Cucumber Cropping Systems: Impacts on Weeds, Yield and

Fruit Quality

Ohio GLVWG Feb 24, 2005

Mathieu NgouajioMathieu Ngouajio

IN , 10.1 (2%)

Other States , 162.37 (25%)

MI , 180.9 (27%)NC, 80.04 (12%)

FL, 70.85 (11%)

TX, 42.4 (7%)

WI, 36.08 (6%)

OH, 27.94 (4%)

MD, 19.35 (3%)

SC, 18.4 (3%)

2003 production in 1000 tons

2003U.S. acreage: 119,000 A

Total Value: $178 million

Wide row spacing is Wide row spacing is one of the strategies one of the strategies proposed for proposed for management of management of Phytophthora in Phytophthora in picklespickles

Wide rows Wide rows Decrease relative Decrease relative

humidity within the humidity within the plant canopyplant canopy

Allow the soil to dry Allow the soil to dry fasterfaster

Low plant PopulationLow plant Population Low Yield?Low Yield?

Grower Row spacing (inches)

In row spacing (inches)

Plant population(plants/acre)

1 11 6.0 89,000

2* 14 3.0 150,000

3 18 4.8 72,000

4 30 4.7 45,000

5 30 6.0 35,000* Data from Research Station

Row spacing and plant populations used formachine harvest cucumbers in Michigan

Spacing used in Michigan: 11 to 30 inch rowsPlant populations: 35,000 to 150,000 plants/acre

Row spacing used in other states

State Row spacing (inches)

In row spacing (inches)

Plant population(plants/acre)

Kentucky 12-28 4-6 37,000-130,000

Maryland 20-28 2-3 75,000-150,000

North Carolina 24-28 3-5 45,000- 87,000

Oregon 18-30 2-4 75,000-120,000

Michigan 11-30 3-6 35,000-150,000

OhioOhio 36-4836-48 2-32-3 45,000-87,00045,000-87,000

Is the Ohio Information accurate?Is the Ohio Information accurate?

Source: Crop profiles mainly

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

Low plant PopulationLow plant Population Low Yield?Low Yield?

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

Between Row spacing In row spacing Target Populations/A

30” (76.2 cm)

6” (15.2 cm) 35,000

5” (12.7 cm) 41,000

4” (10.2 cm) 52,000

24” (61.0 cm) 6” 43,000

5” 52,000

4” 65,000

18” (45.7 cm) 6” 57,000

5” 69,000

4” 86,000

12” (30.5 cm) 6” 86,000

5” 103,000

4” 130,000

Row Spacing Plants/A %

12 x 5 Inch 103,000 100

18 x 5 Inch 69,000 65

24 x 5 Inch 52,000 50

30 x 5 Inch 41,000 40

Ground Cover by cucumber canopy

Took digital Photos Took digital Photos of plotsof plots

Use image analysis Use image analysis software to software to measure % ground measure % ground cover cover

Canopy dynamics Fruit yield by grade Vine weight Fruit number Fruit Quality

-Specific gravity-Firmness-Brix value (soluble solids)-Color-Seed size

Between Row Spacing (BRS)

Specific gravity

FirmnessFirmness

(g/ml) Lbs/Sq inchLbs/Sq inch

12” 0.97 131 c131 c

18” 0.98 136 bc136 bc

24” 0.97 143 a143 a

30” 0.96 139 ab139 ab

2004 Pickle Firmness

114

116

118

120

122

124

126

128

130

132

134

Bare ground Rye Sorghumsudangrass

Hairy Vetch

Cover Crop

Fru

it f

irm

nes

s (l

b/s

q i

nch

)

Between Row Spacing (BRS)

Sugar ColorColor Seed size

% (0 to 5)(0 to 5) mm

12” 3.2 2.8 c2.8 c 2.2

18” 3.1 3.4 b3.4 b 2.1

24” 3.1 3.5 b3.5 b 2.2

30” 3.2 4.6 a4.6 a 2.4

0 55

12” rows 30” rows

Fruits are greener and firmer with wide rows

Fruits from cover crop plots are firmer

Thanks to the organizers of the CongressThanks to the organizers of the Congress