Integrating cover crop mulches in commercial pumpkin production in the Midwest.

Integrating cover crop mulches in commercial pumpkin production in the Midwest.

Summary

Oat and annual medic sown in the early fall produce excellent ground coverage by frost, but ground coverage does not persist into the next growing season making them unsuitable as fall-sown (winter-killed) cover crop mulches in pumpkin production. A spring-sown oat (killed) and annual medic (living) cover crop produce ground coverage to last season long. Pumpkins seeded in fall-sown rye and spring-sown oat produce yields consistently equal to a conventional (bare soil) production system and at the same time increase fruit cleanliness. A spring-sown annual medic (living) cover crop increased fruit cleanliness, but greatly reduced pumpkin yield.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Objectives:

Short Term:

Evaluate production methods needed to successfully incorporate fall and spring-sown cover crop mulches into commercial pumpkin production.

Evaluate the influence of fall and spring-sown cover crop mulches
on pumpkin yield, fruit quality, and cleanliness.

Evaluate the influence of fall and spring-sown living cover crop
mulches on soil-borne fruit rot caused by Fusarium spp.

Long-Term:

Demonstrate to regional growers the usefulness and economic benefits of cover crop mulches in commercial pumpkin production.

Assist interested pumpkin growers with incorporating the use of cover crop mulches into their commercial production systems.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Short term:

Evaluate production methods needed to successfully incorporate fall and spring-sown cover crop mulches into commercial pumpkin production.

The potential of fall-sown (spring-killed), spring-sown (spring-killed) and spring-sown (living) cover crop mulches in a drip irrigated, strip-tillage commercial pumpkin production system were evaluated in 2001. Research demonstrated that fall-sown rye and spring-sown oat cover crops that were killed with herbicide prior to pumpkin seeding and left on the soil surface to act as a physical barrier could be successfully incorporated into commercial pumpkin production. A strip-tillage production system may allow for easier pumpkin planting.

Evaluate the influence of fall and spring-sown cover crop mulcheson pumpkin yield, fruit quality, and cleanliness.

The effects of fall-sown (spring-killed), spring-sown (spring-killed) and spring-sown (living) cover crop mulches on pumpkin yield were evaluated in 2001. Fall-sown rye and spring-sown oat produced pumpkin yields similarly to conventional (bare soil) plots and at the same time increased fruit cleanliness. Spring-sown annual medic (living) cover crop mulch produced reduced yields, but increased fruit cleanliness.

Evaluate the influence of fall and spring-sown living cover crop mulches on soil-borne fruit rot caused by Fusarium spp.

The effectiveness of using cover crop mulches to control Fusarium fruit rot has not been demonstrated. Research at on-farm sites with past histories of Fusarium fruit rot have yielded data similar to research farm sites on fruit cleanliness, but Fusarium fruit rot has not been a problem in the selected field sites.

Long-term:

Demonstrate to regional growers the usefulness and economic benefits of cover crop mulches in commercial pumpkin production.

The usefulness of cover crops in commercial pumpkin production has been demonstrated to growers at an on-farm field tour, 2 research farm field days, at 2 regional meetings and at a winter pumpkin production school in 2001 and the winter of 2002.

Assist interested pumpkin growers with incorporating the use of cover crop mulches into their commercial production systems.

Pumpkin growers interested in the use of cover crops in pumpkin production are encouraged to contact the project coordinator. Information on the use of cover crops in commercial pumpkin production relating to this project will be available on the web in early-April 2002 at www.vegnet.osu.edu

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Overall, these findings show that fall-sown rye can be incorporated into pumpkin production in Ohio although integration and success will depend on fall-planting date, seeding rate, spring kill date, and method of pumpkin planting. A strip tillage system may allow for easier pumpkin planting as well as offer some leeway in the window of opportunity for spring kill. Too much rye biomass has often been a problem. Spring-sown oat when planted at a high rate (110 lb/A) can also be successfully incorporated into a strip-tillage pumpkin production system. Planting a cover crop such as oat in the spring alleviates some of the problems of a fall-sown cover crop, such as having a field free for planting and may help to avoid some of the weather contingencies necessary for a successful fall-sown cover crop. Although oat may not produce as much biomass as a fall-sown rye, its growth habit makes it much easier to kill with herbicide, as well as, having a much greater window of opportunity for kill. Yields of pumpkins grown on fall-sown rye and spring-sown oat were comparable to conventional bare soil plots. Pumpkins grown on fall-sown rye and spring-sown oat were much cleaner at harvest than pumpkins grown on bare soil. Unfortunately, spring-sown annual medics when left as living mulches in a strip-tillage system with drip irrigation cause reduced yields and delayed maturity of fruit, but fruit cleanliness was high in these plots. Cleaning pumpkins at harvest for sale is time consuming and a direct cost incurred by the grower. Pumpkins grown on cover crop mulches such as fall-sown rye and spring-sown oat may help growers save on this cost as well as makes fields more accessible to customers in U-Pick operations.

Collaborators: