Yield of Successively Cropped Polyethylene-mulched Vegetables as Affected by Irrigation Method and Fertilization Management

Abstract

<jats:p>Broccoli <jats:italic>(Brassica oleracea</jats:italic> L. var. <jats:italic>italica),</jats:italic> followed by tomato <jats:italic>(Lycopersicon esculentum</jats:italic> Mill) or squash <jats:italic>(Cucurbita pepo</jats:italic> L. var. <jats:italic>melopepo),</jats:italic> and then broccoli were produced in succession re-using the same polyethylene-mulched beds at two locations with different soil types. First-crop broccoli yield was earlier and greater with drip than with overhead irrigation and increased as N-K rate increased from 135-202 to 270-404 kg·ha<jats:sup>-1</jats:sup>. On a tine sandy soil, yields of second and third crops produced with residual or concurrent fertilization increased with an increase in N-K rate. On a loamy fine sandy soil, yields also increased as the rate of residual N-K increased; yields of second and third crops did not respond to rate of concurrently applied N-K, but were higher with concurrent than with residual fertilization, except total tomato yields were similar with either application time. With drip irrigation and concurrent weekly fertigation, yields equalled or exceeded those obtained with preplant fertilization and overhead irrigation.</jats:p>

Nitrogen and Water Rates for Subsurface Trickle-irrigated Collard, Mustard, and Spinach

“…The greater efficiency of water application and the ability to precisely deliver needed amounts of N to the crop root zone account for this. Reliable information for scheduling trickle irrigation is needed, along with guidelines for plant tissue testing for N. Several methods exist for scheduling trickle irrigation, including evapotranspiration (Clough et al, 1990;Hartz, 1993;McNeish et al, 1985), allowable soil water depletion (Bogle et al, 1989), and target soil water tensions (SWTs). The advantages of using target SWTs were discussed by Pier and Doerge (1995a).…”

Effect of Current Fertilization Practices on Nutritional Status of Double-Cropped Tomato and Cucumber Produced With Plasticulture

“…Previous work found that on sandy soils, second and third crop yields increased with increasing rates of residual and concurrent N and K levels, and these yields were higher with concurrent than single fertilizer applications (4). Another study with cucurbits showed soluble salt levels and yields to be higher with split fertilizer applications (15).…”

“…Nitrogen was determined on ground tissue with 0.2 g aliquots by the complete combustion method (Dumas method) with a N analyzer (model CHN 600, LECO Corp., St. Joseph, MI). 4 MAYFIELD ET AL. 6 MAYFIELD ET AL.…”

“…By reducing labor, fertilizer, and irrigation costs, multi-cropping can be more profitable than single-cropping (4)(5)(6)(7)(8). In addition, double-cropping vegetables requires half the land as a single-crop system, while reducing the risk of economic failure resulting from a possible low-market demand for either crop produced alone (9).…”

Introduction to the Workshop

“…Double-cropping usually offers the potential to increase N efficiency in a multicrop sequence because the successive crops benefit from the residual N of the first crop (Clough et al, 1990;Kalmbacher et al, 1982). In the multicrop systems, supplemental N can be added by drip irrigation (Clough et al, 1990) or a liquid fertilizer injection wheel (Csizinszky et al, 1987).…”