiber, antioxidant activity (AA), and total phenolic content (TPC) were analyzed. The yield was reduced in SDI conditions (8%, 11%, and 20% for SDI75, SDI50, and SDI33, respectively), but the irrigation water productivity was higher in all SDI regimes. SDI significantly reduced the mango size, with SDI33 generating the smallest mangoes. Peel color significantly changed after 13 days of ripening, with SDI75 being the least ripe. The TA, AA, and citric acid were higher in SDI75, while the TPC and fiber increased in all SDI levels. Consequently, SDI reduced the mango size but increased the functionality of samples, without a severe detrimental effect on the yield.

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Melon fruit yield and quality as a function of doses and times of biostimulant application

Research Society and Development ◽

10.33448/rsd-v9i7.3911 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. e130973911

Author(s):

Roberto Cleiton Fernandes de Queiroga ◽

Zaqueu Lopes da Silva ◽

Odair Honorato Oliveira de ◽

Elidayane da Nóbrega Santos ◽

Higínio Luan Oliveira Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Block Design ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Application Time ◽

Time Of Application ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Randomized Block Design ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Fruit Mass

The objective of this study was to evaluate the productivity and quality of melon fruits as a function of the dose and time of application of biostimulant in the conditions of the semi-arid region of Paraíba. The experiment was carried out at the Federal University of Campina Grande, campus of Pombal - PB, Brazil, in a randomized block design in a 4 x 5 split plot scheme, with doses of biostimulant (0; 0.5; 1.0; 1, 5 and 2.0 L ha-1) and in the subset of the biostimulant application times (15; 20; 25 and 30 days before harvest - DAC), in four replications. Characteristics related to fruit production and quality were evaluated. There was no interaction between the factors of dose and application time of the biostimulant in any of the evaluated characteristics. Thus, the highest estimated values of number of fruits per plant, fruit mass and total melon production were obtained with the application of doses ranging from 0.9 to 1.5 L ha-1 and at the time of application it varied from 22,5 to 23.6 DAC. The content of soluble solids increased 5.5% when the biostimulant dose of 2.0 L ha-1 was used and 4.4% when the product was applied 15 days before harvest.

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PENGARUH JENIS RAGI PADA FERMENTASI KAKAO TERHADAP KARAKTERISTIK CUKA KAKAO

Jurnal Ilmu dan Teknologi Pangan (ITEPA) ◽

10.24843/itepa.2019.v08.i03.p11 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 323

Author(s):

Nur Wienda Permata Wulandari ◽

Dewa Gde Mayun Permana ◽

Agus Selamet Duniaji

Keyword(s):

Fermentation Process ◽

Block Design ◽

Total Sugar ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Total Acid ◽

Total Soluble Solids ◽

Anova Test ◽

Randomized Block Design

This research was aimed to determine the effect type of “ragi” on the fermentation process of cocoa and to determine type of “ragi” that can produce vinegar with the best characteristics. This research used Randomized Block Design (RBD) with four types treatment of “ragi”, these are: without the addition of “ragi”, addition of bread yeast, addition of “tape ragi”, and addition of combination “ragi”. “Ragi” additions were carried out as much as 1% in each treatment. This research was repeated three times, resulting in 12 experimental units. The data was analyzed with Anova test and continued with Duncan test if the treatment had a significant effect (P<0.05) on the observed variable. This research showed that the treatment fermentation addition of tape ragi was the best treatment with characteristic 5.05 pH, 0.88% total acid, 3.33% total soluble solids, 0.59% total sugar and 0% alcohol. Keyword: cocoa, ragi, vinegar, fermentation

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Production and quality of okra produced with mineral and organic fertilization

Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agrícola e Ambiental ◽

10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v23n2p97-102 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 97-102

Author(s):

Hemmannuella C. Santos ◽

Emmanuel M. Pereira ◽

Rafael L. S. de Medeiros ◽

Paulo M. de A. Costa ◽

Walter E. Pereira

Keyword(s):

Vitamin C ◽

Block Design ◽

Titratable Acidity ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Organic Fertilization ◽

Randomized Block Design ◽

Number Of Leaves ◽

The Mean ◽

Organic Compost

ABSTRACT Okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench, is a vegetable with annual fruit native to hot regions of Africa, well adapted to the conditions of the Northeast and Southeast regions of Brazil, where it is widely used by small farmers. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of mineral and organic fertilization on the production and quality of okra fruits. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design, with three replicates and eleven treatments defined according to a Baconian matrix. Treatments consisted of doses of N (0, 100, 200 and 300 kg ha-1), P (0, 100, 200 and 300 kg ha-1) and K (0, 80, 160 and 240 kg ha-1), as well as absence and presence of organic compost (30 t ha-1). The following parameters were evaluated: plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, production of fruits plant-1, number of fruits plant-1, fruit length and diameter and fruit quality (pH, soluble solids, titratable acidity, vitamin C and electrical conductivity). The crop is demanding in terms of K and N fertilizations, with increments of 15.8 and 36% in the mean number and diameter of fruits, respectively. Organic fertilization did not influence the vegetative growth of okra, but was beneficial to the production of fruits with higher vitamin C content, 52% higher than the contents found in fruits produced without such input.

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Effects of weed management and plant arrangements on yield index of sweet sorghum

Bioscience Journal ◽

10.14393/bj-v35n4a2019-36966 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Ronaldo Matias Reis ◽

Matheus Souza Freitas ◽

Daniel Valadão Silva ◽

Gustavo Antônio Mendes Pereira ◽

Ana Beatriz Rocha de Jesus Passos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Weed Management ◽

Sweet Sorghum ◽

Control Method ◽

Block Design ◽

Stem Diameter ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Fresh Matter ◽

Randomized Block Design ◽

And Control

Sweet sorghum is currently an important alternative for ethanol production in sugar cane off-season. In this study was to evaluate the effects of plant arrangements and the application of atrazine and S-metolachlor on growth and productivity of sweet sorghum. An experiment was conducted in randomized block design and, arranged in split plots with four repetitions. Plots consisted of spacing (0.25 m, 0.45 m 0.45-0.45-0.90 m) and sub-plots of weed control methods - atrazine (2000 g ha-1), atrazine + S-metolachlor (2000 + 720 g ha-1), atrazine + S-metolachlor (2000 + 960 g ha-1), atrazine + S-metolachlor (2000 + 1200 g ha-1), atrazine + S-metolachlor (2000 + 1440 g ha-1). Besides that, manual hoeing control was added. The intoxication of sorghum plants and weed control was evaluated at 7, 14 e 28 days after herbicides application (DAA). Plant height, stem diameter, total fresh matter, juice mass and total soluble solids (°Brix) were evaluated at 120 days after crop emergence (DAE). There was no interaction between the factors spacings and control method for variables total matter fresh (TMF), height (H), stem diameter (D), juice mass (JM), and Brix. Application of the mixture (atrazine + S-metolachlor) in the highest doses reduced total fresh matter and °Brix. The spacing of 0.25 m provided the highest productivity of fresh matter, juice mass and increased the °Brix. The application of mixture (atrazine + S-metolachlor) controlled 90% of the weeds at 28 days after application. The increasing in doses of S-metolachlor elevates the intoxication in sorghum plants. The mixture (atrazine + S-metolachlor) has a potential for use in weed control in sweet sorghum, but at doses below 960 g ha-1 of S-metolachlor. metolachlor.

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Weed Management in Rice under Sprinkler and Flood Irrigation Systems

Planta Daninha ◽

10.1590/s0100-83582018360100141 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 36 ◽

Author(s):

D.B. HELGUEIRA ◽

T. D’AVILA ROSA ◽

L. GALON ◽

D.S. MOURA ◽

A.T. MARTINI ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Experimental Design ◽

Weed Management ◽

Irrigation System ◽

Block Design ◽

Sprinkler Irrigation ◽

Flood Irrigation ◽

Irrigation Systems ◽

Factor B ◽

Randomized Block Design ◽

Herbicide Treatments

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to assess the efficiency and selectivity of herbicides in rice submitted to sprinkler and flood irrigation systems. The experimental design was a randomized block design arranged in a 2 × 9 factorial scheme. Factor A consisted of irrigation systems (sprinkler and flood) and Factor B consisted of herbicide treatments (T1 - control; T2 - imazethapyr + imazapic, 75 + 25 g a.i. ha-1; T3 - imazethapyr + imazapic, 150 + 50 g a.i. ha-1; T4 - imazapic + imazapyr, 73.5 + 24.5 g a.i. ha-1; T5 - imazapic + imazapyr, 147 + 49 g a.i. ha-1; T6 - imazethapyr, 106 g a.i. ha-1; T7 - imazethapyr, 212 g a.i. ha-1; T8 - sequential application of imazethapyr + imazapic, 75 + 25 g a.i. ha-1; and T9 - sequential application of imazapic + imazapyr, 73.5 + 24.5 g a.i. ha-1). The application of imazethapyr and formulated mixtures of imazethapyr + imazapic and imazapyr + imazapic provided a control higher than 97% in flood and sprinkler irrigation systems. Herbicide selectivity is not altered in the sprinkler irrigation system when compared to the flood irrigation system.

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1057 THE PRODUCTION OF CULINARY HERBS IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS: CONSTRAINTS AND SOLUTIONS

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.29.5.580b ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 29 (5) ◽

pp. 580b-580

Author(s):

Louis E. Petersen

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Virgin Islands ◽

Farm Size ◽

Current Status ◽

Limited Information ◽

Small Farm ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Production Constraints ◽

Culinary Herbs ◽

The U.S

In the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), herbs and spices are in great demand, mainly for culinary purposes. These crops include thyme, basil, oregano, parsley, chives, fennel, rosemary and marjoram. Based on estimated total marketable yield of 25 growers in 1993, 10,264 kg of fresh culinary herbs were produced in USVI. During the same period, 21,207 kg of various herbs were imported to the USVI. These data clearly show that local demand for herbs exceeds domestic production. Constraints which limit increased production in USVI include small farm size, limited water resources, absence of mechanization and limited information on crop management practices. Many herb growers use traditional farming practices and for the most part avoid modern approaches to cultivation. Appropriate cultural and management practices (e.g. drip irrigation, mulching, fertilizer, etc.) could potentially boost production and increase overall efficiency despite the reality of small farm acreages. This paper will describe the current status of herb production in the USVI, constraints to production and proposed solutions to improve its economic prospect.

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Effect of intra-row spacing on plant growth, yield and quality of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum mill) varieties at mizan-aman, southwestern Ethiopia

International Journal of Agricultural Extension ◽

10.33687/ijae.008.01.3093 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 33-42

Author(s):

Ashenafi Abriham ◽

Demelash Kefale

Keyword(s):

Block Design ◽

Fruit Shape ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Southern Ethiopia ◽

Row Spacing ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Early Maturity ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Number Of Branches

The productivity of tomato is influenced mainly by environmental factors, agronomic practices and cultivar potential. Accordingly, a field experiment was conducted at Mizan-Aman, southern Ethiopia in 2016/ 2017 to evaluate the effect of intra-row spacing (20, 30, 40 and 50 cm) on the performance of three tomato varieties(Fetan, Bishola and Roma VF) with the constant inter-row spacing of 70 cm in completely randomized block design with three replications. Data on crop phenology, growth performance, yield and quality parameters were recorded and subjected to analysis of variance using SAS version-9 software. Results of the study indicated that both intra-row spacing and variety had a significant effect on phenology as well as parameters including; the number of branches, the number of fruit cluster and fruit per plant, fruit weight, total fruit yield, marketable and unmarketable yield and total soluble solids (TSS). However, the number of fruits per cluster, fruit shape index, titratable acidity (TA) and pH were significantly different only among varieties, while plant height was significantly affected by intra-row spacing. Closer spacing enhanced early maturity, while wider intra-row (50 cm) produced a maximum number of branches, cluster and fruits per plant, fruit weight, unmarketable yield and TSS. Generally, 20 and 30 cm intra-row spacing was found to be suitable for the production of maximum total and marketable yield. From the three tomato varieties, Fetan was early maturing with the highest total and marketable yield. The varieties were also significantly different in fruit weight, with the highest value obtained from Bishola followed by Fetan. The outcome of this study revealed that, the intra-row spacing of.30 cm and variety Fetan could be promoted for production in Mizan-Aman and similar agro-ecologies.

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