Effects of Water Application Rates, Plastic-Mulch, and Staking on Size Arrangements of Mature Green Tomatoes Under Drip Irrigation

Size arrangements, percentage distribution of fresh harvested mature green tomatoes and vitamin A content were evaluated for plastic mulched-staked (PS), plastic mulched-nonstaked (PNS), non-mulched-staked (NPS), and nonmulched- nonstaked (NPNS) tomatoes under drip irrigation in wet, moist and dry treatments, respectively. Percentage distribution of number of fruits was highest in USDA fruit size class No. 6 for all treatments and subtreatments. For all treatments, the average fruit weight was highest during the second picking in the NPNS, NPS and PNS plots compared to the first picking in the PS plots. The dry treatment gave highest percentage of US grade I tomatoes in the NPNS and PS plots compared to that of the moist treatment in the NPS and the wet treatment in the PNS plots, respectively. The vitamin A content was highest in NPNS plots for wet and moist treatments, and in PS plots for dry treatment. The PS plots in the wet and moist treatments, and NPS plots in the dry treatment gave the lowest values of vitamin A content.

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Post-harvest evaluation of nitrogen fertigated sweet peppers under drip irrigation and plastic mulch

The Journal of Agriculture of the University of Puerto Rico ◽

10.46429/jaupr.v73i2.6410 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 73 (2) ◽

pp. 109-114

Author(s):

Megh R. Goyal ◽

Rubén Guadalupe-Luna ◽

Evangelina R. De Hernández ◽

Carmela Chao de Báez

Keyword(s):

Linear Relationship ◽

Drip Irrigation ◽

Average Length ◽

Size Class ◽

Average Weight ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Average Width ◽

Size Classes ◽

Plastic Mulching ◽

Parameter Values

Sweet peppers (var. Cubanelle) graded for width, length and weight were evaluated after three fertigation treatments (T1 = 150, T2 = 300 and T3 = 500 Kg of N/ha), 500 Kg of N/ha side-dressed (T4), no fertilizer (T5), plastic mulching (P) and no mulching (NP). Nitrogen source was urea. The relationships of average width and average weight versus days after transplanting were sigmoidal. A linear relationship was found between average length versus days after transplanting. More than 50% of peppers were within size classes 1 to 4 ; fewer than 40% were in the size classes 5 to 9. During the growing cycle, mean numbers of peppers and weight per pepper in each size class were not statistically different (P = 0.05) among main treatments (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5). In size classes 1 to 9, there were significantly more peppers (P = 0.05) in P plots than in NP plots. Fruit parameter values decreased with successive picking and were significantly lower (P = 0.05) in the 5th picking and were higher in the P plots than in the NP plots (P = 0.05). Fertilization and fertigation resulted in higher values than non-fertilization.

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Soil moisture distribution under trickle irrigation: a review

Water Science & Technology Water Supply ◽

10.2166/ws.2020.005 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 761-772 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Arpna Bajpai ◽

Arun Kaushal

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Drip Irrigation ◽

Moisture Distribution ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Initial Water Content ◽

Water Application ◽

Trickle Irrigation ◽

Irrigation Systems ◽

Application Rates ◽

Soil Moisture Distribution

Abstract The wetting pattern of soil under trickle (drip) irrigation is governed by soil texture, structure, initial water content, emitter spacing, discharge rate and irrigation frequency. For efficient management of trickle irrigation moisture distribution plays an important role. The degree of soil wetted volume in an irrigation system determines the amount of water required to wet the root zone. This article helps in understanding moisture distribution for different lateral spacing, emitter spacing, emitter discharge rates and drip line installation depth for trickle irrigation under various soil conditions all over the world. This review reveals that soil moisture distribution and uniformity within the soil profile were affected by the distance between emitters rather than the distance between drip lines. In drip irrigation systems, the less the dripper spacing, the greater the moisture distribution as well as water use efficiency and crop yield. The radial spread of moisture was greater at lower water application rates, whereas the vertical spread was greater at higher water application rates. The vertical movement of soil moisture was greater than the horizontal movement under surface as well as subsurface drip irrigation systems. Deeper drip tape installations had a potential risk of not providing moisture to shallow rooted crops.

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Differential Watermelon Fruit Size Distribution in Response to Plastic Mulch and Spunbonded Polyester Rowcover

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.18.1.45 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 45-52 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Ramón A. Arancibia ◽

Carl E. Motsenbocker

Keyword(s):

Air Temperature ◽

Citrullus Lanatus ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Net Benefit ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Ambient Temperatures ◽

Horticultural Crops

Plasticulture has been successfully used to enhance growth and yield of horticultural crops, and also for season extension in cooler climates. The effect of three plastic mulches (silver on black, photoselective thermal green, and black) in combination with spunbonded polyester rowcover (0.9 oz/yard2) on spring-planted watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) production was investigated. Two red-fleshed cultivars [Sangria (seeded) and Crimson Jewel (triploid)] were used. Plastic mulches increased early and total marketable yield in comparison with bare ground for both cultivars, but net benefit increased in ‘Crimson Jewel’ only. In contrast, yield and net benefit were the same among plastic mulches. Rowcover increased soil and air temperature, with the effect being greatest at lower ambient temperatures. During a near-freeze event, air temperature under the rowcover was about 7.2 °F higher than without a rowcover. Rowcover increased early and total marketable yield, but fruit weight decreased in both cultivars. Yield distribution into three fruit size categories was inconsistent between the cultivars. In ‘Sangria’, the large fruit category had the highest yield proportion for all treatments. In contrast, the highest yield proportion of ‘Crimson Jewel’, with exception of mulch without rowcover, corresponded to small fruit. Rowcover increased gross income at wholesale prices, but net benefit was not different from without rowcover. Protection of high-value plants, such as triploid watermelon, against light freezes, however, may still justify the use of rowcover in early plantings.

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Evaluation of Watermelon Varieties under Organic Production Practices in Georgia

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech04199-18 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 382-388 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

George E. Boyhan ◽

Suzanne O’Connell ◽

Ryan McNeill ◽

Suzanne Stone

Keyword(s):

Production Systems ◽

Citrullus Lanatus ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

Organic Production ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Production Practices ◽

Certified Organic ◽

Solids Content

Organic production is a fast-growing sector of agriculture in need of variety evaluations under their unique production systems. This study evaluated 16 watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) varieties for their performance characteristics under organic production practices. Plants were grown on plastic mulch-covered beds on land that had been certified organic in accordance with the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Organic Program. Six of the entries were F1 hybrids; the remaining entries were open-pollinated (OP) varieties. Of the 10 OP varieties, three were considered heirloom varieties, including Cream of Saskatchewan, Georgia Rattlesnake, and Moon & Stars. ‘Georgia Rattlesnake’ was the highest yielding variety and had the greatest average fruit weight. Along with ‘Georgia Rattlesnake’, ‘Nunhems 800’, ‘Nunhems 860’, ‘Orangeglo’, and ‘SSX 8585’ were included in the top five yielding varieties. The top five yielding varieties had fruit size that averaged more than 20 lb. Fruit size correlated with rind thickness, with lighter fruit having thinner rind (Pearson’s correlation, r = 0.779), which is not unexpected. ‘Sangria’ had the greatest average soluble solids content at 11.2%, which was greater than all entries with soluble solids less than 10%.

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Fruit size and quality of pineapples cv. Vitória in response to micronutrient doses and way of application and to soil covers

Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura ◽

10.1590/s0100-29452011000500068 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 33 (spe1) ◽

pp. 505-510 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Aiala Vieira Amorim ◽

Claudivan Feitosa de Lacerda ◽

Carlos Farley Herbster Moura ◽

Enéas Gomes Filho

Keyword(s):

Soil Cover ◽

Floral Induction ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Titratable Acidity ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

Induction Treatment ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Foliar Fertilization ◽

Four Levels

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of foundation and leaf fertilization with micronutrients on fruit size and quality of pineapple cv. Vitória under the environmental conditions of the Baixo Acaraú irrigated perimeter in Northern Ceará State, Brazil, under two covers (bagana and black plastic) of the sandy soil of low fertility. The experimental design was a randomized split blocks one with four levels of soil dressing and four levels of foliar fertilization, with five replications. Micronutrient soil dressing was studied as FTE-12 at doses of 0, 60, 120 and 180 kg ha-1. The four levels of foliar fertilization were: LF0 (without fertilizer), LF 1 (15 leaf fertilization, using the amount of 1158.75 g Fe ha-1, 844.65 g Mn ha-1, 391.5 g ha-1 Zn, 322.65 g ha-1 Cu and 216 g ha-1 B), LF2 (15 leaf fertilization, using twice the quantities of level LF1) and LF3 (15 leaf fertilization, using three times the amount of level LF1). At 13 months after planting the micropropagated plantlets was carried out the floral induction treatment and five months later the fruit harvest determining the following variables: fruit weight and median diameter, soluble solids content (SS) and titratable acidity (TA). Both fruit weight and diameter increased with increasing doses of micronutrients applied to the soil and to the leaves, of plants grown both on bagana soil cover and plastic mulch. On the other hand fruit pulp quality was little affected by the treatments studied. There were a small increase of SS contents for plants grown on bagana soil cover and a small decrease of titratable acidity for those grown on plastic mulch, in both cases just in response to micronutrient foliar application.

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Water Use by Drip-irrigated Watermelons on Plastic Mulch

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.35.4.556f ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 556F-557

Author(s):

David A. Bender ◽

Roland E. Roberts ◽

Frank J. Dainello

Keyword(s):

Water Use ◽

Drip Irrigation ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Growth Stages ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Moisture Regimes ◽

Quality Water ◽

Subsurface Drip ◽

Crop Coefficients

Watermelon is grown under a range of moisture regimes from rainfed to heavily irrigated, but water requirement patterns are not well documented. Drip irrigation and plastic mulch provide the opportunity to control water applications to optimize yield and quality. Water applied through subsurface drip irrigation was measured in two watermelon trials in 1998 (25 seeded and 20 seedless cultivars) and 1999 (26 seeded and 14 seedless cultivars) at Lubbock, Texas. Melons were transplanted in plastic-covered raised beds 13.6 m long spaced 2 m apart. Irrigation was applied when morning soil moisture tension measured by tensiometers exceeded 20 kPa. Watermelon yields ranged from 50 to 100 t·ha-1 with excellent quality. Weekly water use averaged 14 mm during the first 3 weeks of establishment then increased to 28 mm during the next 3 weeks as plants were running and blooming. During the 5-week fruit-enlargement period, water uptake averaged 57 mm, then decreased as full fruit size was attained. Similar uptake patterns in both years suggest that meaningful crop coefficients for scheduling watermelon irrigation could be based on phenological growth stages.

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174 Effect of Planting Method, Mulch, and Rowcover Combinations on Earliness, Yield, and Fruit Size of `Arriba' Watermelon

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.34.3.472b ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 472B-472

Author(s):

Michael E. Bartolo ◽

Frank C. Schweissing

Keyword(s):

Field Trial ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Production Methods ◽

Premium Price ◽

Direct Seeded ◽

Clear Plastic ◽

Traditional Marketing ◽

Planting Method

Colorado-grown watermelons command a premium price on the market based on their sweetness and overall flavor. Unfortunately, melon production is limited to mid-August through early September. This study was conducted to determine whether intensive production methods could enhance the traditional marketing period. The effects of different combinations of establishment methods, mulches, and rowcovers on `Arriba' (Hollar Seeds) watermelon growth and productivity were investigated in a field trial at the Arkansas Valley Research Center in Rocky Ford, Colo. In 1997, the combinations of transplanting, clear plastic mulch, and perforated or slitted rowcovers produced the earliest harvest and highest yield and fruit weight. The first harvest of the earliest treatments occurred on 4 July. Direct-seeding through clear plastic mulch, both with and without rowcovers, also enhanced earliness relative to the traditional marketing period. However, compared to transplanting, yield and fruit weight were less if the crop was direct-seeded. Intensive plasticulture techniques could substantially increase the earliness of Colorado-grown watermelons. The increased cost of production would be easily off-set by higher productivity and early season prices

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Effects of Plastic Mulch Types on Crop Performance of Drip Irrigated Winter and Summer Peppers

The Journal of Agriculture of the University of Puerto Rico ◽

10.46429/jaupr.v68i3.7290 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 68 (3) ◽

pp. 297-305

Author(s):

Megh R. Goyal ◽

Rubén Guadalupe Luna ◽

Luis E. Rivera ◽

E. R. De Hernández

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Fruit Quality ◽

Drip Irrigation ◽

Growth Parameters ◽

Growth Yield ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

Performance Characteristics ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Crop Performance ◽

Black Plastic

Plant growth, yield, fruit quality and fruit performance characteristics were evaluated for transparent (T1)-, white (T2)-, black (T3)-, silver coated black plastic (T4) mulched, organic mulched, (T5) and non-mulched (T6) peppers (var. Cubanelle) under drip irrigation during winter and summer of 1981-82. Values of plant growth parameters, fruit weight, fruit width and length were significantly higher at 5% level during the winter than during the summer in each treatment thus resulting in increased winter pepper yield. T1 plots caused lowest pepper yield at 5% compared to yield of T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6. The percentage of defective peppers was highest at 5% level during the summer than during the winter. Second harvest had highest fruit weight at 5% level in comparison with third and fourth harvests during the winter and summer.

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CPPU Influences Fruit Quality, Fruit Set, Return Bloom, and Preharvest Drop of Apples

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.28.2.115 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 115-119 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Eric A. Curry ◽

Duane W. Greene

Keyword(s):

Fruit Set ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

Linear Increase ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Naphthalene Acetic Acid ◽

Flesh Firmness ◽

Application Rates ◽

Solids Concentration ◽

Return Bloom

CPPU was applied to whole spur `Delicious' apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) trees in central Washington at 0,6.25,12.5,25, or 50 mg·liter-1 at full bloom (FB) or FB plus 2 weeks. At both application times, the flesh firmness of treated fruit linearly increased with increasing concentration. CPPU applied at 0,5,10,15, or 20 mg·liter-1 to spur `Delicious' trees in Massachusetts at king bloom resulted in a linear increase in flesh firmness at harvest and following 28 weeks in air storage at 0C. CPPU did not affect the incidence of senescent breakdown, decay, or cork spot. Fruit length: diameter (L/D) ratios generally increased at all doses. Fruit weight was not influenced at either location. All CPPU concentrations reduced return bloom on `Delicious' apples in Massachusetts in 1989. Of the 10, 20, or 40 mg·liter-1 treatments for `Empire' apples, only CPPU at 40 mg·liter-1 reduced return bloom. CPPU applied to `Empire' apples in Massachusetts did not effect fruit set, soluble solids concentration, L/D, or firmness; however, fruit weight increased linearly with concentration. CPPU applied at 100 mg·liter-1 retarded preharvest fruit drop of `Early McIntosh' in Massachusetts for ≈7 days but was not as effective as NAA at 20 mg·liter-1. In a larger semicommercial trial, `Delicious' fruit treated with CPPU at 5,10, or 15 mg·liter-1 at FB, petal fall (PF), or PF plus 1 week, respectively, were harvested and graded over a commercial packing line. Malformities caused by CPPU at the highest doses reduced packout, although all CPPU application rates reduced the percent fruit culled due to poor color. CPPU increased packed fruit size, since the size of fruit (64 mm in diameter) in the >150-fruit/box size decreased, while the size of fruit (72 mm in diameter) in the 100- and 130-fruit/box sizes increased. Treated fruit stored for 7 months at 1C were firmer than nontreated controls. Chemical names used: N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)- N' -phenylurea (CPPU); 1 naphthalene-acetic acid (NAA).

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

Journal of AgriSearch ◽

10.21921/jas.v7i01.17628 ◽

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.

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