scholarly journals Management Practices of Growers Using High Tunnels in the Central Great Plains of the United States

2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 639-645 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon J.B. Knewtson ◽  
Edward E. Carey ◽  
M.B. Kirkham
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Spinacia Oleracea ◽  
Organic Soil ◽  
The United States ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
High Tunnel ◽  
Leafy Greens ◽  
High Tunnels

A survey was conducted of 81 growers managing 185 high tunnels in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa to collect information about their high tunnel management practices. The survey was administered from 2005 to 2007 using internet-based and written forms. The average respondent had 4 years of high tunnel experience. The oldest tunnel still in use was 15 years old. Twenty-five percent of respondents grew crops in their high tunnels year-round. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), lettuce (Lactuca sativa), spinach (Spinacia oleracea), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), pepper (Capsicum spp.), leafy greens, and flowers were the most common crops. Organic soil amendments were used exclusively by 35% of growers, and in combination with conventional fertilizers by an additional 50% of growers. The summary of management practices is of interest to growers and the industries and university research and extension scientists who serve them. Growers typically reported satisfaction with their high tunnels. Growers with more than one high tunnel had often added tunnels following the success of crop production in an initial tunnel. Labor for crop maintenance was the main limiting factor reported by growers as preventing expanded high tunnel production.

Overview of the Use of High Tunnels Worldwide

2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
William J. Lamont
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
The United States ◽  
High Tunnel ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Horticultural Crops ◽  
Small Fruit ◽  
High Tunnels ◽  
The World ◽  
Agricultural Census ◽  
Disease Pressure

High tunnels have been used for many years worldwide, but in the United States, the utilization of high tunnel technology for the production of horticultural crops is a relatively recent phenomenon. Single and multibay high tunnels are used throughout the world to extend the production season. One big advantage of high tunnels in the temperate and tropical regions of the world is the exclusion of rain, thus reducing the amount of disease pressure and crop loss while improving crop quality and shelf life. In temperate regions of the world, high tunnels are used to increase temperatures for crop production in spring, fall, and sometimes winter seasons. The use of high tunnels in their many forms continues to increase worldwide, and many different kinds of vegetables, small fruit, tree fruit, and flowers are being cultivated. One impediment in determining high tunnel usage worldwide is the failure of many authors and agricultural census takers to distinguish between high tunnels and plastic-covered greenhouses. In many instances, they are presented together under the heading “protected cultivation.”

scholarly journals Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) as a Substrate Component Effects Growth of Three Tree Species

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 189-194
Author(s):  
Zachariah W. Starr ◽  
Cheryl R. Boyer ◽  
Jason J. Griffin
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
The United States ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Juniperus Virginiana ◽  
Hammer Mill ◽  
Eastern Redcedar ◽  
Fertilizer Rate ◽  
Fertilizer Rates

Sustainable and local alternative substrates are being explored for nursery crop production due to concern over pine bark (PB) supplies and costs. This study evaluated a tree species which is weedy in the Great Plains region of the United States, eastern redcedar, processed through a hammer mill equipped with a 19 mm (3/4 in) screen size to create six substrates consisting of 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80% eastern redcedar chips (ERC) and 20% sand; the remaining volume was composed of PB. Each of these substrates were then used to grow baldcypress (Taxodium distichum), Chinese pistache (Pistacia chinensis), and silver maple (Acer saccharinum) under two fertilizer rates: either a 4.5 kg·m−3 (7.5 lbs·yd−3) low fertilizer rate or a 8.9 kg·m−3 (15 lbs·yd−3) high fertilizer rate. Substrates composed of 40 and 80% ERC had reduced container capacity, resulting in less growth of all three species. Plants responded similarly to both fertilizer rates suggesting that the limiting factor to plant growth is substrate physical properties. Plants grown in 5–20% ERC were of comparable size and quality to those grown in the control substrate. Therefore, ERC can be recommended as a PB substrate supplement, but not as a full replacement at this time.

scholarly journals Yield of Leafy Greens in High Tunnel Winter Production in the Northwest United States

HortScience ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristy Borrelli ◽  
Richard T. Koenig ◽  
Brad M. Jaeckel ◽  
Carol A. Miles
Keyword(s):  
Spinacia Oleracea ◽  
Planting Date ◽  
Temperate Climate ◽  
High Tunnel ◽  
Leafy Greens ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Cropping Season ◽  
High Tunnels ◽  
Season Extension ◽  
Cold Tolerant

Season extension structures like high tunnels make it possible to produce cold-tolerant crops during winter months for both a longer cropping season and a winter market season. The effects of location and planting date on the fresh yield of several cultivars of Asian greens (Brassica rapa L.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), and spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) were examined at Moscow, ID/Pullman, WA, and Vancouver, WA, a cold temperate climate and a mild marine climate, respectively. In Winter 2005–06, 20 cultivars were evaluated and in Winter 2006–07 a subset of 12 cultivars were evaluated. Location impacted yield, and higher yields overall were attained at Vancouver than at Moscow/Pullman, likely as a result of more consistent, warmer soil and air temperatures as well as increasing irradiance in February and March at Vancouver. Asian green cultivars had the highest overall yield resulting from faster growth compared with spinach and lettuce cultivars at both locations. Although most lettuce cultivars grew throughout the winter, further research is needed to identify the most suitable cultivars, seeding dates, and planting densities to optimize winter production of this crop and for Asian greens and spinach. Planting date influenced yields with the highest yields obtained for the third planting date for all trials except at Moscow/Pullman in the second year. Overall, this research suggests that it is possible to grow many cold-tolerant cultivars of Asian greens, spinach, and lettuce in a high tunnel during the winter months in both mild and cold temperate northern climates.

Season, sowing date, and row cover influences the production of cool season vegetables in movable high tunnels

2020 ◽  
Vol 100 (5) ◽  
pp. 528-536
Author(s):  
David A. Baumbauer ◽  
Macdonald H. Burgess
Keyword(s):  
Sowing Date ◽  
Fresh Weight ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
High Tunnel ◽  
Leafy Greens ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Seeding Date ◽  
Northern Latitudes ◽  
Growing Degree Hours ◽  
High Tunnels

Moveable high tunnels offer the possibility of increasing the number of crops harvested from a given piece of ground in northern latitudes where there is a short growing season. In an effort to expand crop scheduling options, three leafy greens and three root vegetables were grown in the spring in a movable high tunnel, and in the fall were sown outside and the tunnel was moved over the crops in late September. The effects of seeding date and addition of row cover were further explored on fresh weight and days to harvest. Using row cover within the high tunnel increased growing degree hours (GDH) by an average of 29% in the spring and 17% in the fall over a high tunnel without row cover. Soil degree hours (SDH) in the high tunnel with row cover increased an average of 9% in the spring and 12% in the fall over the high tunnel without row cover. The addition of row cover increased yield of leafy greens and turnip by an average of 35% in spring 2018 when the outside air temperature was considerably below average. Early-seeded fall leafy greens out-yielded late-seeded by 52% due to the ability to make a second harvest. Using row cover within the high tunnel increased GDH and SDH during both spring and fall seasons and increased the yield of cool season vegetables when outside air temperatures were considerably below average.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Elite Wheat Germ Plasm for Resistance to Tan Spot

Plant Disease ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 90 (10) ◽  
pp. 1320-1325 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. K. Singh ◽  
M. Mergoum ◽  
S. Ali ◽  
T. B. Adhikari ◽  
E. M. Elias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Wheat Germ ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Germ Plasm ◽  
The United States ◽  
Tan Spot ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Breeding Lines ◽  
Resistant Varieties

Tan spot, caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, is a serious foliar disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum) in North America. Control of tan spot through management practices and fungicide application is possible; however, the use of resistant varieties is the most effective and economical means of controlling tan spot. This study was conducted to determine the disease reaction of 126 elite hard red spring, white, and durum wheat varieties and advanced breeding lines collected from the northern Great Plains of the United States and Canada to individual races/toxins of P. tritici-repentis. Seedling evaluation of the 126 genotypes was done under controlled environmental conditions with virulent races 2, 3, and 5 of P. tritici-repentis and toxins Ptr ToxA and Ptr ToxB. Based on disease reactions, two resistant varieties and two advanced breeding lines adapted to the northern Great Plains were found to be resistant to all the races and insensitive to the toxins tested. Additionally, six genetically diverse lines/varieties were identified to be resistant to tan spot; however, these sources may not be well adapted to the northern Great Plains. These results suggest that the wheat germ plasm contains a broad genetic base for resistance to the most prevalent races of P. tritici-repentis in North America, and the resistant sources identified in this study may be utilized in wheat breeding programs to develop tan spot resistant varieties.

scholarly journals Alternative Strategies to Manage Weather Risk in Perennial Fruit Crop Production

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 452-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuay-Tsyr Ho ◽  
Jennifer E. Ifft ◽  
Bradley J. Rickard ◽  
Calum G. Turvey
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Eastern United States ◽  
Economic Implications ◽  
High Tunnel ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
High Tunnels ◽  
Revenue Insurance ◽  
Tunnel System ◽  
Weather Insurance

Fruit producers in the Eastern United States face a wide range of weather-related risks that have the capacity to largely impact yields and profitability. This research examines the economic implications associated with responding to these risks for sweet cherry production in three different systems: high tunnels, revenue insurance, and weather insurance. The analysis considers a distribution of revenue flows and costs using detailed price, yield, and weather data between 1984 and 2013. Our results show that the high tunnel system generates the largest net return if significant price premiums exist for earlier and larger fruit.

scholarly journals Horticultural Uses of Municipal Solid Waste Composts

1993 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl J. Rosen ◽  
Thomas R. Halbach ◽  
Bert T. Swanson
Keyword(s):  
Municipal Solid Waste ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
The United States ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Horticultural Crop ◽  
Metal Concentrations ◽  
Msw Compost ◽  
Fecal Pathogens ◽  
End Use

Composting of municipal solid waste (MSW) has received renewed attention as a result of increasing waste disposal costs and the environmental concerns associated with using landfills. Sixteen MSW composting facilities are currently operating in the United States, with many more in the advanced stages of planning. A targeted end use of the compost is for horticultural crop production. At the present time, quality standards for MSW composts are lacking and need to be established. Elevated heavy metal concentrations in MSW compost have been reported; however, through proper sorting and recycling prior to composting, contamination by heavy metals can be reduced. Guidelines for safe metal concentrations and fecal pathogens in compost, based on sewage sludge research, are presented. The compost has been shown to be useful in horticultural crop production by improving soil physical properties, such as lowering bulk density and increasing water-holding capacity. The compost can supply essential nutrients to a limited extent; however, supplemental fertilizer, particularly N, is usually required. The compost has been used successfully as a sphagnum peat substitute for container media and as a seedbed for turf production. High soluble salts and B, often leading to phytotoxicity, are problems associated with the use of MSW compost. The primary limiting factor for the general use of MSW compost in horticultural crop production at present is the lack of consistent, high-quality compost.

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.

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 The Central Great Plains High Tunnel Horticulture Project

HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 750B-750
Author(s):  
Lewis Jett* ◽  
Edward Carey ◽  
Laurie Hodges
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Temperature Management ◽  
Cut Flowers ◽  
High Tunnel ◽  
High Tunnels ◽  
Agriculture And Food ◽  
Locally Grown ◽  
On Farm

There is great interest by horticulture producers in the Central Great Plains in methods to extend the traditional growing season, increase value of crops and provide more locally grown produce. High tunnels are low-cost, unheated greenhouses that can accomplish these goals. In 2002, the Central Great Plains High Tunnel Project was initiated through funding support by the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems (IFAFS). The Univ. of Missouri, Kansas State Univ., and the Univ. of Nebraska have constructed 24 high tunnels to conduct research on vegetables, small fruits and cut flowers. Each year, a multi-state workshop is conducted along with several on-farm and research center tours. Growers are collaborating with extension personnel on projects ranging from high tunnel temperature management to pest management. A web site for high tunnel information has been constructed (www.hightunnels.org). Production guides on specific high tunnel crops have been printed. From 2002-03, a significant number of high tunnels have been constructed in the Central Great Plains.

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