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

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

Summary

Overall, results demonstrated that fall-sown rye and hairy vetch can be successfully incorporated into pumpkin production in Ohio, although integration and success will depend on the fall-planting date, pounds per acre planted, spring kill date, and method of pumpkin planting. We find that a strip tillage system may allow for easier pumpkin planting, as well as offer some leeway in the window of opportunity for spring cover crop kill. Too much rye biomass and successful kill of hairy vetch has often been a problem. Spring-oat, when planted at a high rate (110 lbs/A), can 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 helps to avoid some of the weather contingencies necessary for a successful cover crop. Although oat will not produce as much biomass as a fall-sown rye, its growth habit makes it much easier to kill with herbicides, and it gives a much greater window of opportunity for kill. Although cover crops such as rye can provide season-long ground coverage, herbicide applications will be necessary. Spring-sown annual medics, when left as living mulches in a strip-tillage system with drip irrigation, cause reduced yields. Fruit cleanliness and control of Fusarium fruit rot was greatest in fall-sown rye and fall-sown rye with hairy vetch cover crops, suggesting that these cover crops provided an excellent physical barrier between pumpkin fruit and the soil.

Objectives/Performance Targets

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 cover crop mulches on control of Fusarium fruit rot.

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 2002. Research demonstrated that fall-sown rye and fall-sown rye + hairy vetch 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 to help increase fruit cleanliness and control Fusarium fruit rot.

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

  The potential of fall-sown (spring-killed), spring-sown (spring-killed) and spring-sown (living) cover crop mulches were evaluated in 2002. Pumpkins grown on fall-sown rye, fall-sown rye + hairy vetch, 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,and in 2002 did not increase fruit cleanliness.

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

  Control of Fusarium fruit rot was greatest in fall-sown rye and fall-sown rye + hairy vetch cover crops and intermediate in spring-sown oat and fall-sown hairy vetch cover crops when compared to conventional (bare soil).

  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 research farm pumpkin field days in Fremont, Columbus and South Charleston, OH and at three midwestern regional vegetable meetings (in Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Michigan)and at winter pumpkin production schools in Ohio and Kentucky.

  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 Internet in early-April 2003 at www.vegnet.osu.edu.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

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 lbs/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. 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. Fruit cleanliness and control of Fusarium fruit rot (FFR) was greatest in fall-sown rye,rye + hairy vetch cover crops. In fall-sown hairy vetch and spring-sown oat fruit cleanliness and control of FFR was intermediate when compared to conventional (bare soil). Results suggest that hairy vetch should be sown with a cover crop such as rye to help increase fruit cleanlness and control FFR.

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