Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Summer squash was direct seeded in single rows. The experiment consisted of 12 treatments including: (1)black plastic mulch(BPM)+ spun-bonded row cover (RC),(2)BPM alone,(3)white plastic mulch (WPM)+ RC,(4)WPM alone,(5)red plastic mulch(RPM)+RC,(6)RPM alone,(7)bare soil(BS)+RC,(8)BS alone,(9)silver plastic mulch(SPM)+RC,(10)SPM alone,(11)blue plastic mulch(BLUPM)+RC,and(12) BLUPM alone. The highest early yield, marketable plus non-marketable combined, were from black plastic mulch plus a row cover followed by blue plastic mulch without a row cover. Early yields were between 59% and 65% of overall yields. Toltal yield followed the same trend as early yield. Bare soil with row cover and bare soil without row cover produced the lowest yields. Increased soil and air temperatures did not always result in yield increases. PARTICIPANTS: One graduate student and a half-time technician assisted in this project, in addition to the four project leaders TARGET AUDIENCES: Vegetable growers, academics in horticulture and related fields, extension specialists and county agents could benefit from this report. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this report.
Impacts
The effect of colored plastic mulches on the growth of vegetable crops has continued to promote crop yield in the southern U.S. Experiments have also shown the dark colored mulches to effectively reduce plant damage caused by cucumber beetles.
Publications
- GORDON,G.,FOSHEE,W.G.,III,REED,S.T.,BROWN,J.E.,VINSON,E.,AND WOODS,F.M. 2008. Plastic mulches and row covers on growth and production of summer squash. Inter. J. of Veg. Sci. 14(4):322-338
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
Six different colors of plastic mulches are being used to promote vegetable production. Sweet potatoes will be grown over the surface of these mulches. Of the six colors of mulches, red, blue and black colors are expected to outperform the other colors according to literature.
Impacts
The effect of different colors of plastic mulches on the production of vegetable crops in the southeastern U.S. has generally increased vegetable yields more than 70%. These mulches not only increase crop yields but have been reported to significantly reduce diseases and harmful insect feeding on plant foliage.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
Short-term soil solarization methods integrated with sodium azide were used to test their effects on the control of nematode disease and growth response of 'King Arthur' bell peppers. Treatments used were: 1) Sodium azide (SA) + solarization (S) for 23 days, 2) SA + S for 41 days, 3) SA + white/black plastic mulch (WPM), 4) SA + bare soil (BS), 5) BS, 6) S control (C) for 23 days, 7) S C for 55 days, and 8) None-S C covered with WPM. Results indicated that the integration of SA with short-term row S for 23 and 41 days lowered the percent of infected plants and nematode index compared to standard methods. The SA + S for 41 days treatment produced the highest total yield with more grade A bell peppers.
Impacts
The use of sodium azide integrated with short-term row solization significantly reduced the percentage of plant infection and nematode index. This short-term row solarization method (SA + S for 41 days) produced 80 to 90 percent more marketable grade A bell peppers.
Publications
- STEVENS,C., BROWN,J.E., AND KHAN,V.A. 2006. The effect of short-term soil solarization with the integration of sodium azide on nematode disease and growth responses of 'King Arthur' bell peppers. Proceedings: 33rd Natl. Agric. Plast. Cong. of Amer. Soc. for Plasticulture. San Antonio, TX. Nov. 2-5, 2006. www.plasticulture.org.
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
Summer squash plants were grown in late spring on dark colored and reflective plastic mulches plus row cover (spunbonded polyester). The effect of insect (squash bug and cucumber beetle) damage and fruit yield was recorded from different treatments. For squash bug damage, there were no differences among mulch treatments for damaged leaves per plant, except for bare soil. On the other hand, cucumber beetle damage was lower on dark colored mulches and bare soil compared to the reflective mulch treatments. All mulch treatments produced greater squash fruit yield than bare soil.
Impacts
The effect of colored plastic mulches on the growth of vegetable crops has continued to increase vegetable yield in the southern U.S. Not only do these mulches increase yield, the dark colored ones effectively reduced cucumber beetle feeding damage.
Publications
- BROWN, J.E., GORDON, G. AND STEVENS, C. 2005. The effects of color and reflective mulches on insect damage of summer squash. Proceedings: 32nd Natl. Agric. Plast. Cong. of Amer. Soc. for Plasticulture. Charleston, S.C. Mar. 5-8, 2005. pp.69-74.
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
Field studies with six different colors of plastic mulches were used to enhance vegetable production. Okra, muskmelon and summer squash were grown over the surface of these mulches. Of the six colors of mulches used, blue and red produced the largest increase in yield of all crops grown over the mulches. Clear plastic used to solarize the soil for the production of tomatoes showed and increase in plant growth response and yield of tomatoes.
Impacts
The effect of different colors of plastic mulches on the production of vegetable crops in the southeastern U.S. has, in general, increased vegetable yield by as much as 80%. These mulches have also significantly controlled disease-causing insects, such as aphids and thrips on summer squash and tomatoes, respectively.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
A field study was conducted to evaluate damping-off (caused by Rhizoctonia solani) and weed control (WC) following soil solarization in 1998 and WC two years following soil solarization in soils amended in 2000 with or without furfural plus allyl isothiocyanate or a reduced rate of urea on 'Kentucky Wonder' pole snapbean. In another study, the integration of soil solarization with chemical, biological and cultural control for the management of soilborne diseases of vegetables showed that all soil solarization treatments, and soils amended with chicken litter, stimulated a shift in the soil microbial population dynamics. Rhizobacteria of Bacillus spp. and fluorescent pseudomonads increased significantly in the rhizosphere, rhizoplane, and interior root tissues of tomatoes and sweet potatoes, grown in solarized soil compared to nonsolarized soil.
Impacts
The effect of different colors of plastic mulches on the production of vegetable crops in the southeastern U.S. has, in general, increased vegetable yield by as much as 75%. These mulches have also significantly controlled disease-causing insects, such as aphids and thrips on summer squash and tomatoes, respectively.
Publications
- STEVENS,C., KHAN,V.A., RODRIQUEZ-KABANA,R., WILSON,M.A., BROWN,J.E., COLLINS,D.J., AND FYFFE,A.E. 2003. Effect of solarized soil amended with or without furfural mixture or urea on damping-off of pole snapbeans. Proceedings: 31st Natl. Agric. Plast. Cong. of Amer. Soc. for Plasticulture. Grand Rapids, Mich. Aug. 16-19,2003.
- STEVENS,C. KHAN,V.A., RODRIQUEZ-KABANA,R., PLOPER,L.D., BAKCMAN,P.A., COLLINS,D.J., BROWN,J.E., WILSON,M.A. AND IGWEGBE,E.C.K. 2003. Integration of soil solarization with chemical, biological and cultural control for management of soilborne diseases of vegetables. Plant and soil 253:493-506.
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