PCC Sep Oct 2019

Continued from Page 38
cultivar Rutgers was seeded on June
7th and transplanted on July 18th,
2017 using a mechanical transplanter.
Monoammonium phosphate (11-52-0)
was applied at 250 lb/ac as a side-dress
on August 7th as a standard for all
treatments. Since planting was done
later in the season, crop duration and
harvesting period were delayed due
to the onset of fall weather. Plots were
sprinkler irrigated daily or every other
day for three to four hours for about
two weeks after transplanting. Drip
irrigation was initiated from the beginning
of August for 12-14 hours each
week and for a shorter period from
mid October onwards.
There were five treatments in the study
including the standard. Each treatment
had a 38 inch wide and 300 foot long
bed with a single row of tomato plants.
Treatments were replicated four times
and arranged in a randomized complete
block design. Different materials
were applied through drip using a
Dosatron injector system, sprayed at
the base of the plants with a handheld
sprayer, or as a foliar spray using a
tractor-mounted sprayer based on the
following regimens.
A 50 foot long area was marked in the
center of each plot for observations.
Plant health was monitored on August
1st, 8th, and 22nd by examining each
plant and rating them on a scale of 5
where 0 represented a dead plant and 5
represented a very healthy plant. Yield
data were collected from October 11th
to December 5th on eight harvest
dates by harvesting red tomatoes from
each plot. On the last harvest date, mature
green tomatoes were also harvested
and included in the yield evaluation.
Data were analyzed using analysis of
variance and Tukey's HSD test was
used for means separation.
Results and Discussion
There was no statistically significant
difference (P > 0.05) in the health of
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40 Progressive Crop Consultant September /October 2019
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Standard
AgSil® 21 at 8.75 fl oz/ac in 100 gal of water through drip (for 30
minutes) every three weeks from July 31st to November 13th (6 times).
AgSil 21 contains potassium (12.7 percent K2O) and silicon (26.5
percent SiO2) and is expected to help plants with mineral and climate
stress, improve strength, and increase growth and yields.
Yeti BloomTM at 1 ml/gallon of water. Applied to the roots of the
transplants one day before transplanting followed by weekly field
application through the drip system from August 7th to November 13th
(15 times). Yeti is marketed as a biostimulant and has a consortium of
beneficial bacteria—Pseudomonas putida, Comamonas testosterone,
Citrobacter freundii, and Enterobacter cloacae. Yeti Bloom is
expected to enhance the soil microbial activity and helps with
improved nutrient absorption.
Tech-Flo®/Tech-Spray® program contained five products that
supplied a variety of macro and micro nutrients. Products were applied
through drip (for 30 min) at the following rates and frequencies in
300gal of water.
1. Tech-Flo All Season Blend #1 1 qrt/ac in transplant water and again
at first bloom on August 28th.
2. Tech-Flo Cal-Bor+Moly at 2 qrt/ac at first bloom on August 28th.
3. Tech-Flo Omega at 2 qrt/ac in transplant water and again on
September 11th (two weeks after the first bloom).
4. Tech-Flo Sigma at 2 qrt/ac on September 11th (two weeks after the
first bloom).
5. Tech-Spray Hi-K at 2 qrt starting at early color break on September
25th with three follow up applications every two weeks.
Innovak Global program contained four products.
1. ATP Transfer UP at 2 ml/liter of water sprayed over the transplants to
the point of runoff just before transplanting. Three more applications were
made through drip (for 30 min) on August 7th and 21st and September
4th. This product contains ECCA Carboxy® acids that promote plant
metabolism and expected to impart resistance to stress factors.
2. Nutrisorb-L at 40 fl oz/ac applied through drip (for 30 min) on 31
July, 14 August (vegetative growth stage), 4 and 18 September, and 2
October (bloom through fruiting). Nutrisorb-L contains poly hydroxyl
carboxylic acids, which are expected to promote root growth and improve
nutrient and water absorption.
3. Biofit®N at 2 lb/ac through drip (for 30 min) on July 31st, August 21st
(three weeks after the first), and September 4th (at first bloom). Biofit
contains a blend of beneficial microbes—Azotobacter chroococcum,
Bacillus subtilis, B. megaterium, B. mycoides, and Trichoderma
harzianum. This product is expected to improve the beneficial microbial
activity in the soil and thus contribute to improved soil structure, root
development, plant health, and ability to withstand stress factors.
4. Packhard at 50 fl oz/ac in 50 gal of water as a foliar spray twice
during early fruit development (on September 11th and 18th) and every
two weeks during the harvest period (four times from October 2nd to
November13th). Contains calcium and boron that improve fruit quality
and reduce postharvest issues.