On-going Berry-crop Production Research

Includes: Cultivar Evaluation of Three New Primocane-fruiting Blackberry Selections in Iowa Cultivar Evaluation of Six New Junebearing Strawberry Selections in Iow

Effect of Removal of Runners and Flowers from Day-neutral Strawberries on Time of Harvest and Total Yields

Day-neutral strawberries can produce fruit during the summer and fall when regular strawberry production has ceased, thereby diversifying fruit production. In Iowa and the Midwest, cultural practices suggest the removal of flowers and runners until early July, but little information is known about cultural practices to shift production to cooler times of the summer and fall. Removing flowers and runners requires additional labor throughout the season. This study compares the production practices of removing flowers and runners and how those practices affect total fruit production, average berry size, and plant biomass

How Pretreatment Cover Crop and Conventional Management Practices Affect Strawberry Plant Growth and Yield, Pest Populations, and Soil Characteristics

The benefits of rotating cover crops within a cropping system include improved soil quality and suppression of pests,such as weeds and nematodes. Few studies compare native plants as rotation cover crops in cropping systems to more conventional cover crops. The use of cover crops in rotation with strawberry may provide an alternative to chemical pesticides, reduce the degradation of soil structure, and provide a potential cash crop of seeds and biomass. The objective of this study was to investigate how different cover crops affect pest populations and soil properties when used in rotation with strawberry compared with conventional tillage

The Effect of Monoculture Cover Crops, Continuous Strawberry, or Continuous Cultivation on Plant Density and Yield of Strawberry, Pest Populations, and Soil Characteristics

Rotating with cover crops in strawberry production may alleviate pests in soil,such as weeds and nematodes. Cover crops also improve the soil health by the addition of organic matter compared with conventional tillage systems. The objective of this study was to compare strawberry plant density, yield of strawberry, weed and nematode abundance, and soil characteristics after the rotation with seven monocultures of cover crops, continuous strawberry production, or conventional tillage

Influence of Cover Crop Rotation and Conventional Practices on Grapevine Plant Growth and Weed Growth

Cover crops are used in rotation with cropping systems to improve soil quality and to suppress pests. Use of cover crops prior to replanting on sites with grape may provide a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides and may maintain or improve soil quality. The objectives of this study were to investigate how cover crops affect weed and nematode populations and soil physical and chemical properties when used on replant sites with Vitis spp. (grape)

Influence of Cover Crop Rotation and Conventional Management Practices on Strawberry Plant Growth and Weed Growth

The traditional cover crops, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and sorghum sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench), are used in rotation with strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) in the Midwest to improve soil quality and suppress pests. Use of cover crops in rotation with strawberry may provide an alternative to chemical pesticides and may maintain or improve soil quality. The objective of this study was to investigate how cover crops affect weed and nematode populations as well as the physical and chemical properties of soil when used in rotation with strawberry

Soil Pretreatment Management Practices Effects on Grapevine Plant Growth, Pest Populations, and Soil Characteristics

Rotations of cover crops with cropping systems have been found to improve soil quality, reduce erosion, and suppress pests such as nematodes and weeds. Cover crops can provide a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides by reducing pest accumulation, while preventing the degradation of soil structure. The objective of this study was to investigate how different cover crops affect weed and nematode populations and soil physical, chemical and biological properties when used in replant sites with Vitis spp. (grape) compared with conventional tillage or herbicide treatment

Evaluation of Day-neutral Strawberry Plant Spacing to Maximize Production Potential

Day-neutral strawberries are a high-value fruit crop that have potential for commercial production in Iowa in both field and tunnel systems. Field production typically includes polyethylene soil mulches and trickle irrigation inputs, and maximizing productivity per unit area conserves resources. Tunnel production potentially hastens the growing season and promotes greater yield and increased berry quality, but square footage in a tunnel is limited. Standard planting spacing is 12 in. × 12 in. in both field and tunnel production. The impact of increasing the plant density of day-neutral strawberry has not been evaluated under Iowa’s growing conditions. The primary goal of this project was to evaluate differences in yield and growth of day-neutral strawberries grown at differing spaces that increase plant density in outside plots

Cultivar Evaluation of Three Primocane-Fruiting Blackberry Selections from Arkansas and Grown in Iowa

Blackberries are a common seasonal fruit in southern Midwestern states and have potential in the Iowa markets as a berry crop. However, most floricane-fruiting blackberry cultivars do not possess sufficient winter hardiness for Iowa climatic conditions and growers may loose the fruit crop when cold temperatures damage floricanes. The introduction of primocane-fruiting blackberries helps to alleviate the risk of low temperature injury to the floricanes and extends the blackberry fruiting season into the fall. However, the fruits of primocane-fruiting cultivars need to mature before fall frosts occur. The objective of this study was to evaluate the fruiting potential of three primocane-fruiting blackberry selections that were bred at the University of Arkansas by Dr. John Clark and were grown outdoors in Iowa

Practices to Extend the Availability of Fresh Iowa-grown Raspberries and Blackberries

Raspberries and blackberries (brambles) are high-value fruit crops for commercial growers in Iowa. High tunnel production hastens the growing season, promoting greater yield and increased berry quality by protecting fruit from wind and rain. Similar to high tunnels, use of row covers has shown hastened production, but row covers are removed later in the year eliminating protection from weather. The primary goal of this project was to evaluate differences in total yield of primocane-fruiting brambles grown inside a high tunnel, under row covers, and with no cover. A secondary goal was to evaluate fresh and postharvest berry quality of primocane-fruiting brambles grown inside a tunnel structure, under row covers, and with no cover