scholarly journals Semi-Transparent Organic Photovoltaics Applied as Greenhouse Shade for Spring and Summer Tomato Production in Arid Climate

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1152
Author(s):  
Rebekah Waller ◽  
Murat Kacira ◽  
Esther Magadley ◽  
Meir Teitel ◽  
Ibrahim Yehia
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Organic Photovoltaics ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
High Light ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Tomato Crop ◽  
Tomato Production ◽  
Control Section

Recognizing the growing interest in the application of organic photovoltaics (OPVs) with greenhouse crop production systems, in this study we used flexible, roll-to-roll printed, semi-transparent OPV arrays as a roof shade for a greenhouse hydroponic tomato production system during a spring and summer production season in the arid southwestern U.S. The wavelength-selective OPV arrays were installed in a contiguous area on a section of the greenhouse roof, decreasing the transmittance of all solar radiation wavelengths and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) wavelengths (400–700 nm) to the OPV-shaded area by approximately 40% and 37%, respectively. Microclimate conditions and tomato crop growth and yield parameters were measured in both the OPV-shaded (‘OPV’) and non-OPV-shaded (‘Control’) sections of the greenhouse. The OPV shade stabilized the canopy temperature during midday periods with the highest solar radiation intensities, performing the function of a conventional shading method. Although delayed fruit development and ripening in the OPV section resulted in lower total yields compared to the Control section (24.6 kg m−2 and 27.7 kg m−2, respectively), after the fourth (of 10 total) harvests, the average weekly yield, fruit number, and fruit mass were not significantly different between the treatment (OPV-shaded) and control group. Light use efficiency (LUE), defined as the ratio of total fruit yield to accumulated PAR received by the plant canopy, was nearly twice as high as the Control section, with 21.4 g of fruit per mole of PAR for plants in the OPV-covered section compared to 10.1 g in the Control section. Overall, this study demonstrated that the use of semi-transparent OPVs as a seasonal shade element for greenhouse production in a high-light region is feasible. However, a higher transmission of PAR and greater OPV device efficiency and durability could make OPV shades more economically viable, providing a desirable solution for co-located greenhouse crop production and renewable energy generation in hot and high-light intensity regions.

Effects of cereal rye seeding rate on waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) emergence and soybean growth and yield

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Mandy Bish ◽  
Brian Dintelmann ◽  
Eric Oseland ◽  
Jacob Vaughn ◽  
Kevin Bradley
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Seeding Rate ◽  
Early Season ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
Herbicide Resistant ◽  
Growing Seasons

Abstract The evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds has resulted in the necessity to integrate non-chemical control methods with chemicals for effective management in crop production systems. In soybean, control of the pigweed species, particularly herbicide-resistant waterhemp and Palmer amaranth, have become predominant concerns. Cereal rye planted as a winter cover crop can effectively suppress early-season weed emergence in soybean, including waterhemp, when planted at a rate of 123 kg ha−1. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of different cereal rye seeding rates (0, 34, 56, 79, 110, and 123 kg ha−1) on early-season waterhemp suppression and soybean growth and yield. Soybean was planted into fall-seeded cereal rye, which was terminated within four days of soybean planting. The experiment was conducted over the 2018, 2019, and 2020 growing seasons in Columbia, Missouri. Effects of cereal rye on early-season waterhemp suppression varied by year and were most consistent at 56 kg ha−1 or higher seeding rates. Linear regression analysis of cereal rye biomass, height, or stand at soybean planting showed inverse relationships with waterhemp emergence. No adverse effects to soybean growth or yield were observed at any of the cereal rye seeding rates relative to plots that lacked cereal rye cover. Result differences among the years suggest that the successfulness of cereal rye on suppression of early-season waterhemp emergence is likely influenced by the amount of waterhemp seed present in the soil seed bank.

scholarly journals Emerging Viral Diseases of Tomato Crops

2010 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 539-548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inge M. Hanssen ◽  
Moshe Lapidot ◽  
Bart P. H. J. Thomma
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Genetic Resistance ◽  
International Travel ◽  
Viral Diseases ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Emerging Viruses ◽  
Plant Materials ◽  
Tomato Production ◽  
Climate Conditions

Viral diseases are an important limiting factor in many crop production systems. Because antiviral products are not available, control strategies rely on genetic resistance or hygienic measures to prevent viral diseases, or on eradication of diseased crops to control such diseases. Increasing international travel and trade of plant materials enhances the risk of introducing new viruses and their vectors into production systems. In addition, changing climate conditions can contribute to a successful spread of newly introduced viruses or their vectors and establishment of these organisms in areas that were previously unfavorable. Tomato is economically the most important vegetable crop worldwide and many viruses infecting tomato have been described, while new viral diseases keep emerging. Pepino mosaic virus is a rapidly emerging virus which has established itself as one of the most important viral diseases in tomato production worldwide over recent years. Begomovirus species and other whitefly-transmitted viruses are invading into new areas, and several recently described new viruses such as Tomato torrado virus and new Tospovirus species are rapidly spreading over large geographic areas. In this article, emerging viruses of tomato crops are discussed.

scholarly journals Tomato production in hydroponic system using different agrofilms as greenhouse cover

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-64
Author(s):  
Douglas José Marques ◽  
Edmur Matheus Filho ◽  
Hudson C Bianchini ◽  
Valdir Veroneze Junior ◽  
Breno Régis Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Exchange ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Growth Habit ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Tomato Crop ◽  
Indeterminate Growth ◽  
Tomato Production ◽  
Hydroponic System ◽  
Indeterminate Growth Habit ◽  
Lycopene Content

ABSTRACT Protected cultivation has increased over the years. More studies on the benefits of using photoselective agrofilms are necessary. The choice of material to cover the greenhouse is a decisive factor for crop development and production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of diffuser and blue-colored agrofilms on the production of different tomato cultivars of indeterminate growth habit under NFT hydroponic system. A completely randomized design in a 2x3 factorial scheme (two environments and three cultivars) was used: two agrofilm types (blue and diffuser) and 3 cultivars (Monterrey, Arendell and Totalle). Each plot consisted of 30 plants per treatment, with four replicates. Commercial tomato seedlings of indeterminate growth habit grafted on rootstock cultivar (Shincheonggang) were used. During the experiment, the electrical conductivity, intensity of radiation inside the greenhouse, gas exchange, soluble solids, lycopene content, pH and fruit production were evaluated. We concluded that the amount of radiation transmitted through the diffuser favors an increase of about 18% in gas exchange, 12% in lycopene content and 9.4% in tomato crop production.

scholarly journals A Smart Irrigation Tool to Determine the Effects of ENSO on Water Requirements for Tomato Production in Mozambique

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Gelcer ◽  
Clyde W. Fraisse ◽  
Lincoln Zotarelli ◽  
Daniel Perondi ◽  
Hipólito A. Malia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Demand ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Water Requirements ◽  
Planting Dates ◽  
Tomato Crop ◽  
Tomato Production ◽  
The Right

Irrigation scheduling is used by growers to determine the right amount and timing of water application. In most parts of Mozambique, 90% of the total yearly precipitation occurs from November to March. The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon influences the climate in Mozambique and affects the water demand for crop production. The objectives of this work were to quantify the effects of ENSO phenomenon on tomato crop water requirements, and to create the AgroClimate irrigation tool (http://mz.agroclimate.org/) to assist farmers in improving irrigation management. This study was based on daily grid-based climate information from 1983 to 2016 from the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis. Daily crop evapotranspiration was calculated by Hargreaves equation and crop coefficients. This tool is available online and considers different planting dates, ENSO phases, and crop growing season lengths. Irrigation needs varied from less than 250 mm per growing cycle during winter to 550 mm during spring. Both El Niño and La Niña influenced the irrigation scheduling, especially from November to March. El Niño periods were related with increased water demand due to drier and warmer conditions while the opposite was observed for La Niña. The ENSO information might be used to understand climate variability and improve tomato irrigation scheduling in Mozambique.

scholarly journals The Effects of Compost and Farmyard Manures on the Growth, Yield and Yield Parameters of Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) in Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
I. Audu ◽  
Z. Bello ◽  
J. B. Abakura
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Farmyard Manure ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Sweet Pepper ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Capsicum Annum ◽  
Yield Parameters ◽  
Randomized Block Design

Field experiment was conducted during the 2016 and 2017 raining season in the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Crop Production, Modibbo Adama University of Technology Yola, Adamawa State. The experiment was designed to study the effect of compost and farmyard manure on growth yield and yield parameters of sweet pepper (capsicum annum L.) in Yola, Adamawa state. Eight purposes of study, eight research questions and two hypotheses were formulated for the study. The research was an experimental design with three treatments and three replicate. Factorial application of 6 kg of each manure was used for 2500 m2 (0.25 ha) after two weeks of transplanting except in the case of control group which is 0 kg application. All data collected were measured and subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) appropriate to complete randomized block design (RCBD). The result shows that there was significant effect of farmyard manure in the growth and yield parameters of sweet pepper such as plant height, number of leaves, number of branches and stem girth at two, four and six weeks after transplanting (WAT) and number of fruits, length of fruits, diameter of fruits and fruits weight at one, two, and three weeks of harvest with regard to the effect of compost manure, which shows least significant different in the growth and yield of sweet pepper (Capsicum annum L.) in Adamawa state.

scholarly journals Effect of Application of Different Quality Water through Pitcher Irrigation and Tillage Types on Tomato Production and Soil Properties of Coastal Saline Soil of West Bengal

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahul Adhikary ◽  
Arunabha Pal ◽  
S.K. De
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Saline Soil ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Primary Input ◽  
Tomato Production ◽  
Coastal Saline Soil ◽  
Quality Water

Background: Water and tillage are the primary input for crop production and increasingly become scarce due to its high demand in agricultural sector. Pitcher irrigation, a traditional system of irrigation alternative to drip method is the effective innovation of localized methods of irrigation. Methods: In this experiment different quality water through pitcher irrigation and tillage types were taken from coastal saline soil. The effects of yield factor, soil chemical properties of saline soil were studied using pitcher irrigation and tillage types. Result: Results indicate that soil physical and chemical properties were all significantly improved by different pitcher irrigation with tillage practices. Results also showed that present experiment favoring better soil conditions, nutrient availabilities towards better growth and yield of crops. Our study suggests that blending of saline with freshwater in presence of mulch tillage can provide the best estimation in the improving soil properties and tomato production above the coastal saline soil.

scholarly journals Agroclimatic zoning methodology for agricultural production systems in dry Caribbean region of Colombia

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 374-384
Author(s):  
Fabio Ernesto Martinez M. ◽  
Leidy Yibeth Deantonio F. ◽  
Gustavo Alfonso Araujo C. ◽  
Edwin O. Rojas ◽  
Douglas A. Gómez-Latorre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
Water Deficit ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
Drought Severity ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Production Cycle ◽  
Tomato Crop ◽  
Tomato Production

The agricultural sector in Colombia and especially, small-scale agriculture subsector in the Colombian Caribbean has been very vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate variability in part due to the poor existence and lack of access to agro-climatic information. The objective was to build a methodology for agroclimatic zoning for crops growing in Colombian dry Caribbean. To achieve this goal, a case study of tomato crop growing in the municipality of Repelon (Atlantico, Colombia) was selected. The methodology was based in the combination of crop-specific soil suitability assessment and the monthly prob ability of a humidity condition occurrence in the soil for tomato production under water deficit. Probability was constructed through water balances generated from the Palmer drought severity index, calculated for each month of crop production cycle during the 1980 to 2011 series. The resulting maps show defined areas called Productive Niches with lower limitations per soil and low probabilities of soil water deficit in the growth of tomato crop in the municipality. The methodology can be used to delineate areas suitable for planting tomato or other crops in climate variability events in the dry Caribbean region of Colombia.

scholarly journals Calcium-Enriched Animal Manure Alleviates the Adverse Effects of Salt Stress on Growth, Physiology and Nutrients Homeostasis of Zea mays L.

Plants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bushra Niamat ◽  
Muhammad Naveed ◽  
Zulfiqar Ahmad ◽  
Muhammad Yaseen ◽  
Allah Ditta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Uptake ◽  
Soil Salinity ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Alkaline Soil ◽  
Sodic Soil ◽  
Growth Physiology

Soil salinity and sodicity are among the main problems for optimum crop production in areas where rainfall is not enough for leaching of salts out of the rooting zone. Application of organic and Ca-based amendments have the potential to increase crop yield and productivity under saline–alkaline soil environments. Based on this hypothesis, the present study was conducted to evaluate the potential of compost, Ca-based fertilizer industry waste (Ca-FW), and Ca-fortified compost (Ca-FC) to increase growth and yield of maize under saline–sodic soil conditions. Saline–sodic soil conditions with electrical conductivity (EC) levels (1.6, 5, and 10 dS m−1) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) = 15, were developed by spiking soil with a solution containing NaCl, Na2SO4, MgSO4, and CaCl2. Results showed that soil salinity and sodicity significantly reduced plant growth, yield, physiological, and nutrient uptake parameters. However, the application of Ca-FC caused a remarkable increase in the studied parameters of maize at EC levels of 1.6, 5, and 10 dS m−1 as compared to the control. In addition, Ca-FC caused the maximum decrease in Na+/K+ ratio in shoot up to 85.1%, 71.79%, and 70.37% at EC levels of 1.6, 5, and 10 dS m−1, respectively as compared to the control treatment. Moreover, nutrient uptake (NPK) was also significantly increased with the application of Ca-FC under normal as well as saline–sodic soil conditions. It is thus inferred that the application of Ca-FC could be an effective amendment to enhance growth, yield, physiology, and nutrient uptake in maize under saline–sodic soil conditions constituting the novelty of this work.

scholarly journals Precision agriculture and geospatial techniques for sustainable disease control

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel P. Roberts ◽  
Nicholas M. Short ◽  
James Sill ◽  
Dilip K. Lakshman ◽  
Xiaojia Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Disease Control ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Plant Disease ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Agricultural Community ◽  
Plant Disease Control ◽  
Crop Germplasm

AbstractThe agricultural community is confronted with dual challenges; increasing production of nutritionally dense food and decreasing the impacts of these crop production systems on the land, water, and climate. Control of plant pathogens will figure prominently in meeting these challenges as plant diseases cause significant yield and economic losses to crops responsible for feeding a large portion of the world population. New approaches and technologies to enhance sustainability of crop production systems and, importantly, plant disease control need to be developed and adopted. By leveraging advanced geoinformatic techniques, advances in computing and sensing infrastructure (e.g., cloud-based, big data-driven applications) will aid in the monitoring and management of pesticides and biologicals, such as cover crops and beneficial microbes, to reduce the impact of plant disease control and cropping systems on the environment. This includes geospatial tools being developed to aid the farmer in managing cropping system and disease management strategies that are more sustainable but increasingly complex. Geoinformatics and cloud-based, big data-driven applications are also being enlisted to speed up crop germplasm improvement; crop germplasm that has enhanced tolerance to pathogens and abiotic stress and is in tune with different cropping systems and environmental conditions is needed. Finally, advanced geoinformatic techniques and advances in computing infrastructure allow a more collaborative framework amongst scientists, policymakers, and the agricultural community to speed the development, transfer, and adoption of these sustainable technologies.

scholarly journals Revisiting Sulphur—The Once Neglected Nutrient: It’s Roles in Plant Growth, Metabolism, Stress Tolerance and Crop Production

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 626
Author(s):  
Tinashe Zenda ◽  
Songtao Liu ◽  
Anyi Dong ◽  
Huijun Duan
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Abiotic Stresses ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Plant Phenotyping ◽  
Special Importance ◽  
Nutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Sulphur Nutrition ◽  
Physiological Processes

Sulphur plays crucial roles in plant growth and development, with its functions ranging from being a structural constituent of macro-biomolecules to modulating several physiological processes and tolerance to abiotic stresses. In spite of these numerous sulphur roles being well acknowledged, agriculture has paid scant regard for sulphur nutrition, until only recently. Serious problems related to soil sulphur deficiencies have emerged and the intensification of food, fiber, and animal production is escalating to feed the ever-increasing human population. In the wake of huge demand for high quality cereal and vegetable diets, sulphur can play a key role in augmenting the production, productivity, and quality of crops. Additionally, in light of the emerging problems of soil fertility exhaustion and climate change-exacerbated environmental stresses, sulphur assumes special importance in crop production, particularly under intensively cropped areas. Here, citing several relevant examples, we highlight, in addition to its plant biological and metabolism functions, how sulphur can significantly enhance crop productivity and quality, as well as acclimation to abiotic stresses. By this appraisal, we also aim to stimulate readers interests in crop sulphur research by providing priorities for future pursuance, including bettering our understanding of the molecular processes and dynamics of sulphur availability and utilization in plants, dissecting the role of soil rhizospherical microbes in plant sulphur transformations, enhancing plant phenotyping and diagnosis for nutrient deficiencies, and matching site-specific crop sulphur demands with fertilizer amendments in order to reduce nutrient use inefficiencies in both crop and livestock production systems. This will facilitate the proper utilization of sulphur in crop production and eventually enhance sustainable and environmentally friend food production.

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