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| Horticulture Program HORT-00-12 | |
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| Horticulture Program HORT-00-12 | |
EVALUATION OF HIGH TUNNEL STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION
FOR SOUTHERN OHIO
, 2000Brad R. Bergefurd Extension Agent, Horticulture; Dick Funt Extension Small Fruit Specialist; Thom Harker Research Assistant, Horticulture; Christie Welch Research Assistant, Horticulture; Lynn Miller Research Assistant, Horticulture; Wayne Lewis Farm Manager, Piketon Research & Extension Center; Brad Bapst Research Assistant, Amy Hamilton Summer Assistant; Kristy Moore Summer Assistant; Rodney Robbins Summer Assistant; and Allison Welch Summer Assistant.
This high tunnel strawberry trial has compared four different vermicompost treatments using 3 replications of each treatment plus a control. Objectives are to evaluate potential benefits of adding soil amendments to a high value crop such as high tunnel strawberries to determine if these amendments will improve soil conditions and increase fruit yield and quality. The plots are located at the Ohio State University Piketon Research & Extension Center in Piketon, Ohio. Data was analyzed by SAS statistical software.
METHODS
Planting:
Plot was burned-down using Round-up Ultra @ 3 oz./gal water. After 10 days, the ground was plowed, roto-tilled and beds were made. Vermicompost treatments were applied and worked into the top 2-4 inches of soil. Treatments applied were: 1) Food Waste Vermicompost @ 0.5 lbs./ft of row, 2) Food Waste Vermicompost @ 1.0 lbs./ft of row, 3) Cardboard Waste Vermicompost @ 0.5 lbs./ft of row, 4) Cardboard Vermicompost @ 1.0 lbs./ft of row, and 5) Standard inorganic fertilizer @ recommended rate (no vermicompost). All vermicompost treatments were supplemented with inorganic fertilizer at recommended rates of NPK. Plastic mulch and drip irrigation was laid and Chandler plug plants were planted by hand on September 16. 1999.Spacing:
Beds are set 5 feet at center. Each bed contained 3 rows of plants with 15 inches between plants and 15 inches between rows, with the middle row staggered relative to the two outer rows.Soil Type: Doles Silt Loam
Fertilizer:
Plants were fertilized with Peters 9-52-10 starter solution soon after planting. On Dec. 20, 1999 and again on February 25, 2000 plants were fertigated using 28% nitrogen at a rate of 17.5 lbs./acre.
Weed Control: Row middles were sprayed with Sinbar @ 4 oz/acre using a CO2 sprayer.
Pest Management: February 29, 2000 plants were sprayed with Safer Soap @ 5 oz./gal water for control of aphids. March 10, 2000 and May 19, 2000 Agri-mek was applied @ 16 oz/acre using the CO2 sprayer for control of spider mites. May 19, 2000 applied Sevin @ 1 quart/acre.
RESULTS
Table 1. Yields and Quality comparisons from replicated High Tunnel Strawberry Production trials in
southern Ohio: Ohio State University Piketon Research & Extension Center, Piketon, Ohio 2000
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2000 VERMICOMPOST HIGH TUNNEL STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION |
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Treatments |
lbs / acre |
No. of Fruit per Acre |
Average Fruit Weight (g) |
Yield / Plant (g) |
Largest Fruit Weight (g) |
No. of Fruit per plant |
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|
Foodwaste Vermicompost 1.0 lb/ft |
5486.70 |
2475833 |
10.1324 |
724.81 |
22.723 |
71.530 |
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Food Waste Vermicompost 0.5 lb/ft |
4912.20 |
2291667 |
9.8201 |
665.64 |
31.019 |
67.923 |
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Cardboard Waste Vermicompost 1.0 lb/ft |
4601.20 |
2006250 |
10.5074 |
624.62 |
25.093 |
59.573 |
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Cardboard Waste Vermicompost 0.5 lb/ft |
5407.30 |
2032500 |
10.1183 |
604.73 |
23.283 |
59.644 |
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Std. Inorganic Fertilizer |
4339.40 |
2012917 |
9.9353 |
595 |
24.33 |
60.387 |
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LSD |
850.46 |
328253 |
1.0851 |
115.6 |
9.7241 |
10.262 |
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Table 2. Rainfall amounts and average high and low temperatures for the 2000 season: Ohio State
University Extension Piketon Research & Extension Center, Piketon, Ohio 2000
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2000 Weather Summary ~ Piketon, Ohio |
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Average High Temperature |
Average Temperature |
Normal Average Temperature |
Average Low Temperature |
Total Precipitation |
Normal Precipitation |
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January |
40.20 |
30.00 |
30.80 |
18.80 |
2.51 |
3.10 |
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February |
52.20 |
40.80 |
33.00 |
30.20 |
4.95 |
2.10 |
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March |
59.20 |
47.30 |
41.90 |
34.60 |
3.03 |
4.50 |
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April |
65.50 |
53.30 |
52.60 |
41.10 |
2.34 |
3.20 |
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May |
77.90 |
66.10 |
61.70 |
53.10 |
0.56 |
4.50 |
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June |
82.90 |
71.50 |
72.40 |
60.50 |
0.06 |
3.90 |
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July |
82.30 |
71.60 |
75.90 |
61.30 |
3.35 |
4.00 |
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August |
82.30 |
71.30 |
74.10 |
60.10 |
2.37 |
2.70 |
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September |
75.20 |
63.60 |
65.10 |
53.90 |
3.95 |
1.90 |
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October |
71.20 |
55.80 |
54.20 |
43.30 |
1.13 |
1.90 |
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November |
51.90 |
41.50 |
42.60 |
31.30 |
1.01 |
3.00 |
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December |
34.40 |
25.70 |
36.20 |
17.80 |
2.84 |
2.10 |
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2000 Averages |
64.60 |
53.21 |
53.38 |
42.17 |
2.34 |
3.08 |