Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Shade loving anthurium is being used to develop a water efficient cut flower production system for growers in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Crops require substantially less water under shade because of reduced temperature, wind and evapo-transpiration. In addition, many tropical high value ornamentals perform better in shady conditions and are highly demanded by the local tourist industry. An irrigation study on anthurium cut flower production was set up to evaluate automation and scheduling based on soil moisture levels (-20,-40, and -60 kPa). Soil moisture probes monitor water availability and this information was used by controllers to start irrigation when a set soil moisture and irrigation water quantity as well as meteorological data (rain, pan evaporation, light intensity, temperature, etc) were monitored to determine their association with water requirements under each growing conditions. Many of the tropical flowers have waxy flowers that are excellent for use in the cut flower industry due to their extended vase life. Two of these popular cut flowers ginger lily (Alpinia purpurata) and heliconia (Heliconia psittacorum) were grown in an alley-cropping system with moringa (moringa olifera) hedgerows. The moringa provided a light shade and reduced the wind through the plots. Irrigation via drip irrigation was monitored to determine the most efficient use of water. PARTICIPANTS: UVI-AES Horticulture Program TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences are the local ornamental growers and tourism industry. These producers normally have less than two acres under production. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Due to a vacancy, an acting program leader directed the research projects involving vegetable crops during the year.
Impacts
Rainfall in 2006 was substantially lower than evapor-transpiration particularly during the dry season (January to August). By the end of April, pan evaporation of 60% and 80% shade was reduced to 47% and 32% of full sun pan-evaporation, respectively, and rainfall was 21% (79% deficit). Similar differences in pan evaporation continued until the end of the experiments in November; however, rainfall deficit was reduced to 53% since the rain was more frequent and heavier. These results suggest that shading is an excellent alternative to reduce crop water requirements in comparison to direct sun production and that it is possible to grow crops in a shade-house modified to catch rainwater for irrigation purposes. Initially, (January-April, 2006) three irrigation regimes based on soil moisture (-10,-30, and -50 kPa) and two shade levels (60% and 80%) were studied for Anthurium cut flower production in 1.44 m2 beds. Water stress (irrigation at -30 and -50 kPa) with the purpose of saving water was detrimental on flower production and quality. In the second production period, the plots were irrigated daily with 1.1, 2.2 and 3.3 mm water. Yield of flowers was higher at 60% than at 80% shade suggesting that 80% shade may have been below optimum reducing photosynthesis. Within 60% shade yield was reduced with lower amount of water suggesting that irrigation may have been suboptimal. Therefore, evapo-transpiration needs to be satisfied in full optimum production. Improving automation system application and knowledge about irrigation scheduling and crop water requirement under shade conditions increased irrigation efficiency and impact directly on the water dependency of the horticulture industry in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Developing water-efficient irrigation systems for shade loving ornamentals has promoted local production of low water requirement crops to be sold to the local tourist industry and will impact favorable on the local economy. Using shade crops in a semidry tropical climate as in the USVI will improve water efficiency and impact directly on the water dependency of the horticulture industry. Both the ginger lily and the heliconia benefited from the partial shade provided by the moringa and prevented sun burn of the leaves and bleaching of the petals as compare to the control without moringa hedgerows. The hedgerows treatments also resulted in cut flowers with a longer floral stalk making them easier to harvest. A 30% greater yield of marketable cut flowers was obtained from the hedgerows. There was no significant difference between water usage of cut flowers grown with or without hedgerows.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Three types of seedless watermelons were grown which include red, yellow and orange cultivars. The seedless watermelons under drip irrigation were evaluated as a value added crop since the seeds can cost as much as one dollar each. PARTICIPANTS: UVI-AES Horticulture program TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences are the local crop farmers and backyard growers. These producers normally have less than two acres under production. The Virgin Islands has only three producers with total production acreage over two acres. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Due to a vacancy, an acting program leader directed the research projects involving vegetable crops during the year.
Impacts
The yellow and orange seedless watermelons were a novelty and consumers at first had resistance to sampling but found these colors of equal or sweeter quality than the red varieties.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Many of the tropical flowers have waxy flowers that are excellent for use in the cut flower industry due to their extended vase life. Two of these popular cut flowers ginger lily (Alpinia purpurata) and heliconia (Heliconia psittacorum) were grown in an alley-cropping system with moringa (Moringa olifera) hedgerows. The moringa provided a light shade and reduced the wind through the plots. Irrigation via drip irrigation was monitored to determine the most efficient use of water. PARTICIPANTS: UVI-AES Horticulture Program TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences are the local crop farmers and backyard growers. These producers normally have less than two acres under production. The Virgin Islands has only three producers with total production acreage over two acres. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Dr. Manuel C. Palada retired from the University at the start of the year. The lead scientist vacated the Horticulture position seven months into the year after which it was supervised by the Biotechnology Program.
Impacts
Both the ginger lily and the heliconia benefitted from the partial shade provided by the moringa and prevented sun burn of the leaves and bleaching of the petals as compare to the control without moringa hedgerows. The hedgerows treatments also resulted in cut flowers with a longer floral stalk making them easier to harvest. A 30% greater yield of marketable cut flowers was obtained from the hedgerows. There was no significant difference between water usage of cut flowers grown with or without the hedgerows.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
Shade loving anthurium is being used to develop a water efficient cut flower production system for growers in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Crops require substantially less water under shade because of reduced evapo-transpiration. In addition, many tropical high value ornamentals perform better in shady conditions and are highly demanded by the local tourist industry. Rainfall in 2006 was substantially lower than evapo-transpiration particularly during the dry season(January to August). By the end of April, pan evaporation at 60% and 80% shade was reduced to 47% and 32% of full sun pan-evaporation, respectively, and rainfall was 21% (79% deficit). Similar differences in pan evaporation continued until the end of the experiments in November; however, rainfall deficit was reduced to 53% since the rain was more frequent and heavier. These results suggest that shading is an excellent alternative to reduce crop water requirements in comparison to direct sun production and that
it is possible to grow crops in a shade-house modified to catch rainwater for irrigation purposes. Initially, (January-April, 2006) three irrigation regimes based on soil moisture (-10,-30, and -50 kPa) and two shade levels (60% and 80%) were studied for Anthurium cut flower production in 1.44 m2 beds. Water stress (irrigation at -30 and -50 kPa) with the purpose of saving water was detrimental on flower production and quality. In the second production period, the plots were irrigated daily with 1.1, 2.2 and 3.3 mm water. Yield of flowers was higher at 60% than at 80% shade suggesting that 80% shade may have been below optimum reducing photosynthesis. Within 60% shade yield was reduced with lower amount of water suggesting that irrigation may have been suboptimal. Therefore, evapo-transpiration needs to be satisfied in full for optimum production.
Impacts
Using shade crops in a semidry tropical climate as in the USVI will improve water use efficiency and impact directly on the water dependency of the horticulture industry. Developing water-efficient irrigation systems for shade loving ornamentals will promote production of low water requirement crops to be sold to the local tourist industry and will impact favorable on the local economy.
Publications
- Arancibia, R.A. 2006. Shade and water stress reduce water requirement in detriment of flower production of anthurium. 42nd Annual Meeting Caribbean Food Crop Society. 9-15 July, 2006, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
Shade loving anthurium is being used to develop a water efficient cut flower production system for growers in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Crops require substantially less water under shade because of reduced temperature, wind, and evapotranspiration. In addition, many tropical high value ornamentals perform better in shady conditions and are highly demanded by the local tourist industry. An irrigation study on anthurium cut flower production was set up in the fall of 2005 to evaluate automation and scheduling based on soil moisture levels (-20,-40 and -60 kPa). Soil moisture probes monitor water availability and this information is used by controllers to start irrigation when a set soil moisture level is reached. In addition, the effects of two shade levels (60% and 80% shade) on evapotranspiration and water requirements are being evaluated. Flower production, soil moisture and irrigation water quantity as well as meteorological data (rain, pan evaporation, light
intensity, temperature, etc) are being monitored to determine their association with water requirements under each growing conditions. The trial is in progress and production will be evaluated during 2006. All data will be summarized at the end of 2006.
Impacts
Improving automation system application and knowledge about irrigation scheduling and crop water requirement under shade conditions will increase irrigation efficiency and impact directly on the water dependency of the horticulture industry in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Developing water-efficient irrigation systems for shade loving ornamentals will promote local production of low water requirement crops to be sold to the local tourist industry and will impact favorable on the local economy.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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