Horticulture Commons^™

Benchmarking The Agronomic Performance Of Biodegradable Mulches Against Polyethylene Mulch Film: A Meta‐Analysis, Mauro B.D. Tofanelli, Samuel E. Wortman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Growers are interested in biodegradable alternatives to petroleum‐based polyethylene mulch film (PEM). However, many growers cite limited knowledge about biodegradable mulch films (BDMs) as a significant barrier to adoption. Agronomic field tests of BDMs are often limited temporally or spatially, and the variability of performance results relative to PEM may be contributing to this perceived knowledge gap. Our objective was to use data available in the scientific literature to provide the first quantitative performance benchmark of BDMs against PEM. We extracted data from 66 articles for meta‐analysis. Response ratios were calculated for comparison of BDMs relative to black PEM, and …

Growth And Development, From: Forages: The Science Of Grassland Agriculture, Volume Ii, Robert B. Mitchell, Daren Redfearn, Kenneth J. Moore

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The growth and development of forage plants is an amazing process. In some annual grasses such as cereal rye, plants can go from the late vegetative stage to fully-flowered in less than two weeks. Conversely, some perennial grasses like indiangrass can go from the vegetative stage to the elongation stage, then enter a quiescent phase for several weeks until adequate moisture is available which then moves plants into the flowering stages to complete the seed production process. Understanding the developmental morphology of forage plants is important for making good management decisions. Many such decisions involve timing the initiation or termination …

Land-Use Type As A Driver Of Large Wildfire Occurrence In The U.S. Great Plains, Victoria M. Donovan, Carissa L. Wonkka, David A. Wedin, Dirac Twidwell

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Wildfire activity has surged in North America’s temperate grassland biome. Like many biomes, this system has undergone drastic land-use change over the last century; however, how various land-use types contribute to wildfire patterns in grassland systems is unclear. We determine if certain land-use types have a greater propensity for large wildfire in the U.S. Great Plains and how this changes given the percentage of land covered by a given land-use type. Almost 90% of the area burned in the Great Plains occurred in woody and grassland land-use types. Although grassland comprised the greatest area burned by large wildfires, woody vegetation …

A Justification For Continued Management Of Turfgrass During Economic Contraction, James T. Brosnan, Ambika Chandra, Roch E. Gaussoin, Alec Kowalewski, Bernd Leinauer, Frank S. Rossi, Douglas J. Soldat, John C. Stier, J. Bryan Unruh

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

A novel coronavirus, termed COVID-19, spread worldwide and become a global pandemic in 2020. Forecasts show that COVID-19 will cause substantial economic contraction affecting almost every industry. Managed turfgrass, particularly in urban settings, has many positive societal and environmental benefits. In a contracted economy, will resources be available to manage turfgrass to achieve these benefits? In this paper, we outline the benefits of managed turfgrass on golf courses, playing fields, recreational parks, and urban landscapes to assist decision makers with resource allocation in the COVID-19 era.

Training Future Agriculture Professionals In Landowner–Tenant Conservation Decision-Making, Andrea Basche, Angie Carter

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The landowner–tenant relationship is important to the implementation of conser- vation on agricultural lands. Women own or co-own a significant portion of U.S. farmland yet are underrepresented in conservation research. The next generation of agriculture professionals can benefit from first-hand experience in assisting women landowners and their tenants in navigating the complexities of conser- vation decision-making. This article analyzes undergraduate student perceptions of landowner–tenant relationships in conservation management through their engagement in case studies with women landowner–tenant pairs in the Western Corn Belt. Student groups were asked to complete a management improvement plan that both incorporated the agronomic and conservation …

Winter Cover Crop Root Biomass Yield In Corn And Soybean Systems, Sabrina J. Ruis, Humberto Blanco-Canqui, Katja Koehler-Cole, Paul J. Jasa, G. Slater, Roger W. Elmore, Richard B. Ferguson

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Cover crop (CC) roots are critical for soil ecosystem service delivery including soil stabilization, C and nutrient cycling, soil health improvement, and others. However, most CC studies only evaluate CC aboveground biomass yield, neglecting the belowground portion of the plant. The objectives of this study were to quantify the impacts of (a) CC planting (pre- and post-harvest) dates and (b) early (2–4 wk before main crop planting) and late (at main crop planting) CC termination with and without corn (Zea mays L.) residue removal on root biomass yield. We assessed the effects of CC planting or termination dates on root …

Evaluating The Impact Of Grafting On Local Tomato Production In Nebraska, Raihanah Hassim, Samuel E. Wortman, Ashley A. Thompson, Stacy A. Adams

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Grafting has been successfully used in vegetable production for tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, and watermelon. Besides its usefulness for managing soil-borne diseases, grafting can improve nutrient uptake and yield. However, few studies have assessed the effects of grafting and soil fertility management on yield of open field-grown tomatoes in the Midwest. Therefore, the objective of this two-year research was to better document the effects of grafting heirloom and hybrid tomato cultivar onto hybrid tomato rootstocks on tomato yield and quality. The field experiments were located at the University of Nebraska Lincoln - East Campus in Lincoln, West Central Research and …

Summer Squash Variety Evaluation For Early-Season Production In High Tunnels, Wenjing Guan

Purdue Fruit and Vegetable Research Reports

This is a compilation of 12 research trial reports from four land-grant universities in the Midwestern United States. Crops include cantaloupe, pickling cucumber, pepper, potato, pumpkin, summer squash and zucchini, sweet corn, tomato, and watermelon. Somecrops were evaluated in high tunnels or hoophouses. Most trials evaluated different cultivars or varieties. One report addressed plant spacing for sweet corn and one addressed soil block for production of tomato seedlings. A list of vegetable seed sources and a list of other online sources of vegetable trial reports are also included.

Fall Broccoli Production In High Tunnels, Wenjing Guan

Purdue Fruit and Vegetable Research Reports

This is a compilation of 12 research trial reports from four land-grant universities in the Midwestern United States. Crops include cantaloupe, pickling cucumber, pepper, potato, pumpkin, summer squash and zucchini, sweet corn, tomato, and watermelon. Somecrops were evaluated in high tunnels or hoophouses. Most trials evaluated different cultivars or varieties. One report addressed plant spacing for sweet corn and one addressed soil block for production of tomato seedlings. A list of vegetable seed sources and a list of other online sources of vegetable trial reports are also included.

Cantaloupe And Specialty Melon Variety Evaluation In Indiana, Wenjing Guan, Dennis Nowaskie, Petrus Langenhoven, Dan Egel

Purdue Fruit and Vegetable Research Reports

This is a compilation of 12 research trial reports from four land-grant universities in the Midwestern United States. Crops include cantaloupe, pickling cucumber, pepper, potato, pumpkin, summer squash and zucchini, sweet corn, tomato, and watermelon. Somecrops were evaluated in high tunnels or hoophouses. Most trials evaluated different cultivars or varieties. One report addressed plant spacing for sweet corn and one addressed soil block for production of tomato seedlings. A list of vegetable seed sources and a list of other online sources of vegetable trial reports are also included.

2019 Standard-Size And Personal-Size Triploid Watermelon Variety Evaluation In Indiana, Wenjing Guan, Dennis Nowaskie, Thomas D H Haseman, Dan Egel

Purdue Fruit and Vegetable Research Reports

This is a compilation of 12 research trial reports from four land-grant universities in the Midwestern United States. Crops include cantaloupe, pickling cucumber, pepper, potato, pumpkin, summer squash and zucchini, sweet corn, tomato, and watermelon. Somecrops were evaluated in high tunnels or hoophouses. Most trials evaluated different cultivars or varieties. One report addressed plant spacing for sweet corn and one addressed soil block for production of tomato seedlings. A list of vegetable seed sources and a list of other online sources of vegetable trial reports are also included.

Spring Black Rot-Resistant Cabbage Cultivar Evaluation, Chris Smigell, John Strang, John Snyder

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

No abstract provided.

Response Of Cucumber, Yellow Squash, And Zucchini To Six Nitrogen Rates, Ron G. Goldy, Kyle Ferrantella

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

No abstract provided.

2020 Cantaloupe Variety Evaluation In Southern Indiana, Wenjing Guan, Dan Egel, Dennis Nowaskie, Thomas D H Haseman

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

Indiana ranks sixth in cantaloupe production in the US. A total of 1,800 acres of cantaloupes were planted in Indiana with a production value of $8.6 million in 2018. Melon produced in Indiana is primarily eastern-type cantaloupes. Recently, extended shelf life varieties have been developed and are becoming attractive in the eastern market. This report compared the yield and quality of seven cantaloupe varieties grown in southern Indiana.

A presentation of this trial is available at https://mediaspace.itap.purdue.edu/media/MVTR+2020+cantaloupe+variety+evaluation+in+southern+Indiana/1_pyaa792t

Cantaloupe And Specialty Melon Variety Evaluation In Indiana, Wenjing Guan, Dennis Nowaskie, Petrus Langenhoven, Daniel S. Egel

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

Thirty melon varieties including traditional eastern-type cantaloupe, non-slip muskmelon, honeydew, and other specialty type melons were evaluated in a field trial at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center (SWPAC) in Vincennes, IN in 2019. Yield and fruit quality attributes including fruit size, total soluble solids, firmness, etc., were recorded. This study identified promising melon cultivars for growing under Midwest open-field conditions.

Supersweet Sweet Corn Cultivar Evaluation For Northern Indiana, 2019, Elizabeth Maynard

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

Indiana sweet corn for fresh market was harvested from 3,580 acres and 426 farms in 2017 (USDA NASS, 2019a). Indiana ranked 16th among states for production of all sweet corn and produced about 0.6% of the nation’s total in 2017 (USDA NASS, 2018). Sweet corn fields for fresh market sales are located throughout the state. In northern Indiana, bicolor corn is most commonly grown. Varieties with improved eating quality are of interest to both producers and consumers. Producers are also interested in yield, ear size, appearance, and agronomic characteristics.

This paper reports on fifteen bicolor, four yellow, and one white …

Evaluation Of Transplant Root Length On Bell Pepper Yield And Quality, Ron G. Goldy, Kyle Ferrantella

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

No abstract provided.

2020 Pumpkin Variety Trial, Nathan R. Johanning

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

In 2020, the University of Illinois Extension conducted an observational pumpkin variety trial in southern Illinois at the Southern Illinois University Belleville Research Center, in Belleville, IL. The trial was a single replication including 54 pumpkin and winter squash varieties divided into 2 categories: Specialty and Jack O’Lantern. Specialty Pumpkins included anything of “carving size” and colors other than orange (white, red, blue, warted, etc.) and included some large specialty pumpkins (over 25 lb) The Jack O’Lantern pumpkins were also grouped as Medium (under 25 lbs) and Large (over 25 lbs). Pumpkins were grown in a no-till, transplanted system, double …

Performance Of 18 Fresh Market And Eight Saladette Tomato Cultivars In Southwest Michigan In 2019, Ron G. Goldy, Kyle Ferrantella

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

No abstract provided.

Asparagus Cultivar Trial – Selinsgrove, Pa, Carl Cantaluppi

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

This paper reports on yields of three asparagus varieties in Pennsylvania harvested one year after planting one-year-old crowns.

Supersweet Sweet Corn Cultivar Evaluation For Northern Indiana, 2019, Elizabeth Maynard

Purdue Fruit and Vegetable Research Reports

This is a compilation of 12 research trial reports from four land-grant universities in the Midwestern United States. Crops include cantaloupe, pickling cucumber, pepper, potato, pumpkin, summer squash and zucchini, sweet corn, tomato, and watermelon. Somecrops were evaluated in high tunnels or hoophouses. Most trials evaluated different cultivars or varieties. One report addressed plant spacing for sweet corn and one addressed soil block for production of tomato seedlings. A list of vegetable seed sources and a list of other online sources of vegetable trial reports are also included.

2020 Standard-Size And Personal-Size Triploid Watermelon Variety Evaluation In Indiana, Wenjing Guan, Dan Egel, Dennis Nowaskie, Thomas D H Haseman

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

Indiana ranks sixth in harvested watermelon acreage in the US. A total of 6,500 acres of watermelons were planted in Indiana in 2019 with a total production value of $35 million (USDA 2020). Variety selection based on yield, disease resistance and fruit quality are some of the key decisions in watermelon production. The objective of this study is to provide watermelon producers, as well as seed companies, with the updated information on the performance of watermelon varieties grown in Indiana. Thirty standard-size triploid watermelons and 12 personal-size triploid watermelons were evaluated at Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center in the watermelon season …

Missouri Novelty Melon Trial Results, James Quinn, Ramón Arancibia, David Trinklein

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

No abstract provided.

Summer Squash Variety Evaluation For Early-Season Production In High Tunnels, Wenjing Guan

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

Crops that can set fruit without pollination have an advantage for early-season high tunnel production. With a diverse fruit shape and color, summer squash is a valuable crop providing diversity, especially for the early farmers market. Six selected summer squash cultivars that are either indicated as parthenocarpic cultivar in seed catalogs or showed high capability to set fruit without pollination in the previous study were evaluated in a high tunnel trial in spring 2018 at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center, Vincennes, IN.

Fall Broccoli Production In High Tunnels, Wenjing Guan

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

A fall broccoli trial was conducted in a high tunnel at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center, Vincennes, IN in 2016 to test the potential of growing broccoli in high tunnels after tomato. Six broccoli cultivars were evaluated in the trial. Seedlings were transplanted in the high tunnel on Sep. 2. Plants started to form heads in the middle of October. The first harvest occurred on Oct. 25 on cultivars Blue Wind and Green Magic. Harvest for cultivars Belstar and Arcadia started the latest on Nov. 11. Cultivars Green Magic and Blue Wind developed about 2 side heads per plant, which …

Arthropod Resistant Tomatoes: Screening Tools, Yield And Nutritional Quality Of Interspecific Hybrids, Mohammad Hasan Salman Ali Dawood

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the most economically important vegetable crops grown around globe but is a host for numerous pests and pathogens. In the future, tomato breeders will have to focus on increasing fruit quantity and on enhancing pest resistance. Many accessions of the wild relative of tomato, S. habrochaites display high levels of resistance towards arthropods such as spider mites. The presence of the sesquiterpene hydrocarbon, 7-epi-zingiberene, found in S. habrochaites type IV trichomes has been associated with arthropod resistance. However, the presence of other compounds in its trichome secretions may also be related …

The Lateral Root Density Gene Regulates Root Growth During Water Stress In Wheat, Dante F. Placido, Jaspreet Sandhu, Shirley Sato, Natalya Nersesian, Truyen Quach, Thomas E. Clemente, Paul E. Staswick, Harkamal Walia

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Drought stress is the major limiting factor in agriculture. Wheat, which is the most widely grown crop in the world, is predominantly cultivated in drought-prone rainfed environments. Since roots play a critical role in water uptake, root response to water limitations is an important component for enhancing wheat adaptation. In an effort to discover novel genetic sources for improving wheat adaptation, we characterized a wheat translocation line with a chromosomal segment from Agropyron elongatum, a wild relative of wheat, which unlike common wheat maintains root growth under limited-water conditions. By exploring the root transcriptome data, we found that reduced …

Rhizosphere Microbiome Of Arid Land Medicinal Plants And Extra Cellular Enzymes Contribute To Their Abundance, Abdul Latif Khan, Sajjad Asaf, Raeid M. M. Abed, Yen Ning Chai, Ahmed N. Al-Rawahi, Tupan Kumar Mohanta, Ahmed Al-Rawahi, Daniel P. Schachtman, Ahmed Al-Harrasi

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Revealing the unexplored rhizosphere microbiome of plants in arid environments can help in understanding their interactions between microbial communities and plants during harsh growth conditions. Here, we report the first investigation of rhizospheric fungal and bacterial communities of Adenium obesum, Aloe dhufarensis and Cleome austroarabica using next-generation sequencing approaches. A. obesum and A. dhufarensis grows in dry tropical and C. austroarabica in arid conditions of Arabian Peninsula. The results indicated the presence of 121 fungal and 3662 bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) whilst microbial diversity was significantly high in the rhizosphere of A. obesum and A. dhufarensis and low …

Wheat Growth Monitoring And Yield Estimation Based On Multi-Rotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Zhaopeng Fu, Jie Jang, Yang Gao, Brian Krienke, Meng Wang, Kaitai Zhong, Qiang Cao, Yongchao Tian, Yan Zhu, Weixing Cao, Xiaojun Liu

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Leaf area index (LAI) and leaf dry matter (LDM) are important indices of crop growth. Real-time, nondestructive monitoring of crop growth is instructive for the diagnosis of crop growth and prediction of grain yield. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based remote sensing is widely used in precision agriculture due to its unique advantages in flexibility and resolution. This study was carried out on wheat trials treated with different nitrogen levels and seeding densities in three regions of Jiangsu Province in 2018–2019. Canopy spectral images were collected by the UAV equipped with a multi-spectral camera during key wheat growth stages. To verify the …

The State Of Sustainable Agriculture And Agroecology Research And Impacts: A Survey Of U.S. Scientists, Marcia Delonge, Tali Robbins, Andrea D. Basche, Lindsey Haynes-Maslow

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

A growing body of research suggests that although sustainable agriculture, particularly agroecology, can address challenges such as those related to climate change, ecosystem services, food insecurity, and farmer livelihoods, the transition to such systems remains limited. To gain insight into the state of U.S. sustainable agriculture and agroecology, we developed a 28-question mixed-method survey that was administered to scientists in these fields. Respondents (N=168) represented diverse locations, institutions, and career stages. They offered varied definitions of sustainable agriculture, with 40% considering economic and social well-being to be core components. Respondents identified the amount and duration of public research …