For every destructive insect invader, there seems to be an equally motivated buggy defender prepared to rise up and turn the tide in favor of a crop’s survival. One can’t help but wonder why commercial farmers fail to rely exclusively on this built-in system of checks and balances – but then, the obvious comes into focus. Oh right…it all boils down to time and money. Mother Nature tends to take her sweet time restoring the natural order to a crop ecosystem, however, in our fast-paced society where livelihoods are contingent upon absolute guarantees of Read the rest of this entry »
Posts Tagged Plant
Cotton Pests That Deserve The Royal Stink Eye!
The history of cotton is deeply embedded within the fabric of our global society – in fact, a diverse tapestry of cultural textures can be unraveled at every turn. The incredibly practical material has made its way from the caves of Mexico and the river valleys of Egypt and Pakistan to multiple Asian civilizations and even into the New World, leaving nary a region untouched. As an indispensible vegetable fiber-producing crop, it has become as ubiquitous to humanity’s survival as water and food. It has woven its way into practically every corner of our lives to such a degree that the Read the rest of this entry »
Organic Warfare — More On Organic Pest Control (Part 3)
Now that we’ve covered Cultural Measures, in our latest installment, we’ll be detailing the Mechanical War against pests, which is one of the oldest ideas when dealing with bugs — stepping on them, or letting machines step on them. Read the rest of this entry »
The Protected Cultivation of Fresh Beans
Up until recently, fresh beans were grown on the bottom of columns in greenhouses as intermediate products in order to utilize space. However, for the last few years, fresh bean cultivation has been accomplished via the monoculture method. Fresh beans are not selective in soil and can thrive in sandy, sandy loam and humus soil. Bean growing is more difficult in salty soils.
Speaking of salt, irrigation water should not be salty either. Beans grow well under 6.1 – 7.4 pH degrees and are sensitive to cold. The minimum temperature required for seed germination is 50 F while the optimum temperature required is 68 F – 77 F during their development period and 64 – 68F during their flowering period. The temperature of the soil should be 64 F.
Fresh beans are not selective during the duration of daylight exposure. In greenhouses, fresh beans are grown in warm seasons (particulary in spring) by shadowing them. In this way, the temperature in a greenhouse is reduced during hot weather. On the other hand, there is no need for shadowing during the autumn season.
Beans do not like excessive humidity
Beans do not like excessive humidity during their flowering period since this causes the failure of their seed set. However, they require 60 – 70% water in the soil they are planted in. Irrigation should be done accordingly. There should not be much air current or a high level of humidity/temperature.
There are two cropping periods to consider when fresh beans are grown in a greenhouse — the fall season and the spring season. Cropping is done in the middle of September during the autumn and in the middle of December during the springtime.
The greenhouse in which the fresh beans are grown must be solarized or disinfected with chemicals during the summer, just as it is typically done for the other greenhouse products.
In addition, the ventilation windows of the greenhouse should be covered with a material which will allow air to enter but discourage insects from passing through (particularly during the fall season in order to protect against viruses). After tilling the soil for plantation, masuras are must be prepared for the double-row method with spacings of 45x20x15 inches.
One hour before drilling, soil should be left under warm chemical water in order to protect against diseases and harmful factors. 1-2 swollen seeds must be placed into each planting hole and covered with soil. Soil should not be humid during this process. Watering should not be done until the seeds are germinated and the cotyledon and first set of real leaves come up. Otherwise, seed decaying occurs due to excess water.
What to do, When the seedlings have 2 to 3 leaves ?
When the seedlings have 2 to 3 leaves, hoeing should be done. Trellising structures should be created by lacing twines on each row. This process should be done expeditiously, otherwise the plants will not grow effectively. Fresh beans have an innate twining quality. Once a bean plant clings to a trellis, it twines around the trellis and grows upright. There is no need for twisting it or pruning. Water should be given in small portions until the first formation of beans. When the beans begin to grow, they will need more water and thus the amount of water will increased along with the interval time (which will be reduced).
Which chemicals need to use ?
In the production of greenhouse beans, a controlled amount of organic fertilizers must be added to the soil. Prior to greenhouse solarization, 4-5 tons of stall fertilizer should be applied per thousand square meters.
Upon the first real irrigation, irrigation as well as fertilization should be applied during the growing period.
In one growing period, a total of 8-12 kg nitrogen (N), 10-12 kg phosphorus (P2O5) and 12-15 kg potassium (K2O) should be applied in pure form.
In fresh beans, the potential for self fertilization is 99%. Before the plants flower, the male and female organs are mature enough for fertilization and once the fertilization process is accomplished, flowers develop. Dry and hot weather during the fertilization period have a negative impact on the fruit set. The fruit (which is a bean) becomes small, it curls up, and then it turns yellow and falls off.
In fresh bean growing, beans should be harvested when they are mature and green. The fruit is a bean and there are seeds between the two carpel leaves. Harvesting should not be done before the seeds are filled and before the beans are in their place. There are three typical bean shapes: flat with curled ends, an open C or S letter.
In the event of diseases or pests, chemical control should be taken in accordance with the Technical Guidelines of Agricultural Control.
The Protected Cultivation of Peppers
Peppers are an important vegetable in that they contain high calorie value, Vitamin C and plentiful mineral substances. Pepper cultivation covers a 15% area of total greenhouse vegetable cultivation. Protected pepper cultivation is generally done in a single crop during the spring seasons. As tomatoes suffer from a higher percentage of viruses during the fall season, spring is the preferred season to grow peppers. In greenhouses, registered varieties or varieties with production permits (as well as hybrid seeds) are used. The first requirement for success in pepper cultivation is to choose the variety most appropriate for the season and then set out to grow healthy and robust seedlings. Read the rest of this entry »
The Protected Cultivation of Squash
Squash cultivation is economical during fall, early spring and single-crop seasons. The appropriate drilling periods are September during the Fall season, the end of October, the beginning of November (in a single crop season) and the middle of December during the early spring season. Squash seedlings are grown in the same manner as that of cucumber seedlings. However, as there is a considerable risk of viruses during the fall season, seedlings need to be covered with a fine muslin or a mosquito net for protection against white flies.
Squash plants should be trellised using string in order to maximize space and pruning is not necessary. However, fruit flowers which are not inseminated on the plant and thus not able to grow should be picked up and discarded (as these are the most appropriate environments for the development of grey mould and white mould, which are serious diseases found in greenhouses). Additionally, squash does not like too much heat.
On the other hand, squash grows well in low temperatures but a light frost can cause plants to die, so they must be carefully watched. Male and female flowers, which are on the different parts of the squash plant, need to be pollinated via insects, therefore, unnecessary insecticides should be avoided.
In addition, in January and February during a single crop season (when the environment is not appropriate for insemination), it is possible to promote fruit sets by using 4 CPA hormone application with the dosage of 20 PPM to newly emerged female flowers. Squash should be harvested once every 3 three weeks (at the latest) during winters and once every two weeks during other seasons. Harvesting should be accomplished via a knife and fruit should not be harmed. In addition, during seasons with high temperatures, harvesting should be done early in the morning.
The Protected Cultivation of Eggplant
Eggplant varieties grown in greenhouses are expensive because they are generally hybrid eggplants. Therefore, healthy seedlings should be generated without harming the seeds. Drilling can be done either by scattering the seeds into boxes by hand (under appropriate temperatures) or by using the row planting system.
After drilling, the area must be covered with compost screened to 1/5 inch particles. Plants should be kept out of Read the rest of this entry »
Pruning Fruit Trees
Pruning is actually a cutting art form in which a tree is bestowed with a more desirable shape, but the positive side effects of careful trimming including hearty development and yield, an improvement in the quality of the plant and the restoration of parts that may be damaged for a number of reasons. The aim of pruning duing the plantation period or throughout the following years is to form a sound roof for the tree that will enable it to support fruit without breaking the plant. Among fruit species, some types grow in a scattered manner with horizontal branches, Read the rest of this entry »
The Preferred Characteristics Of Proper Fruit Seedlings
Today, we will explain the preferred characteristics of proper fruit seedlings (before hedging an orchard) and the ideal plantation times of seedlings. Read the rest of this entry »
Agricultural Biodiversity 