Chapter 15. Root Crop Production in Florida

The global population is increasing rapidly, together with the demand for healthy fresh food. The greenhouse industry can play an important role, but encounters difficulties finding skilled staff to manage crop production. Artificial intelligence (AI) has reached breakthroughs in several areas, however, not yet in horticulture. An international competition on “autonomous greenhouses” aimed to combine horticultural expertise with AI to make breakthroughs in fresh food production with fewer resources. Five international teams, consisting of scientists, professionals, and students with different backgrounds in horticulture and AI, participated in a greenhouse growing experiment. Each team had a 96 m2 modern greenhouse compartment to grow a cucumber crop remotely during a 4-month-period. Each compartment was equipped with standard actuators (heating, ventilation, screening, lighting, fogging, CO2 supply, water and nutrient supply). Control setpoints were remotely determined by teams using their own AI algorithms. Actuators were operated by a process computer. Different sensors continuously collected measurements. Setpoints and measurements were exchanged via a digital interface. Achievements in AI-controlled compartments were compared with a manually operated reference. Detailed results on cucumber yield, resource use, and net profit obtained by teams are explained in this paper. We can conclude that in general AI performed well in controlling a greenhouse. One team outperformed the manually-grown reference.

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2020–2021 Vegetable Production Handbook: Chapter 6. Cole Crop Production

EDIS ◽

10.32473/edis-cv122-2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Lincoln Zotarelli ◽

Peter J. Dittmar ◽

Nicholas S. Dufault ◽

Bonnie Wells ◽

Johan Desaeger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chinese Cabbage ◽

Crop Production ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Cole Crops ◽

Cole Crop

This chapter covers production of cole crops and Asian crucifers, including broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese broccoli, Chinese cabbage, Chinese mustard (bok choy), kohlrabi, lobok/daikon, collards, kale, mustard, and turnip.

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Horticultural food crops

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Section B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0269727000004279 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 87 (3-4) ◽

pp. 165-172

Author(s):

C. E. Taylor

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Fruit And Vegetables ◽

Border Region ◽

Food Crops ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Processing Industry ◽

Horticultural Crops ◽

Moray Firth ◽

Soft Fruit

SynopsisIn Scotland horticultural food crops occupy about 1·4% of the tillage land, and contribute about 4% of the total Scottish agricultural output. Climate, soil type and factors such as distance to markets and availability of labour have influenced the location of horticultural crops. This has changed with time, particularly because of the influence of the processing industry. Soft fruit production (3,630 hectares), with raspberries being the dominant crop, is concentrated in the Tayside region; more than 90% of the raspberry crop is processed by pulping (for jam, etc.), freezing or canning. Vegetable production (6,130 hectares) is somewhat more dispersed from the Border region to the Moray Firth; more than half the total area is occupied by peas for canning and freezing. Glasshouse production of tomatoes is now only 25 hectares located mainly in the Clyde Valley.The future for Scottish horticultural food production will continue to be influenced by the requirements of the processing industry, but there is also an increasing outlet for fresh fruit and vegetables in supermarkets. Expansion of the production of horticultural food crops in Scotland depends on the ability of the industry to meet market demands in terms of quality and continuity of supply. Increasing reference to the need for an improved British diet may stimulate the consumption of fruit and vegetables on the home market and there continue to be opportunities for increasing the export of processed and fresh produce. Scotland has the land resources, crop production expertise and processing and marketing facilities to respond to these opportunities.

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Pesticide Use Practices by Market Gardeners in the Santa Area of the North West Region of Cameroon

International Journal of Plant & Soil Science ◽

10.9734/ijpss/2018/v26i630060 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

A. N. Abdulai ◽

C. N. Konje ◽

Tange Denis Achiri ◽

D. N. Tarla ◽

D. Nsobinenyui

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Insect Pest ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Chi Square ◽

North West ◽

Pests And Diseases ◽

Agronomic Practices ◽

The North ◽

Important Pest ◽

Chi Square Test

Aims: This work aimed at establishing the different Garden crop pests and how farmers use different pesticides to manage these pests. Place and duration of the Work: This work was carried out in Santa from January to March 2013 Methodology: The methodology involved the use of structured questionnaires which were administered to 120 farmers to obtain information on demographics, constraints to successful crop production, general farm system and agronomic practices, knowledge of insect pest problems, types of pesticides used, dosage and rate of application, and different pests crops suffered from. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square test. Results: The study indicates that majority of market gardeners in Santa community are males (70%) with ages from 30-39 and most of them are married (76%). Famers worked with relied on pesticides for pest control and did not dispose of empty pesticide containers properly such as throwing on the farm; use as drinking bowls and returned it to the pesticide vendors. Conclusion: This study provides valuable information on the pesticides used in pests and diseases control in vegetable production and health symptoms like stomach disorders, burns, and catarrh experienced by gardeners. A majority (94%) of farmers suffered from serious insect pest attacks on their farms and the most important pest was the cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon) which affected (65%). A majority (96%) of farmers also reported diseases attacks with late blight (Phytophthora infestans) affecting more than four-fifth (81%) of the farms especially in the rainy season.

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ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT STATE AND DYNAMICS OF CROP PRODUCTION DEVELOPMENT IN RUSSIA

Bulletin of Agrarian Science ◽

10.17238/issn2587-666x.2020.5.130 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (86) ◽

pp. 130-137

Author(s):

M.V. Kivarina ◽

◽

N.N. Yurina ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Preliminary Data ◽

Crop Production ◽

Agricultural Products ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Industrial Complex ◽

Grain Production ◽

Current State ◽

Production Development ◽

The Cost

This article presents the results of the analysis of the current state of crop production in Russia, as well as the dynamics of the main indicators of the industry. Crop production occupies a position of primary importance in the agro-industrial complex of the country, since the cost of agricultural products in actual prices amounted to 5348.8 billion rubles in 2018 (according to preliminary data of 2019 – 5907.9 billion rubles), including crop production – 2756.1 billion rubles (3160.0 billion rubles – in 2019) or 51.5% (53.5% in 2019); the index of crop production – 98.5% (in 2019 – 106.1%). The gross grain harvest in 2018 amounted to 113.3 million tons; in the structure of grain production, the largest share belongs to wheat – 63.69% or 72.1 million tons, then barley – 15.00% (16.99 million tons), corn – 10.08% (11.4 million tons), oats – 4.17% (4.7 million tons), rye – 1.69% (1.9 million tons), rice – 0.92% (1.0 million tons), buckwheat – 0.82% (0.9 million tons) and other crops – 7.79% (8.8 million tons). The most favorable situation was with such technical crops as soy and rapeseed. In 2018, record harvests of soybeans and rapeseed were collected – 4026.8 and 1988.7 thousand tons, respectively. The volume of vegetable production in all categories of farms for the period 2014-2018 increased from 12821.02 to 13685.23 thousand tons; the yield and marketability of products also increased. The number of vegetables and melons per population was 76.18 % in 2018.

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Use of fabric and compost mulches for vegetable production in a low tillage, permanent bed system: Effects on crop yield and labor

American Journal of Alternative Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0889189300008705 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 146-153 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

R.S. Feldman ◽

C.E. Holmes ◽

T.A. Blomgren

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Soil Nutrient ◽

Bare Soil ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Polyethylene Film ◽

First Year ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Red Cabbage ◽

Total Labor

AbstractWe tested the usefulness of mulching with polypropylene landscape fabric and compost as alternatives to bare soil for growing red cabbage and watermelon. Polypropylene landscape fabric has features similar to the polyethylene film that is popular for commercial vegetable production, but its durability permits multi-year use, which would reduce excessive waste produced from the typical single-season use of polyethylene film. On the other hand, compost used as mulch enhances soil development while providing weed suppression and water retention, among other benefits. Yields of red cabbage and watermelon were measured for 3 years in plots receiving either 10 cm compost, landscape fabric, or no mulch. Labor associated with crop production and weed suppression was measured as time spent on each task. Cabbage yields over 3 years followed the treatment order of compost > no mulch > fabric, while for melon yields it was compost > fabric > no mulch. Total labor required over 3 years for both crops, according to treatments, was fabric > compost > no mulch. However, labor for the fabric-treated plots dropped sharply after the first year, because fabric was left in place after initial placement. Labor for unmulched cabbage plots increased over time due to weeding and transplanting; labor for unmulched and compost-mulched melon plots increased for the same reasons. Compost provided the highest crop yields with a moderate labor investment. Surface-applied compost substantially increased underlying soil nutrient levels. The study indicates that polypropylene landscape fabric may be a potential alternative to the more traditional polyethylene film for permanent beds in vegetable production.

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Weed Control in No-tillage Cucumber Production

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.39.4.746d ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 39 (4) ◽

pp. 746D-747

Author(s):

S. Alan Walters* ◽

Scott A. Nolte ◽

Joseph L. Matthews ◽

Bryan G. Young

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Production System ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Production ◽

Amaranthus Retroflexus ◽

Winter Rye ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

No Tillage ◽

Drought Conditions ◽

Soil Temperatures

A field study was conducted in 2002 and 2003 to evaluate various herbicides (ethafluralin & clomazone, halosulfuron, and ethafluralin & clomazone + halosulfuron) with or without a winter rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop in no-tillage `Daytona' cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) production. All herbicides were applied preplant prior to cucumber transplanting, and no injury or stunting to cucumber was observed with any of the treatments evaluated at any time during the two growing seasons. Winter rye provided a significant advantage for weed control compared to the no cover crop production system. The combination of ethafluralin & clomazone + halosulfuron provided the greatest control of smooth crabgrass [Digitaria ischaemum (Schreb. Ex Schweig) Schreb. Ex Muhl.] and redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.). Ethafluralin & clomazone provided little redroot pig-weed control, while halosulfuron alone provided no control of smooth crabgrass. Winter rye enhanced cucumber yields in 2002 (drought conditions), while in 2003 (sufficient moisture and cooler soil temperatures), winter rye tended to suppress yields. During drought conditions (2002), treatments with ethafluralin & clomazone and ethafluralin & clomazone + halosulfuron produced similar yields. However, in 2003, treatments with ethafluralin & clomazone + halosulfuron produced greater yields than treatments with ethafluralin & clomazone. Overall, the handweed treatment provided the greatest yields, while the non-treated and halosulfuron only treatment provided the lowest yields. Winter rye will provide some additional weed control in a no-tillage vegetable production system, but may also provide negative effects by suppressing crop yield depending on seasonal growing conditions.

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Beet production using vermiculite incorporated with Dystrophic Red Latosol (Oxisol)

Research Society and Development ◽

10.33448/rsd-v10i1.11157 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. e26810111157

Author(s):

Ariel Santivañez Aguilar ◽

Henrique Vasque ◽

Antonio Ismael Inácio Cardoso ◽

Estefânia Martins Bardiviesso ◽

Raíra Andrade Pelvine ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beta Vulgaris ◽

Crop Production ◽

Water Holding Capacity ◽

Cercospora Beticola ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Leaf Weight ◽

Linear Decrease ◽

High Incidence ◽

Red Latosol ◽

Water Holding

Vermiculite is an expansive material that can be used for crop production. However, information about the use of vermiculite in vegetable production is scarce. Thus, this study's objective was to evaluate the effects of vermiculite levels incorporated into the soil (Red Latosol Dystrophic) for beet (Beta vulgaris L.) crop production. The experiment was performed during spring using the beet cultivar 'Early Wonder Tall Top' and 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 t∙ha-1 of vermiculite incorporated into the soil before seedling planting. The increase of the vermiculite doses caused a linear decrease of the fresh root and leaf weight. The yield reductions were due to the great water holding capacity of the vermiculite and the consequent high incidence of cercosporiosis (Cercospora beticola Saac).

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Precision Agriculture Technology for Horticultural Crop Production

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.10.3.448 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 448-451 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gary T. Roberson

Keyword(s):

Precision Agriculture ◽

Crop Production ◽

Process Management ◽

Management Practices ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

North Carolina State University ◽

Horticultural Crops ◽

Agricultural Engineering ◽

Agronomic Crops ◽

Functional Areas

Precision agriculture is a comprehensive system that relies on information, technology and management to optimize agricultural production. While used since the mid-1980s in agronomic crops, it is attracting increasing interest in horticultural crops. Relatively high per acre crop values for some horticultural crops and crop response to variability in soil and nutrients makes precision agriculture an attractive production system. Precision agriculture efforts in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at North Carolina State University are currently focused in two functional areas: site-specific management and postharvest process management. Much of the information base, technology, and management practices developed in agronomic crops have practical and potentially profitable applications in fruit and vegetable production. Mechanized soil sampling, pest scouting and variable rate control systems are readily adapted to horticultural crops. Yield monitors are under development for many crops that can be mechanically harvested. Investigations have begun to develop yield monitoring capability for hand harvested crops. Postharvest controls are widely used in horticultural crops to enhance or protect product quality.

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