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Environmental Hurdles in East Tennessee

Environmental Hurdles in East Tennessee. Jeff Martin, Master’s Candidate Crops Group- University of Tennessee. Background on Strawberry Production in High Tunnels.

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Environmental Hurdles in East Tennessee

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  1. Environmental Hurdles in East Tennessee Jeff Martin, Master’s Candidate Crops Group- University of Tennessee

  2. Background on Strawberry Production in High Tunnels • Strawberry plants under high tunnels were not only better established, but also produced higher yields and quality than open field plants (Kadiret al., 2006). • Early yields increased inside high tunnels when compared with those from open fields. Strawberry total marketable yields maximized inside high tunnels in comparison with open fields (Salam-Donosoet al., 2010). • Producing strawberries in the fall and following spring using high tunnels resulted in higher yields than those grown in the open field (Fernandez and Ballington, 2003). • Tomatoes grown in high tunnels contained significantly higher levels of lycopene, sugars and red color (Wszelaki and Rogers, 2009).

  3. Background • Six varieties • Season one varieties differ from season two • Marketability of fruits • Reasons for unmarketability • Quality measurements • Soluble Solids • Titratable Acidity • Color • Firmness • Environmental problems causing limited progress

  4. Season 1- Strawberry Varieties • Spring- Day Neutral • Albion • Seascape • San Andreas • Fall- June Bearing • Strawberry Festival • Sweet Charlie • Chandler • 28 plants per variety • Planted staggered in a double row 1’ apart • High tunnels planted March 23, 2010 • Open field planted April 22, 2010

  5. TN Weather Conditions • Spring and Fall • Extreme temperature fluctuations • Heavy rains • Strong winds • Late frost date • Summer • Hot and dry • Winter • Cold and wet

  6. Season 1 Issues • Spring planting • Too hot, too fast • Poor pollination • Limited production • Small plants

  7. Season 1

  8. Season 1- Yields

  9. Season 2 Adjustments • Fall planting • Winter plant protection • Supplemental pollination • Earlier harvests • Increased production

  10. Season 2- Plant Establishment • Late fall planting • Plug plants • Albion, LCN, Strawberry Festival • October 8, 2010 • Bare-root plants • Albion, San Andreas, Chandler • October 29, 2010

  11. Season 2- Number of Plants per Plot

  12. Season 2- Overwintering • Open Field • Agribon AG-30 and AG-19 row cover • High Tunnel • No row cover

  13. Season 2- Preliminary Yields

  14. Season 2- Reasons for Unmarketability

  15. Season 2- Pollination • One hive per high tunnel • Six week replacement rotation • Koppert Class C Hive

  16. Season 2- Improvements • Higher yields • Vigorous plants • Improved pollination • Earlier harvests

  17. Season 2- Hail Damage

  18. Season 2- Hail Damage

  19. Season 2Open Field- before and after

  20. Season 3 Adjustments • Early to mid-September planting • Heavier row cover • Ag-50 and Ag-30 • Replenish bumble bee hives after 4 weeks and utilize in open field • Examine quality differences • Late fall/early winter and spring/summer • Color, firmness, sugars, acidity, post-harvest

  21. SCRI Grant Award No. 2009-51181-05897 Biodegradable Mulches for Specialty Crops Produced Under Protective Covers Debra Inglis and Carol Miles (Project Directors)1; Andrew Corbin, Ana Espinola-Arredondo, Annabel Kirschner, Karen Leonas, Tom Marsh and Tom Walters1; Doug Hayes, Bobby Jones, Jaehoon Lee, Larry Wadsworth and Annette Wszelaki2; Eric Belasco and Jennifer Moore-Kucera3; Russ Wallace4; and, Marian Brodhagen5 1 2 4 3 5

  22. Questions?

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