scholarly journals Production System for Horticultural Crops Grown in the Penn State High Tunnel

2003 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 358-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
William J. Lamont ◽  
Michael D. Orzolek ◽  
E. Jay Holcomb ◽  
Kathy Demchak ◽  
Eric Burkhart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drip Irrigation ◽  
Production System ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
High Tunnel ◽  
Horticultural Crops ◽  
High Tunnels ◽  
Penn State ◽  
Black Plastic

At the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) High Tunnel Research and Education Facility, a system of production of high-value horticultural crops in high tunnels has been developed that uses plastic mulch and drip irrigation. The Penn State system involves small-scale, plastic-application equipment that prepares and applies plastic mulch and drip-irrigation tape to individual raised beds. It differs from the production system developed by researchers at the University of New Hampshire in which drip-irrigation tape is manually applied to the soil surface and then the entire soil surface in the high tunnel is covered with a black plastic sheet. An overview of the production system used in the Penn State high tunnels is presented in this report.

scholarly journals Effects of Mulch Type and Planting Date on Tomato Earliness within a High Tunnel

HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 867A-867
Author(s):  
Lewis Jett* ◽  
Andrew Read
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Tomato Production ◽  
High Tunnel ◽  
Row Covers ◽  
High Tunnels ◽  
Clear Plastic ◽  
Black Plastic ◽  
Growing Conditions

High tunnels are passive solar greenhouses that are used to extend the traditional growing season for many horticulture crops. Growing conditions within a high tunnel are significantly different from growing conditions encountered in field production. Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) are wells suited for high tunnel culture having an upright growth habit and a significant economic premium for precocious harvest. The objective of this research was to investigate three planting dates (15 Mar., 30 Mar., and 10 Apr.) and three mulch types (black plastic, bareground, and clear plastic) with or without row covers, for early tomato production within a high tunnel in the Central Great Plains. High tunnels increased the average daily temperature by ≈6 °C. Early planting (i.e., mid- to late March) resulted in significantly earlier yield (i.e., early July). Using clear plastic mulch increased total marketable yield, but was not significantly different from black plastic. Row covers and plastic mulch are necessary for early tomato production. Row covers are specifically necessary for frost protection, but can be removed when the risk of frost has decreased.

scholarly journals Production System and Cultivar Effects on the Development of Skin Separation or “Silvering” in Bell Pepper Fruit

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian A. Wyenandt ◽  
Wesley L. Kline ◽  
Daniel L. Ward ◽  
Nancy L. Brill
Keyword(s):  
Drip Irrigation ◽  
Production System ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Bell Pepper ◽  
Crown Rot ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Pepper Fruit ◽  
Bell Peppers ◽  
Black Plastic

From 2006 to 2008, four different production systems and five bell pepper cultivars (Capsicum annuum) with either no resistance (Alliance and Camelot), tolerance (Revolution), or resistance (Paladin and Aristotle) to the crown rot phase of phytophthora blight (Phytophthora capsici) were evaluated for the development of skin separation or “silvering” in fruit at a research facility and four commercial vegetable farms in southern New Jersey. Cultivar, production system, and year, each had a significant effect on the total percentage of fruit with skin separation and marketable yield. The percentage of bell pepper fruit with skin separation was higher in both phytophthora-resistant cultivars compared with the phytophthora-susceptible cultivars across all four production systems. Marketable yield was highest when bell peppers were grown in double rows on raised beds with black plastic mulch and drip irrigation compared with bell peppers grown on single rows on raised beds with black plastic mulch and drip irrigation and bell peppers grown on single rows on raised, bare ground beds with buried drip irrigation. Marketable yields were lowest when bell peppers were grown in single rows on high, ridged beds with overhead irrigation. Results of this study suggest that the development of skin separation or “silvering” in fruit is more closely associated with genotype than type of production system.

scholarly journals Design and Construction of the Penn State High Tunnel

2002 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 447-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
William J. Lamont ◽  
Martin R. McGann ◽  
Michael D. Orzolek ◽  
Nymbura Mbugua ◽  
Bruce Dye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
State University ◽  
High Tunnel ◽  
Horticultural Crops ◽  
High Tunnels ◽  
Penn State ◽  
Tunnel Design ◽  
Research And Education ◽  
Production Period ◽  
Design And Construction

Plasticulture technology, especially high tunnels for extending the production period of a wide variety of horticultural crops, is an accepted production practice worldwide. In particular, high tunnels offer a production system that minimizes the effect of the environment on crop production and allows growers to continue to farm in densely populated areas. Only recently has the use of high tunnels in the U.S. been investigated and this research has been centered in the northeastern U.S. In 1999 the High Tunnel Research and Education Facility was established at Pennsylvania State University that resulted in the development of a unique high tunnel design. A detailed description of the new design and construction is presented in this report.

scholarly journals Off-season Strawberry Production under High Tunnel Compared to Open Field in Kansas

HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 770B-770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sorkel Kadir* ◽  
Edward Carey
Keyword(s):  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
High Tunnel ◽  
South Central ◽  
Berry Weight ◽  
Berry Quality ◽  
High Tunnels ◽  
Production Experiment ◽  
Protected Plants ◽  
Black Plastic

High tunnel strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) production experiment was conducted in south central Kansas, which consisted of two cultivars and four tunnels. The same experimental design was conducted under field conditions. The objectives of this study were to compare strawberry production and quality under high tunnels to those grown in the field and to assess the potential for high tunnels for early-season strawberry production. Plug plants of `Sweet Charlie' and `Chandler' were planted October 18. Plants were spaced at 12” × 12 “in double rows on raised beds covered with black plastic mulch. Protected plants under high tunnels had 100% winter survival rate compared to 60% of the field plants. Yield and berry quality of the high tunnel plants were by far better than those of field grown plants. Plant growth under high tunnels was about three to four fold higher than the unprotected field plants. `Sweet Charlie' flowered in early February and produced berries one week earlier than `Chandler'. Both cultivars were harvest from early April through late May at weekly interval. `Sweet Charlie' in early April produced an average berry weight of 14 g, soluble solids of 8 °Brix, and the largest average berry weight was 15 g. `Chandler' harvested late April produced larger berries than `Sweet Charlie' with the largest average berry weight of 35 g compared to 31 g for `Sweet Charlie'. In mid May, `Chandler' produced 72% higher yield than `Sweet Charlie'. High tunnel not only produced higher yield and better quality berries than field strawberries but it has a potential to produce early crop and extend the season production of strawberry in Kansas.

scholarly journals EFFECT OF ORGANIC AND SYNTHETIC MULCHES ON YIELD OF BASIL UNDER DRIP IRRIGATION

HortScience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 587c-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.C. Palada ◽  
S.M.A. Crossman ◽  
C.D. Collingwood
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Drip Irrigation ◽  
Virgin Islands ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Surface Soil Temperature ◽  
Black Plastic ◽  
Reduced Water

Small-scale herb growers in the U.S. Virgin Islands traditionally water their crops with sprinkler cans and garden hoses. This method is inefficient and consumes large amounts of water, a scarce resource in the islands. Introduction of drip irrigation has reduced water use in vegetable production. Integrating this system with mulches may further cut water use, making herb production more profitable. Basil (Ocimum basilicum) was grown in plots with organic (compost or straw) and synthetic (black plastic or weed barrier) mulches. A no mulch control plot was also included. All plots were drip irrigated to maintain soil moisture at -30 kPa. Total plant fresh weight and leaf fresh and dry weights were highest in the compost mulch treatment. Fresh and dry basil yields in black plastic mulched plots were almost identical with those in compost mulch, but did not differ from other treatments. Black plastic mulch reduced water use 46% compared with 27% for compost or straw mulch. All mulch treatments resulted in increased water use efficiency. Organic mulches reduced surface soil temperature, while synthetic mulches increased soil temperature 2-5°C.

Effect of Irrigation Methods and Mulching on Growth and Seed Yield of Semialata

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
SK SRIVASTAVA ◽  
PAWAN JEET
Keyword(s):  
Seed Yield ◽  
Drip Irrigation ◽  
Growth Parameters ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Water Requirement ◽  
Furrow Irrigation ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Randomized Block Design ◽  
Daily Water ◽  
Black Plastic

A study was conducted to assess the effect of drip irrigation and plastic mulch on growth and seed yield of Semialata. Two types of plastic mulch (green and silver/black) were tested at three levels of irrigation (120%, 100% and 80%) by drip irrigation and one level (100%) by furrow irrigation. The daily water requirement of Semialata was estimated by the equation ETcrop= ETox crop factor. ETcrop is crop water requirement mm/day. ETo (reference evapotranspiration, mm/day) was calculated by FAO calculator which uses temperature and humidity data. In this experiments there were twelve treatments were considered. The treatments were replicated thrice. The experiment was laid in randomized block design. It was observed that drip irrigation with or without plastic mulch is yielding better results in terms of growth parameters and seed yield as compared to furrow irrigation without plastic mulch. It was also observed that maximum suppression (67.58%) of weeds resulted with drip irrigation and silver/black plastic mulch at 80% level of irrigation.

scholarly journals Weed Suppression in Pumpkin by Mulches Composed of Organic Municipal Waste Materials

HortScience ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 720-726 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlin E. Splawski ◽  
Emilie E. Regnier ◽  
S. Kent Harrison ◽  
Mark A. Bennett ◽  
James D. Metzger
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Weed Biomass ◽  
Squash Bug ◽  
Black Plastic

Field studies were conducted in 2011 and 2012 to compare mulch treatments of shredded newspaper, a combination of shredded newspaper plus turfgrass clippings (NP + grass), hardwood bark chips, black polyethylene plastic, and bare soil on weeds, insects, soil moisture, and soil temperature in pumpkins. Newspaper mulch or black plastic reduced total weed biomass ≥90%, and woodchip or NP + grass mulch each reduced total weed biomass 78% compared with bare soil under high rainfall conditions in 2011. In 2012, under low rainfall, all mulches reduced weed biomass 97% or more compared with bare soil. In both years, all mulches resulted in higher squash bug infestations than bare soil. The woodchip, newspaper, and NP + grass mulches retained higher soil moistures than bare soil or black plastic over the course of each growing season, and the woodchip and NP + grass mulches caused greatest fluctuations in soil temperature. Pumpkin yields were abnormally low in 2011 and did not differ among treatments. In 2012, all mulches produced greater total marketable pumpkin fruit weights compared with bare soil, but only black plastic, newspaper, and NP + grass mulches resulted in greater total numbers of marketable pumpkins. Overall results indicate that shredded newspaper or NP + grass mulches may be useful for organic and/or small-scale urban crop producers as sustainable alternatives to black plastic mulch; however, their weed suppression efficacy may require higher application rates with increasing moisture conditions, and they may require greater squash bug control measures than under bare soil conditions.

scholarly journals Strawberry Plasticulture in North Carolina: II. Preplant, Planting, and Postplant Considerations for Growing `Chandler' Strawberry on Black Plastic Mulch

1993 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 383-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.B. Poling
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Drip Irrigation ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Southeastern United States ◽  
Sprinkler System ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Black Plastic ◽  
Spring Harvest ◽  
Freeze Protection

North Carolina is experiencing a revitalization of the strawberry industry due to the adoption of plasticulture technologies and the California cultivar Chandler, which produces excellent yields and fruit quality on black plastic mulch. With this system, berries can be harvested in just 7 to 8 months after planting. The spring harvest season can last up to 6 weeks in most years. Strawberry plasticulture growers in North Carolina typically experience yields of 17,000 to 18,000 lb/acre (19,054 to 20,174 kg·ha-1). Cash expenses for the system are about $4345/acre ($10,736/ha). The system requires both an overhead sprinkler system for blossom and bud frost/freeze protection, and drip irrigation for supplying water and fertilizer in the prebloom, bloom, and fruiting periods. Sandy loam and clay loam soils are ideal for forming the lo-inch-high (25.4-cm) beds with bedding machines. Usually, 33% of the N, 50% of the K, and all of the P is applied preplant, with the remaining N and K applied through the drip-irrigation system. Problems associated with the plasticulture system include higher initial investment relative to matted-row production, and only one fruiting season is possible with the anthracnose-susceptible `Chandler' in the southeastern United States.

scholarly journals Orientation of Small Hobby High Tunnels and Potential Effects on Cut Sunflowers and Fresh Herbs

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 461-467
Author(s):  
Karen L. Panter ◽  
Timmothy M. Gergeni ◽  
Casey P. Seals ◽  
Andrea R. Garfinkel
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Plant Growth And Development ◽  
Origanum Vulgare ◽  
Horticultural Crop ◽  
High Tunnel ◽  
Horticultural Crops ◽  
High Tunnels ◽  
Culinary Herbs ◽  
Origanum Majorana ◽  
East West

High tunnels are gaining popularity for their use in horticultural crop production. However, little is known about the effect of high tunnel orientation on plant growth and development. In this set of studies, we show tunnel orientation does not necessarily affect the production of cut sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and culinary herbs oregano (Origanum vulgare), marjoram (Origanum majorana), and garlic chive (Allium tuberosum). Two high tunnels, one with the long axis oriented north-south (NS) and the other east-west (EW), were used to test the effects of high tunnel orientation on several crops over a 5-year period: cut sunflower (2012 and 2016); marjoram, oregano, and garlic chive (2013 and 2014); and garlic chive (2015). The tunnels are 12 × 16 ft, smaller than those used in commercial production. The size would be appropriate for hobby and seasonal production of horticultural crops for local markets. Cut sunflower stems were similar lengths both years in both high tunnels. Sunflower times to harvest were different between cultivars but not between high tunnels. Oregano fresh weight yields were highest in the NS tunnel in 2013 but similar between tunnels in 2014. Marjoram fresh weights were highest in 2013 in the EW tunnel but highest in 2014 in the NS tunnel. Garlic chive fresh weights were similar between tunnels all 3 years. We show that differences are more a function of innate cultivar characteristics than which way small high tunnels are oriented.

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