1	This is an excerpted version of a talk presented at the East Texas Fruit and Vegetable Conference, Tyler, TX, January 2004
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3	More crops: Pepper (fresh and processed) – very promising Pumpkin – jury still out Radicchio – works but a niche market Sweet corn – promising Sweet potato – can be grown but needs special post-harvest care Tomato – depends on type and planting date
4	For the most part the land was taken out of grass for vegetable production It was determined that it would take about 3 years before vegetable yields would be adequate for commercial production This may be due to residues left in the soil from grass and/or the necessity to increase soil pH
5	Production systems have been developed primarily for peppers, sweet corn, beans and cucumber
6	So what is a production system? A series of steps that are taken to attempt to assure that there is a reasonable chance that products of the activities will yield benefits
7	Input Converted to Profit $ $ The aim is to make the profit $ larger than the input $
8	How is that goal achieved? Every bit of information considered produces questions to be answered
9	What are the components of a production system?
10	It all starts with the soil Well not necessarily Consideration should be given to how transplants are produced
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12	Now consider the soil Always have a correctly collected soil test and understand the results
13	Soil type The degree of sand, loam and clay determines the soil type The degree of sand in the soil determines the ability to percolate water The greater the percolation the better the chance of nutrients being leached from the root zone
14	The soil type at Lane is a Bernow fine-loamy, silliceous, thermic Glossic Paleudalf
15	Typical soil results in the spring at Lane
16	How do I respond pH – Add a ton/acre of lime, monitor and likely add more next year N – For most crops add 50 to 100 lbs/acre all preplant P – For most crops add 25 to 75 lbs/acre all preplant K – For most crops add 100 to 125 lbs/acre all preplant
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18	How do I respond Plowing and/or disking – Either or both Pre-plant pesticide application – This is when we generally apply materials Bedding – With few exceptions vegetables should be planted on beds Mulching – Generally not
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20	Why not plastic mulch? Soils warm quickly – not needed Weeds can be controlled with pesticides Limits irrigation options Difficult to use with seeded crops Has to be disposed at some point
21	Why an organic mulch? Retains soil moisture May warm soil Retards weed development
22	Why not an organic mulch? Cost of material and equipment to apply Might be hard to plant through If drip irrigation is used it will have to be put down first and retrieved through the mulch If overhead irrigation is used it will likely take more to penetrate the organic mulch
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24	Factors affecting crop establishment Soil temperature Soil moisture Planting window for flower and fruit formation, and maturation of harvested portions
25	"The cultivars used should be..." The cultivars used should be based on market demands, consumers tastes, a readiness to exploit new opportunities, the condition of the produce at harvest
26	Physical factors of establishment and maintenance
27	Plant density Bell pepper, tomato, eggplant – 18” in-row with rows on 3 ft centers Sweet corn – 9” to 12” in-row with rows on 3 ft centers Dry bean – 2” in-row with rows on 30” or 36” centers
28	Crop maintenance Irrigation – for most vegetables apply 2” of water per week Pesticide application – scouting and knowledge of threshold levels Determine when, and how often, to harvest
29	Weeds Control of weeds is probably the most time consuming activity during production Weed control – more necessary in the early to middle portion of the growing season when plants are developing and fruit are being set
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31	Comparison of irrigation types Drip Does not need metal header pipe Might require a filtration system Might require pressure reduction Allows for control of flow to individual lines Places the water where needed Must be picked up and generally used once and discarded
32	Sprinkler Requires metal header and sub-main pipes Does not need filtration Delivers water to whole area Requires either sufficient amounts of pipes and sprinkler heads or movement through the season Individually cheaper than gun but more needed
33	Gun Requires metal header and sub-main pipes Does not need filtration Delivers water to whole area Requires either sufficient amounts of pipes and guns or movement through the season Individually more expensive than sprinkler but fewer needed
34	Other types of irrigation Center pivot – High initial expense, generally used on unbedded soil, and areas outside of circle receive less water Wheel row – Requires sufficient equipment to cover area or the necessity to move the wheels, probably works better on unbedded soil
35	A sample conventional production system: Peppers
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37	"Late February – plant seed..." Late February – plant seed in trays in greenhouse, water daily, at two-weeks after emergence thin to one plant per cell, begin fertilization with a half-strength soluble fertilizer, fertilize weekly One week before transplanting move seedlings outside to acclimate, be prepared to move back in if a frost is possible Prepare field in early April – mow and turn under cover, final disking, apply fertilizer and herbicide, shape and form beds
38	"mid-April – on the day..." mid-April – on the day before transplanting apply a starter fertilizer to plants, establish plants in field with transplanter, row spacing 36”, in-row spacing 18”, either water on same day plants are established using the tank on the tractor, or within 24 hrs of establishment from irrigation equipment set out after trans-planting (apply 2” of water) Maintain plants by applying water through to harvest and cultivating to reduce weeds during the formation of flowers and fruit
39	"Harvest – for bell pepper..." Harvest – for bell pepper this will occur three times over 14 days beginning in late June to early July. Fruit produced after the third flush tend to be smaller and are probably not worth the labor Be aware of the market needs in terms of size and color of fruit Disk under residue, let sit about six weeks, plant with winter cover
40	Variation on the theme Peppers will set fruit as long as night temperatures are not too hot This means that seedlings can be transplanted in late summer and a yield can be expected before a killing frost occurs
41	Another variation: Organics Why and how do organics fit in vegetable production?
42	Why organics? The perception of an organic producer has changed over the last several years The use of organics has entered the national conscious
43	Some components of organic production Organics eliminate synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and substitute other materials Organics is more labor intensive, more hands, more passes through the field There are more materials available that can be applied using conventional methods
44	Uniform definitions for components and practices have been developed on the federal level
45	How has this impacted activities of the USDA and how I conduct research? Within the agency there is an organics production working group which is not limited to vegetable production A portion of my research activities is aimed at vegetable production using organic principles
46	In 2002 a long-term experiment was initiated at Lane to compare organic and conventional vegetable production
47	Preparation of the field for organic production For at least three years the land had not received synthetic materials The land had been in a grass cover The land was plowed and disked in late summer of 2001 and a winter grass cover established The cover was turned under and the field prepared for a 15 April 2002 planting
48	Crops being tested Bell pepper established as transplants Cucumber established from seed Sweet corn established from seed
49	Components of the systems Organic A pelletized organic fertilizer is being used Combinations of three levels of corn gluten meal and humates are being tested Conventional Standard pelletized fertilizer is being used Synthetic pesticides are being used
50	"Humates are used to add..." Humates are used to add carbon to the soil The material is a powder Corn gluten meal is described as a herbicide and also a fertilizer The material is coarsely ground
51	Comparison of results (T/acre)
52	There is no “right” production system Production systems are dependent on local conditions They are also dependent on what makes the producer comfortable Production systems are open to adjustment as new technologies and materials become available