06/29/1995

Fruit, Vegetables, Flowers Shown at AU Field Day

SHORTER, Ala. - Over 100 home gardeners and commercial fruit and vegetable producers saw, heard--and tasted--results of research projects underway by the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station during a recent Horticulture Field Day at the E.V. Smith Research Center here.

Jim Bannon, director of the E.V. Smith Center, showed the group results of tests using ground up newsprint, yard trash, and other waste by-products as mulch for tomatoes. Newsprint and wood chips both were phytotoxic to the tomato plants. When poultry litter was added to the mulch, plants showed significantly less damage. "We believe the aluminum in newsprint plays a role in causing phytotoxicity and the poultry litter ties up some of the aluminum, but in any case, newsprint alone has not proven to be a good mulch for tomatoes in our tests," Bannon stated.

AU researcher Arnold Caylor told the crowd that irrigation, in combination with timely nitrogen applications can produce higher yields and higher quality peaches. On trees in which the recommended nitrogen rate of three pounds per tree was cut in half, increasing irrigation rates produced larger peaches and equal or higher total yields than the recommended nitrogen rate. By attaining comparable yields with fewer peaches, growers can make more money because of reduced fertilizer and handling costs and greater market appeal of the larger peaches, Caylor explained.

Field Day attendees saw tomatoes and other crops grown on black plastic. AU researcher Joe Kemble said that despite costing $2,000 to $3,000 per acre growers should consider using plastic, because yields can be increased three to four times, and the crop matures 2-3 weeks earlier, providing a market advantage.

Another reason for using plastic is for insect control. Viruses vectored by thrips are a common problem on squash and other vegetable crops, according to Auburn researcher Cindy Channel. In tests at the EV Smith Center, researchers have significantly reduced virus losses by using reflective mulches. The disease vectoring insects are light sensitive and the reflected light from mulches confuses them, she explained.

Using the correct fertilizer at the right time, and at the right rate is critical to vegetable crops, regardless of whether the plants are in a commercial planting or back yard garden. Anhydrous ammonia is a common source of nitrogen fertilizer, but it is in short supply, and expensive, according to Auburn researcher Beth Guertal. In tests at the EV Smith Center, Guertal noted that calcium nitrate, which is less expensive than anhydrous ammonia, has proven just as effective in crop production.

One of the highlights of the annual Horticulture Field Day was a tour of the All American Vegetable and Flower Garden. The E.V. Smith Center is one of two locations in Alabama for the All American Vegetable Garden and one of four in the region for flowers. In the All American Flower Garden over 250 varieties of annuals were on exhibit at the field day.

The field day consisted of a riding tour of research plots, with AU researchers on hand at each stop to explain their findings. Following the tour visitors sampled such delicacies as AU Scarlet and AU Producer watermelons, cantaloupes, peaches and plums.

"We were pleased with this year's turnout. The interest remains high from commercial nursery operators and commercial fruit and vegetable growers in addition to home gardeners. Each year we are concerned that people won't want to come back year after year, but interest remains high and turnouts for this annual event has remained good," noted Director Bannon.

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News from:

Office of Ag Communications & Marketing

Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)

Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
by Roy Roberson

June 29, 1995