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Cucumber Cropping Systems: Impacts on Weeds, Yield and Fruit Quality

Cucumber Cropping Systems: Impacts on Weeds, Yield and Fruit Quality. Mathieu Ngouajio. Ohio GLVWG Feb 24, 2005. 2003 production in 1000 tons. U.S. Pickling Cucumber Production. 2003 U.S. acreage: 119,000 A Total Value: $178 million. Wide rows

nigel-phelps
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Cucumber Cropping Systems: Impacts on Weeds, Yield and Fruit Quality

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  1. Cucumber Cropping Systems:Impacts on Weeds, Yield and Fruit Quality Mathieu Ngouajio Ohio GLVWG Feb 24, 2005

  2. 2003 production in 1000 tons U.S. Pickling Cucumber Production 2003 U.S. acreage: 119,000 A Total Value: $178 million

  3. Wide rows • Decrease relative humidity within the plant canopy • Allow the soil to dry faster Potential Disadvantage of Wide Rows • Low plant Population • Low Yield? Rationnal • Wide row spacing is one of the strategies proposed for management of Phytophthora in pickles

  4. Current Practice Row spacing and plant populations used for machine harvest cucumbers in Michigan Spacing used in Michigan: 11 to 30 inch rows Plant populations: 35,000 to 150,000 plants/acre

  5. Current Practice Row spacing used in other states Is the Ohio Information accurate? Source: Crop profiles mainly

  6. Potential Disadvantage of Wide Rows • Low plant Population • Low Yield? Current Practice • Row spacing varies: • From State to State • From grower to grower within a State • Rows are: • Narrower for machine harvest • Wider for hand pick cucumbers

  7. Specific Goal Is it possible to increase row spacing (reduce populations) and maintain acceptable yield and fruit quality?

  8. Plant populations

  9. Wide Rows and Plant Population

  10. Row Spacing Tested 12 Inches

  11. Row Spacing Tested 18 Inches

  12. Row Spacing Tested 24 Inches

  13. Row Spacing Tested 30 Inches

  14. Ground Cover by cucumber canopy • Took digital Photos of plots • Use image analysis software to measure % ground cover

  15. Yield • Canopy dynamics • Fruit yield by grade • Vine weight • Fruit number • Fruit Quality

  16. Fruit Quality • Specific gravity • Firmness • Brix value (soluble solids) • Color • Seed size

  17. Fruit Quality

  18. Fruit Firmness 2004

  19. Fruit Quality

  20. 0 5 12” rows 30” rows Color Scale

  21. Summary • Fruits are greener and firmer with wide rows • Fruits from cover crop plots are firmer

  22. Pickle Packers International, Inc. (PPI) MI Pickle & Pepper Research Committee (MIPPRC) Michigan Vegetable Council (MVC) Thanks to the organizers of the Congress Thanks! !

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