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    B 844 Staked Cucumber Production

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    Dev Iker
    gime me a cucumber said tatarsky

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    November 1993 No. 844 A Decade of Research on Staked Cucumber Production HY. Hanna and A. J. Adams Agricultural Center Table of Contents Introduction 3 Material and Methods oo 4 Results 6 Diseussion 2 Summary and Conclusions 16 Literature Cited : 18 {Use of tad names does not imply endorsement ofthe products named corerticism of similar onesnotaamod, The authors raefully acknowledge ‘he donation of ‘Response 9-9-7" and some Financial asitance by Coast Biologicals Limited of New Zealand, ‘Dasher II seeds by Petoseed Co. In, Saticoy, CA, and Petors 27-15-12 foliar eed by W. R. Grace Co. ‘ovina Sate University Agiitral Center, H. Rowse Cate, Caco eakanaAfrestarl Fapertnnt San, Kents W: Tipo, Vee Chalo snd ‘The Lnisians Aree Experinen Son rvie al portant i programs A Decade of Research on Staked Cucumber Production HEY, Haga! ano A.J, ADAMS? Introduction Fresh market cucumber has been an imporant vegetable crop in southem sts for many years The heavy foliage cover formed by the Wining habic of he cucuber plans ret ight penetration to Tower leaves. The dense canopy aso restricts movement snd prometes humid «ontions favorable tothe growth of stot organisms. Even when plant populations uel, the dens canopy and ving babi prevents fective Fangicde application. Asa esl ut ra disease is severe deren to expanding production i soul sates Scimbato abd Hegwood, 1979; Super an Site, 1976 ‘One mca of improving yells of eacumber woud et increase he soos rces within hecocunber plano rovidemec assimilates fordeveloping nits. Anotherwouldbetoelp reduce the ineidenceo fut rot. The cucumber canopy cane sfficint im abrorption of sunlight, and fungicides can be applied more effectively ifthe plants are positioned popes Since vertical unin o thing of cucumber plants seed tobe a feasible cull tecigus to addres tes problems, sever stules were conducted from 1982 0 1991 a the Citus Research Staton, Port Sulphur [La The objectives of those staies were 1) 0 determine the influence of staking on il, fruit qualiy and related its of eucumber, 2) 10 develop "Per, Red River Rete Suto, Loci AgritulExgrient Sion, suiAgneatiml Cr, PO, Bo AS Bower Ci TI13 8550, a omer) ‘aoc ptenn Cans Retr Shba,Lastany Apa Bxpeimes Son, {SU-Agetal Cue 1, PO. Box 68, ort Sa La, 700, “iesden reson peor ree Cis Resear Sin, Lisa Aga ‘sgvin’ San, SU Agel Cot RL L,PO. 0628, Po SL, 783. 3 improved cultural techniques to enhance the yield of staked cucumber and 3) to minimize the expense to vertically tain the plans. Materials and Methods Objective 1 Studies to determin the influence of staking cucumber on yield, uit quality, andreated ais were conducted in 1982-1984. Thirteen cucumber cultivars were plated in une of1982and 1983, Two cultural mets were used stakedandunsaked teatments. Inthe staked culture, cucumber plants ‘were ied to four level of tine wrapped around reinforcing rods (5 feet x 05 inch). Rods were spaced 3-4 feet apart, ante tine was id off igh tothe farend of an anchor rod, The fur levels of twine were vertically spaced at 15.20 inches above the soil surface. Plants were ied othe twine until they reached the top level using a Max Tapener Model HT B-2. Experimental design was 13 x 2 (cultivar x cultural method) factorial aranged in @ randomized complete bloc with tree and four replications in 1982 and 1983, respectively Ththe 1983 test, 10 female flowers were selected at random fom each ‘reatmentand were tagged atthe time of anthesis, and fruit set was recorded atharvest. In fall 1983, ‘Dasher I cucumber wis planted in randomized ‘complete lock design with four replications. Stakedandunsakedcucumber treatments were included in this test. Five plants fom each treatment were removed priortothe rstharvest andthe average fresh weight per plant was recorded. Also the fresh weight, length and width of the leaves, and the hnumber of female flowers onthe main stem were recorded. ‘The average fresh weight per plant ofthe remaining 10 plants was recorded after the lst harvest. Tn the spring (April-June) of 1984, “Dasher I and ‘AKC 1810", a rynceciousand monoeciouscucumber hybrid, respectively, were planted in ‘factorial experiment arangedinarandomized complete block sign with four replications. ‘The monoecious cultivar was incled in the study ‘because of claims that itis moe sable under adverse weather conditions. “Treatments were cultivars and cultural methods (staked and unstaked), The ‘numberof female flowers.on the mainstem in each treatment was recorded ‘before the first harvest. Plant fresh weight was recorded after the last harvest. Objective 2 Studiesto develop improved cultural techniques foreahancing the yield of staked cucumber were conducted in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1950, and 1991, ‘These studies included increasing plant population by reducing in row spacing beeen plants, supplemental dripiigation preplanterization and posiplant supplemental foliar ferilizaton with N-P-K, and malching With buck or white polyethylene mulch. For plant population studies, treatments were in-zow spacing of 6 vs 12,9 vs 18, and 12s 18 inches. ‘Treatments for iigation studies included supplemental dep irrigation and 1 isgation. Preplant fertilization treatments with N-P-K (13-13-13) were 0,200, 400, 600, and 800 byacre. Posiplant treatments were weekly supplemental foliar fertilization with N-P-K (Peters27-15-12) tS Ibfacre forcight weeks ‘vs no foliar fertilization, and weekly foliar frilization with @ seaweed «extract containing 9 percent N-9percentP-7 percent K (Response 9-9-7, Ag Response, Inc. at 0.2 gal/acre freight weeks vs no foliatferiization. Mulching studies were conducted using black or white polyethylene ‘mulch vsbare ground. Treatments were arangedina randomized complete block orsplitpot design andreplcsted thre orfourtimes, depending onthe ‘est and the year of investigation Inthe irigatedtreatments, water was supplied throughhalfinchdiameter polyethylene distribution lines connected tothe main wate line with a pressure regulatr with pressure seta ps. In-line emitters were spaced 12 Inches par, Irigation was based on soi misturemeasurement with mode] Ritrometers(Irometer Co, Riverside, CA). Water was applied when soil moisture tension ata depth of sx inches reached at east 30 centibrs. Total ‘ainfall from seeting 0 lost harvest wns 17, 20,215 and 18 inches/aere daring spring, summer, ad fll of 1985 and spring of 1987, respectively Objective 3 Suuies to minimize the expense to veically tin cucumber plans were conducted in 1988, 1989, and 1990, In these studies, cucumber was double-cropped with tomato or with cucumber. In the 1988 and 1989 studies, cucumber was planted on ows following «tomato crop without removing the tomato plants, stakes, or drip irgation lines. After the last harvest, tomato plants were sprayed with glyphosate at 3b aire “The tomato skeletons were lef in place to suppor climbing eucumber plants (double-cropping tomatoes and cucumber. Treatment of cucumber Stake by the standard system desribed by Hanna etal, (1989) were Included for staking expense and yield comparisons. 3 In 1990, two cucumber crops were planted in succession (double cropped cucumber). The fist cucumber erop was planed inthe spring (April-June), and the second crop yas planted in the summer (uly- September). Cucumber plants ftom the fist crop were treated with slyphosate a3 Ibai/sere after the last harvest. Stakes, sing polyethylene ‘muleh, and he skeleton ofthe irstcropf cucumber plants wereleftinplace to suppor the climbing plants ofthe second crop. Thal studies, plot size was 10x 10 feet. Caltral practices other than procedures under investigation were standard commercial practices. ‘Cucumber was harvested thee times a week fr aoa of 3-4 weeks. Fruits were graded to U.S, Fancy, US. No.1, US. No.2, cll and rots. Fancy and No, I grides were combined and clastfed as premium yield, Total yield was the toa of premium yield and No, 2 grade Results ‘Vertical training of eucumber plans significantly increased premium and ttl yield. Inthe staked treatments, yield was almost doubled inthe 1982 season and increased sobstanialy inthe summer and fall seasons of ‘Table 1.-Influence of cultural method (staked vs. unstaked) on the [premium and total yields, percentage of culls, and number of rotted {ruitof cucumber, 1982-1984 Se : rm os a im : “8 ee tint om ° S 2 3 = sree nine ils Ase toto cure Senso andi tt pcr oy Fis ety 1983 andthe spring season of 1984, Staking cucumber reduced cullsinthree out of five growing seasons, and resulted insignificant reduction in the incidence of frit (Table). Fresh weight of vricaly-rsned cucumber planstaken before the fist and after the last harvest was greater than the fresh weight ofthe untrained plants. Fresh weight, length, and widthof the leaves onthe main stem ofthe ‘etically-trained plants before he frst harvest were also greater than those ‘ofthe untrained plants. However, the numberof female flowers produced by veically-taned and untrained plants wasthe me. Fruitset expressed as percentage ofthe number of flowers tagged at anthesis or total number of fruits pe plant was greater on staked than unstaked plans (Table 2), ‘Table 2.Etlects of staking cucumber on plant and lat tresh weight (0b), leat size (neh), number of femal Meson Pangea thas Pee ‘Sptng 1980 (Oymeecioun) = No. oma towers sont ee on ns Ponogratarietioven "S48 “s oa “Gaston non 9 ter Hane hae et6 oc, Reduced in-row spacing between staked plants from 1210 6 inches ‘gniicanl increased premium and total yields in the fll of 1983, spring, summer, and fll of 1985 and spring of 1987, and increased the ol yields inthe spring of 1984, No change i te percentage of culls resulted fom natrowing the spacing to si inches between plans, excep in 1984 where plants in the 6-inch spacing produced significantly more culls. Cucumber Plants spaced 9or 12 inches produced higher premium and total yields than plants spaced 18 inches apart (Table 3, ‘Supplemental ingation inthe spring and summer of 1985 and spring of 1987 significanly increased the early and ttl yields (Table 4). The Imigated plots produce significa lesscullsand longer utsinthe spring 1 ‘able 3 ~Ettectsofin-row spacing (6vs 12, 9vs 18, and 12vs 18inches) ‘staked cucumber ylld In hx Sonics Sifesoe Siemans Sites Sitcas IS Nora ana ogra ate spect ar peer eee by Fie sony seasons of 1985 and 1987. Yield increase was substantial, especially inthe spring seasons. No yield increase was obtained inte fal of 1985, Preplant N-P-K fertilizer rates had greater effect on yield and fait lengthinthe 1987 springseasonthan in 1985 Table). Plants erilize with ‘he highest rae (800 Ibfacte) produced the highest yield i every category. However, in most ease, plants ferlized with 60 Ihacre prodiced yields ‘ot significantly diferent fom plants fertilized with he highest ate. Also, Plants ferilized with 600 there produced the longest fut but the only Significant diferences were from the contro and pants etlized with 200 Tijacre. Fenilizer rates had no significant effect on culls. Response to 5 “Table 4 influence of pplementl ip irgation on yield length of Sprint 440S staked cucumber in two years cad sia = Ed sass fruit cute eng dacs) ‘Table 5.~Effects of proplant N-PK (19-19-19) rates on yield and fruit length of Sprint 4408 staked cucumber in two Years ates ee) eaey ‘oat an ai ahaa Frente re cr} teres cus feat se dees) {erilizer treatments was mixedin 1985. Onl plansin the control produced significa less yield in some yield eategoriesinthe tres growing seasons of 1985 Under irigation, cucumber plants produced longer and wider leaves (able 6). Plant spacing had no effect on leaf length and width. Plants fertilized wth N-P-Kat rate of 200 Ibacre and highorhad longer and wider leaves. N,Pvand K contents ofthe leaves were influenced by iigation and plant spacing. Irigation reduced lea N and increased lat P significantly Reducing spacing to sx inches between plans reduced leaf P and K. The influence of ferilizer ates on lea N P, and K was pot lar. “Table 6~1nluonce of irigation, inrow spacing, ad fertilizer rates on leaf length, width, and N-P-K leaf contents of Sprint 4408 staked Ee ns — we 5 ve Se mast Se. £ f 3 ew oa i £ g i oS BF 2 # & & 2 e, @ # #2 & & ‘There was significant irigaion x preplant fertilization interaction for carly yield (P= 0.0008) and total ye (P= 0.0264) inthe spring of 1985 Season. The same was tre forthe 1987 spring season (P= 0.0057 and P= (0.0045 for early and toa ied, respetively), The correlation between leat size and earl and total yield was postive, above 0.5 and significant (Table ed in 1983 did not increase premium ortoal yield and did notaffectibe percentage of culls. Foliar spray with Response 9-9-7 significantly increased premium and total Yields of ‘Dasher 1” cucumber in 1989 and 1990. However, the same {teatment didnotinfluenceyieldin 1991. Pereenageofulls was lmostthe same for treated and untreated pls (Table 8), 10 ‘Table 7.-Pearson correlation coeicionts between yiold and leat ‘and width of Sprint 4408 staked cucumber, Spring 1985 ‘Table 8.-Influence of supplemental folar fertilization on yield of Fa 03 (et 77.1512) snoematn eae og on a a ee stmamesion - s @ Black or white polyethylene mulch significanly inreased prem and total yields over bare ground in four studies conducted in 1988 through 1991 able 9), Black polyethylene mutch produced slightly higher yields than white mulch, bathe difference wasnt significant. Black polyethylene mulch produced sgniicatly les culls than white muh none ou of four year of study. Bare ground produced more culls inal ofthe four years of ‘ty, butthe differences were significantin 1990 and 1991 onl (Table 9). ‘Anestimated 63 man hours were needed to sake one acre of cucumber using the standard system, compared to 28 man-hours in the double cropping system (Table 10, There was no sigificantdfferenceinpremium u Influence of polyethylene mulch and bare ground on staked jel in four years, metre ae Fama Toa : ak Segoe Ea Groire mo awe ac ste Eee Be magn a Gro sae ere fae worn 8 vi teres ange Gore Ear sraob ‘Mes separation cosy Duca’ Mulp Fangs Tes 5 pret a Table 10.~Estimates of man-hours needed to stake one acre: cof cucumber by two systeme ety gre n na 50) Tira srnpio aera) igen sn ° : Same “8 yield of cucumber staked by the wo methods (Table 11). The standard sytem produced signficantyhighe total yieldinboth years, However the Increase in toll yield resulted from more No.2 fruits, "There were no significant diference in percentage of culls between the 1wo systems of stakingeucumber,exeeptin 189, The standardsystem produced significantly more cull in 1989. Cucumber doublecropped with evcumber produced significantly less yield and more culls in the summer of 1990 (Table 12), Discussion Results ofthese studies indicate that substantial yield increases were ‘bsained by vertical training ofthe cucumber pants, The increased yield 12 Table 11.-Vield of cucumber staked by the standard and double- ng systems In two: Boisson Spear Sr 182 Bowe Seeing 3 Sennen : 1S"!Nerlcan ana grat he eel el by Ft reap. Table 12:~Yleld of two consecutive crops of cucumber planted on ‘same rows withoutremoving polyethylenemulchorstacking structures (double-eropped cucumber), 1980 Team SR Sg amma Sage Becca LID adda iad GAD 88 Wie Tas Sere Torys re BSB tata Gowns __iess Meee GeavaGanre r0g0 Be aord oop. ‘an seattle ows by Oreee Mu Range Tes 5 pct ould be sttributed to the reduction of rt rot and, more important the increase in fruit set and development ofthe vertically-traied plants. More female Rowers set and developed into marketale sits on vertically ‘rained plants than on untrained plants. Also, the fresh weight of vertically tained plants was alway’ greater and the size of the leaves was larger ha those of unstaked plans. “These results indicate that the upward traning of plans increased net photosynthesis, thus increasing assimilates that supported an increased numberof fruits. The equal numberof female flowers produced by the staked and unstaked cucumber plans andthe mor frit seton staked plants indieate that more female lowers shorted and didnot develop into fis in the unstaked treatments relative to staked, possibly because ofthe need for ‘more assimilates by the unstaked plants ‘The gynoecious cultivar ‘Dasher I” produced almost 13 times more female lowers than the monoecious cukivar ‘A&C 1810" onthe mainstem. However, fruit set was almost equal fo both cultivars, indicating thatthe 13 ‘monoecious cultivar produced most of is female flowers on te lateral branches and pruning cucumber (removing lateral branches) would greatly, reduce the yield ‘The reductonin fritrotin staked plants was achieved by improved air penetration, that reduced humidity lessened the chances of fungal survival, and allowed for effective fungicide penetration “Thein-row spacing ostoften recommended fr fresh marketcucumbers 1512-18 inches between plants. In these ets, in-row spacing of six inches ‘between plants increased premium and total yields significanly. The vertical training of plants may have lessened the competition between narrow spaced plants fr light, improved ather growing conditions, and contributed to higher yields, “The reduction of P,K contents ofthe leaf at -inch spacing indicates ‘hat higher plan population per uit area may need adtional amounts of ferilizer to furher enhance the yield. O'Sullivan (1980) reponed that increased cucumber population in unstaked culture significantly increased yield. Tathe ourtestscoductd during 1985-1987, supplemental dripiigaion significantly increased yield of Sprint 440S cucumbers in all but the fal season of 1985, The maximum increase in premium and total yields was ‘obtained in the spring season of bth years. Also, cary yield, which is sold atpremiumprices showed a substantial increase det iigation lrgation increased fruit length, a desired characteristic for marketing slicing cccumbers. Optimum moisture conditions in the toot 2one with dip imation helped reduce percentage of culls in bot seasons. "The need for adequate moisture for staked cucumbers was clearly itusrated inthe spring tests. ‘The 17 and 18 ines of rain that fel in the spring seasons of 1985 and 1987, respectively, wore not suficient, and ‘uditional irrigation comibuted to the substantial increase in ie ‘The increased eaflength and with nthe irrigated pss andthe postive ‘correlation between leaf length and win and every yield category may indicate that addtional isgation increase leaf surface area, which, itu, increased net photosynthesis, resulting in more assimilates that supported larger numbers of developing fits "Eventhough he summer 1985 est received 20inches of rn ditional itnigationsilgifcanty increased yield, The upward tningof cucumber plants may have contributed tothe need for more water in the roo ne 10 compensate fr waterlosses by transpiration andevaporation. Thecucumber Plants did not need ational ivigation when they received 21S inches of rain during the fll 1985 test "The response to N-P fentlizer ates was not so clear in 1085 tests as {in 1987, The sil samples taken from the test sites before conducting the ‘experimentsin 1985 revealed thatthe soil was very ich nal thre elements [NosolanalysisforN-P-K content wasmade befor he 1987 test. However, the teat ste was not repeatedly planted with vegctable crope or fequeatly ferlized in previous years asin the 1985 test sites. The respons 10 N-P- XK rates in the 1987 est was significant, and 800 Ib/ace applied before planting prodvced the highest yield, However, 600 Ibacre applied before Planting had the next to the highest yield with no significant eiferences ‘These results may indicate that preplant rates of N-P-K (13-13-13) ranging rom 600 bjacet0800 acre are suficientto produce significantly higher ied of staked cucumbers grownin sols thatare not rich nthe thee elements. The significant ierigation x fenilizer interaction for yield may indicatethatyildincrease wasinflunced by frequentierigation fadditonal IN-P-K was available to maintain higher soil fertility Foliar spay with seaweed extract fortified with N-P-K (Response 9.9- 17) was more effective in increasing cucumber yield than N-P-K dissolved Jn plain water (Peter's 27-15-12) Published reports onthe exact reasons explaining why this beneficial effect took place are rare. However, Featonby-Smih and Staden (1984) indicated hat spraying beans with seaweed! concentrate resulted in higher levels of eytokinin in all tissues, particularly thefts, Theirresulsals showee tharhigh concentrations of «ytoknin within the frit of weated plants were associated with an increase inthe dry mass ofthese fis. ‘The unusual excess of rainfall inthe 1991 rowing season may explainthe lack of Response9-9-7 effectiveness. Most ofthe spray material was washed aay after application, Polyethylene mulchsignificanly increased the yield of staked cucumber. ‘Results of four years of investigation indicted tha iter black or white polyethylene mulch can be used to enbiance staked cucumber yield. Early season warming ofthe soi, good retetion of moisture, and less weedsunder polyethylene mulch may have conteibuted to superior yields of eucumber. Also, more cull produced by cucumber grown on bare ground may have ‘contributed to the differences between the two systems of culture ‘As a warm season erop that produces well under summer conditions, ‘cxcumbercan te planted following tomatvesintbe same fed aferspraying tomatoplaniswithahebicie, Tomato skeletons andstakesalready nplace ‘ean provide support for climbing cucumber plants nd minimize the cost of staking cucumber. Premium yieks produced by cucumber staked by this system didnot differ significantly from yields of eucumber staked by the 1s standard system, Staking cucumber by the standard system resulted in significa higher total yields, bt the increase resulted from more No. 2 ‘evcumber produced by plants staked by the standard system. No. 2 cucumber was a small potion of the total yes. ‘Another way to minimize the expense of staking cucumber plants i © produce two crops of cucumber onthe same taking system. The results of ‘hissy indicated that the yield of the second crop (397-490 burs) was ‘ota high asthe first crop, but was sil higher than the 175-225 buscre of ‘unstaked cucumber gown in the summer (Boudreaux, 1991), The second ‘crop was produced under eat stress, and the weather Conditions may have contributed tothe lowor ied. However, polyethylene lc, dipigation lines, stakes, sting, and cucumber skcieton from the first crop alteady in place can reduce the cost of staking the second crop. “The goal of these experiments Wasn0t economic evaluation. However, studies conducted by Russo et alin 1991 indicated that staking cucumber ‘am neease te net profit per acre by $710-799. If polyethylene mulch and {rip isigation installations ean be used in te production of more than one ezop eduction in cast ean be added tothe net prof ‘Summary and Conclusions A decade of research on staked cucumber production indicated that vertical taining of plans increased their yields and improved ther frit ‘quality. The increased yields were atzibuted to increased rut ct and ‘development to marketable size and rut rot rection, Inzow spacing between staked plants can be reduced to six inches to farther increase the Yields significantly. Results demonsrated that higher plant populations per nit area may need addtional amount of feticyw fda eave ais viel Supplemental drip isrigation proved to be a considerable factor in Increasing te yields of staked cucumber, even when rainfall reached 20 inches per growing season, Fertilization with N-P-K (13-13-13) a1 600-800 Ijaere was needed to produce significantly higher yields when evcumber was planed in less fertile soil. Less rates of ferlzer were needed when the soil was rich inthe thre cements. Foliar spray with seaweed extract Fomitied with N-P-K increased te yiels of staked cucumber in two out of tree years of investigation. Black or white polyethylene mulch significantly incrasedthe yields of staked cucumber over bare ground, Cucumber ean bedouble-cxopped with {omatoes to minimize the cot of staking cucumber without redMetion ia 16 premium yields. Another wayto reduce the expense to tran the plants up and produce reasonable yields wasto plant twosuccessivecropsof cucumber ‘on the same staking structure Literature Cited Boudreaux,1.E 1991, Commercial vegetable productionsecommendations. ‘Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service Pub, 2433, p. 220. Featonby-Smith, B.C, and JV. Staden. 1984, The effects of seaweed concentrate and ferlizet on growth and the endogenous cytokinin content of Phaseolus Vulgaris. S. Aft. J. Bot 3:375-979 Hanna, HLY.,A.. Adams andR J. Edling. 1989, Double

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