Fresh market sweet corn production with clear and wavelength selective soil mulch films

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 559-564 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Q. Zhang ◽  
C. S. Tan ◽  
J. Warner

Earliness of fresh market sweet corn (Zea mays L.) is important to increasing profitability and maintaining market occupancy. Maturity of fresh market sweet corn may be advanced by the use of plastic soil mulch films. In 2000 and 2001, the effects of clear (CMF) and wavelength selective (WLSMF) mulch films on soil temperature and moisture and the performance of fresh market sweet corn with and without N fertilization were evaluated in a Granby loamy sand soil in southwest Ontario. Both mulch films increased soil temperature and moisture compared with bare soil. Soil temperatures were 1.8°C higher at 5 cm and 1.6°C higher at 15 cm soil depth under CMF than WLSMF averaged over the growing season in two years. Both mulches increased soil moisture levels relative to bare soil, but less increase occurred under CMF than WLSMF. Both CMF and WLSMF advanced sweet corn maturity by 6-7 d relative to the bare soil. Compared with bare soil, marketable yields increased by 25 to 63% without added N and by 72 to 114% with added N under CMF. Under WLSMF, the corresponding increases in marketable yields were 97 to 98% without added N and 120 to 200% with added N. While WLSMF was superior to CMF for increasing fresh market sweet corn yields in southwestern Ontario, the relative economic advantage of each mulch type needs to be studied. Key words: Marketable yield, nitrogen, soil cover, soil moisture, soil temperature


1999 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 420-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Aguyoh ◽  
Henry G. Taber ◽  
Vince Lawson

Sweet corn (Zea mays L.) growers in the upper midwestern U.S. have used clear plastic mulch to improve early yield and advance crop maturity. Results of this practice have been inconsistent because of early season temperature variability and inadequate information on cultivar adaptation. Our objective was to improve the performance consistency by investigating earliness techniques with the early, sugary-enhancer (se) cultivar Temptation planted at two sites. Treatments were bare soil or clear plastic mulch, rowcovers or none, and direct-seeded or transplanted plants. Transplants were produced in the greenhouse in either 50-cell plastic trays or peat pot strips, 2.3 inches × 4.0 inches deep (6 × 10 cm) and were evaluated according to transplant age and cell size. In the cold springs of 1996 and 1997, the use of clear plastic mulch shortened maturity of sweet corn by 1 and 10 days, respectively, for the silt loam site; but no maturity advantage was observed for the loamy sand site. Clear plastic raised the minimum soil temperature by 3.8 to 4.0 °F (2.1 to 2.2 °C) at both sites. The 2-week-old 50-cell tray transplants matured 6 days earlier than the peat pot strip transplants or direct seeded at both locations in 1997. Marketable yield from the transplants was inconsistent by location and year. Four-week-old transplants did not withstand field stress and performed poorly regardless of type of container. Ear quality as indicated by row number, ear diameter, ear length, and tipfill was lowest with transplants.



2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 162-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayla Snyder ◽  
Amanda Grant ◽  
Christopher Murray ◽  
Bryon Wolff

The impact of polyolefin-based agricultural mulch films (including clear, black, and white-on-black films) on soil temperature and moisture content was studied, using a bare plot as a control, over a 4-month period in central Ontario, Canada. Data indicate a negative correlation between the change in soil temperature under the films relative to bare soil and the absolute value of bare soil temperature. Additionally, a negative correlation between the effect of films on soil moisture and the moisture level of bare soil was indicated. All mulch films demonstrated qualitatively similar ability to insulate the soil from extremes in both temperature and moisture, suggesting a potentially reduced need for irrigation and protecting against early frost, high temperatures, overwatering, and drought.



Nematology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 1057-1069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugues Baimey ◽  
Lionel Zadji ◽  
Leonard Afouda ◽  
Maurice Moens ◽  
Wilfrida Decraemer

The influence of three pesticides on the viability and infectivity of four Beninese isolates of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN), Heterorhabditis indica Ayogbe1, H. sonorensis Azohoue2, H. sonorensis Ze3, and Steinernema sp. Bembereke, was determined. The impact of both soil temperature and soil moisture on the virulence of these EPN to Trinervitermes occidentalis was investigated in laboratory assays. The effect of EPN-infected Galleria mellonella larvae on underground populations of Macrotermes bellicosus was also examined. All tested Heterorhabditis species were more tolerant to glyphosate and fipronil than the Steinernema species. Heterorhabditis sonorensis Azohoue2, showed the best results with 63.2% termite mortality at a soil temperature of 35°C. The increase of soil moisture to 20% (w/w) did not negatively influence the virulence of tested EPN. The underground populations of 71% or 60% treated nests were controlled by H. sonorensis Azohoue2- or H. indica Ayogbe1-infected G. mellonella larvae, respectively.



2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (20) ◽  
pp. 5609
Author(s):  
Junwei Liu ◽  
Vinay Kumar Gadi ◽  
Ankit Garg ◽  
Suriya Prakash Ganesan ◽  
Anasua GuhaRay

Preservation of green infrastructure (GI) needs continuous monitoring of soil moisture. Moisture content in soil is generally interpreted on the basis electrical conductivity (EC), soil temperature and relative humidity (RH). However, validity of previous approaches to interpret moisture content in urban landscape was rarely investigated. There is a need to relate the moisture content with other parameters (EC, temperature and RH) to economize the sensor installation. This study aims to quantify the dynamics of the above-mentioned parameters in an urban green space, and to further develop correlations between moisture content and other parameters (EC, temperature and RH). An integrated field monitoring and statistical modelling approach were adopted to achieve the objective. Four distinct sites comprising treed (younger and mature tree), grassed and bare soil were selected for investigation. Field monitoring was conducted for two months to measure four parameters. This was followed by statistical modelling by artificial neural networks (ANN). Correlations were developed for estimating soil moisture as a function of other parameters for the selected sites. Irrespective of the type of site, EC was found to be the most significant parameter affecting soil moisture, followed by RH and soil temperature. This correlation with EC is found to be stronger in vegetated soil as compared to that without vegetation. The correlations of soil temperature with water content do not have a conclusive trend. A considerable increase in temperature was not found due to the subsequent drying of soil after rainfall. A normal distribution function was found from the uncertainty analysis of soil moisture in the case of treed soil, whereas soil moisture was observed to follow a skewed distribution in the bare and grassed soils.



1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 393-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dale I. M. Riggs ◽  
Michael P. Hoffmann ◽  
Larry C. Thetford

We examined the effect of varying thresholds for treatment of first generation European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), infestations in early-season fresh market sweet corn in eastern New York over a 3-year period. Seven treatment thresholds were compared: (1) 15% infested plants at whorl stage, 5% infested plants at tassel and silk stage, (2) 15% at whorl stage, 15% at tassel and silk stage, (3) 30% at whorl stage, 5% at tassel and silk stage, (4) 30% at whorl stage, 15% at tassel and silk, (5) 5% at tassel and silk stage, (6) 15% at tassel and silk stage, and (7) control (untreated). When thresholds were reached, permethrin was applied using an air-blast sprayer. Results indicated little difference in percentage marketable ears whether plants were treated or not at whorl stage, and the tassel stage threshold could be raised to 15% infested plants with no significant effect on percentage marketable ears. We found no difference in marketable yield among plots treated from one side or both sides with an air-blast sprayer.



HortScience ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 487h-488
Author(s):  
Mack A. Wilson ◽  
Michael T. Aide ◽  
Victor A. Khan

Four row covers were evaluated on fall production of `Packman' broccoli and `Gourmet' cabbage at Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Row covers used were spunbonded polyester, insolar and clear slitted polyethylene and VisPore. The mean afternoon soil temperature for row covers were higher than the bare soil control. There were no significant differences among treatments with respect to head size, total numbers and yield of marketable broccoli. The number of broccoli heads per thousand between the bare soil control vs. row cover treatments were significantly different. Data for number of broccoli heads per thousand and marketable yield (Kg/Ha) were significant among row covers. Marketable yield (Kg/Ha) was significant among row covers for `Gourmet' cabbage.



Nematology ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Watson ◽  
Nigel Bell

AbstractParatylenchus nanus populations were assessed by seasonal and monthly sampling of grazed pasture on silt loam soil in Waikato, New Zealand. The data were used to investigate P.nanus aggregation and relationships with abiotic factors, including soil temperature, rainfall, soil moisture and soil nutrients. P.nanus was more abundant at 10-20 than 0-10 cm soil depth and populations were greatest in summer. Aggregation declined from spring through to winter. P.nanus populations were positively correlated with soil temperature and negatively with soil moisture (seasonally) and rainfall (monthly). Monthly P. nanus abundance was also positively correlated with a combination of accumulated temperature and rainfall. On single occasions, soil phosphorus and nitrogen were significantly negatively correlated with P.nanus populations, and it is suggested that these associations were mediated through host plant abundance.



2012 ◽  
Vol 92 (3) ◽  
pp. 537-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunyu Song ◽  
Xingyi Zhang ◽  
Xiaobing Liu ◽  
Yuan Chen

Song, C., Zhang, X., Liu, X. and Chen, Y. 2012. Effect of soil temperature and moisture on soil test P with different extractants. Can. J. Soil Sci. 92: 537–542. Temperature and moisture are important factors affecting adsorption, transformation and the availability of soil phosphorus (P) to plants. The different temperatures and moisture contents at which soil is sampled might affect the results of soil test P (STP). In order to evaluate the effect of the temperature and moisture, as well as the fertilization level, on the results of soil test P, an incubation study involving three soil temperatures (5, 10, and 20°C), and three soil moisture contents (50, 70, 90% of field water-holding capacity) was conducted with Chinese Mollisols collected from four fertilization treatments in a long-term experiment in northeast China. Four soil P test methods, Mehlich 3, Morgan, Olsen and Bray 1 were used to determine STP after a 42-d incubation. The effect of temperature and moisture on STP varied among soil P tests. Averaged across the four fertilization treatments, the temperature had significant impact on STP, while the responses varied among soil P test methods. Mehlich 3, Morgan and Bray 1 STP decreased and Olsen STP increased with increase in temperature. Effect of soil moisture was only significant for Mehlich 3 P and Olsen P. Soil temperature had greater impact on STP than soil moisture content. The responses of the Olsen method to temperature differed from the other three methods tested. The interaction between soil temperature and soil moisture on soil test P was only significant for Mehlich 3 P. Fertilization level does not affect the STP in as a clear pattern as the temperature and moisture varied for all four methods. Consistent soil sampling conditions, especially the soil temperature, appear to be the first step to achieve a reliable STP for any soil P test.



2008 ◽  
Vol 98 (10) ◽  
pp. 1144-1152 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. M. Wu ◽  
K. V. Subbarao

Extensive studies have been conducted on the carpogenic germination of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, but carpogenic germination in S. minor has not been studied adequately. It remains unclear why apothecia of this pathogen have seldom been observed in nature. In this study, a new method was developed to produce apothecia in the absence of soil or sand, and carpogenic germination without preconditioning was recorded for 95 of the 96 S. sclerotiorum isolates tested. Carpogenic germination of the two species was compared under a variety of temperature, soil moisture, burial depths, and short periods of high temperature and low soil moisture. The optimal temperatures for rapid germination and for maximum germination rates were both lower for S. minor than for S. sclerotiorum. The temperature range for carpogenic germination was also narrower for S. minor than for S. sclerotiorum. A 5-day period at 30°C, either starting on the 10th or 20th day of incubation, did not significantly affect carpogenic germination of S. sclerotiorum. For both S. minor and S. sclerotiorum, the percentage of carpogenically germinated sclerotia increased as soil water potential increased from –0.3 to –0.01 MPa. In the greenhouse, a 10- or 20-day dry period completely arrested carpogenic germination of S. sclerotiorum, and new apothecia appeared after an interval of 35 days following rewetting, similar to the initial carpogenic germination regardless of when the dry period was imposed. In naturally infested fields, the number of sclerotia in 100 cc of soil decreased as depth increased from 0 to 10 cm before tillage, but became uniform between 0 and 10 cm after conventional tillage for both species. Most apothecia of S. minor were, however, produced from sclerotia located at a depth shallower than 0.5 cm while some apothecia of S. sclerotiorum were produced from sclerotia located as deep as 4 to 5 cm. These results provide the much needed information to assess the epidemiological roles of inoculum from sexual reproduction in diseases caused by the two Sclerotinia species in different geographical regions. However, more studies on effects of shorter and incompletely dry periods are still needed to predict production of apothecia of S. sclerotiorum in commercial fields under fluctuating soil temperature and moisture.



2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Nosalewicz ◽  
Z. Stępniewska ◽  
A. Nosalewicz

Abstract Flooded organic soils are potentially important sources of greenhouse gases. The effect of soil temperature and moisture on the concentration of N2O and CO2 at two depths of organic soil flooded with two doses of purified wastewater was studied. Nitrous oxide concentrations at the 10-30 cm depth range were generally increased with an increase in soil moisture, showing dependence on the aeration status of soil. The maximum values of N2O concentrations were higher at the 50-100 than 10-30 cm depth range, but a similar pattern of increasing maximum values of N2O concentration with an increasing input of nitrogen in treatments at both depth ranges was observed. The maximum concentrations of carbon dioxide within the 50-100 cm depth range remained at a similar level in all treatments reaching 7.1-7.7%, which indicated weak relations with the input of water and nitrogen at this depth range. We conclude that the N2O and CO2 concentrations at 10-30 cm depths in the examined organic soil flooded with 600mm year-1 of purified wastewater exhibited a similar level as the concentrations in soil watered only by precipitation.



Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document