Growing muskmelon in a more sustainable way involves multiple management practices. Cover crops often are incorporated into the soil before planting the cash crop. However, they also can be “rolled” and used as a ground cover throughout the growing season. The cash crop is planted in small, tilled strips within the residue. This “strip-tillage” technique provides a weed-controlling, moisture-retaining mat that does not need to be removed at the season’s end, as plastic mulch does. The reduction in tillage can improve soil structure and health

Batzer, Jean C.

Gleason, Mark L.

Nair, Ajay

Tillman, Jennifer L.

English

Growing muskmelon in a more sustainable way involves multiple management practices. “Rolling” cover crops after they mature, and then tilling strips into which the crops are planted, can help manage weeds and moisture while improving soil health. This “strip-tillage” technique provides a biodegradable mat that does not need to be removed at the season’s end, as plastic mulch does. Row covers are placed over newly planted seedlings to provide a better microclimate and a physical barrier to pests. Extending the time of row cover removal by 10 days after the onset of female flowers has been shown to provide season-long prevention of bacterial wilt, which is spread by cucumber beetles. This may reduce the need for chemical sprays.</p

Tillman, Jennifer

Batzer, Jean

Gleason, Mark

Digital Repository @ Iowa State University (ISU)

Iowa State University, Muscatine Island Research and Demonstration Farm ISRF14-20  4 Strip-tillage and Row Cover Use in Organically and Conventionally Grown Muskmelon  RFR-A1412  Jennifer Tillman, graduate student Ajay Nair, assistant professor Department of Horticulture Jean Batzer, assistant scientist Mark Gleason, professor/extension Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology  Introduction Growing muskmelon in a more sustainable way involves multiple management practices. “Rolling” cover crops after they mature, and then tilling strips into which the crops are planted, can help manage weeds and moisture while improving soil health. This “strip-tillage” technique provides a biodegradable mat that does not need to be removed at the season’s end, as plastic mulch does. Row covers are placed over newly planted seedlings to provide a better microclimate and a physical barrier to pests. Extending the time of row cover removal by 10 days after the onset of female flowers has been shown to provide season-long prevention of bacterial wilt, which is spread by cucumber beetles. This may reduce the need for chemical sprays.  This report focuses on the second-year results of a two-year, multi-state effort to determine the effects of strip-tillage and row covers on muskmelon production.  Materials and Methods A split-plot, randomized complete block experimental design was used in both an organically and conventionally managed system. In each of those systems, main plots comprised of tillage (strip-tillage or conventional tillage with black plastic mulch) and subplots were row covers (row cover or no-row cover). Treatments were replicated four times for a total of 16 subplots in each of the management systems (2 tillage methods × 2 row cover treatments × 4 replications = 16 subplots).  Fields were planted with 110 lb/acre of cereal rye in October 2013. Strip-till plots were established by using a Hiniker strip-tiller in April 2014, rolling the mature rye with an I&J roller-crimper in May, then strip-tilling once more. Conventional till plots were established by incorporating the rye in May, then using a plastic layer to form raised beds and lay black plastic mulch. On June 10, 29-day-old Athena muskmelon plants were transplanted into 30-ft rows, Spunbond polypropylene row covers (Agribon-30) were applied to row cover treatments, and treatments without row covers received a 50 ml drench of Admire (imidacloprid) insecticide for conventionally managed plots or a band of Entrust SC (spinosad) combined with CidetrackD (a cucumber beetle feeding stimulant) for organically managed plots. The ends of row covers were opened when 50 percent of plants had female flowers, and were left open for 10 days before being removed on July 17.  Organic plots were managed using organic fertilizer and sprays, conventional plots were managed with conventional fertilizer and sprays. All plots were scouted weekly for pests and disease. Insecticides for conventionally managed plots included imidacloprid and permethrin. For organic plots, a residue of Surround (kaolin clay) was maintained on the leaves as a deterrent for cucumber beetles; however, a mixture of Pyganic and Trilogy was applied when cucumber beetle thresholds were exceeded.  Threshold numbers for cucumber beetles Iowa State University, Muscatine Island Research and Demonstration Farm ISRF14-20  5 varied according to melon plant size: pre-flowering = 0.5/plant, during fruit pollination = 1.0/plant, at vine touch = 3.0/plant.  Melons were harvested two times per week from August 14 to August 29, 2014, then assessed for marketability.  Results and Discussion Plant Biomass. Plant biomass was higher in conventionally tilled plots with black plastic mulch than in strip-till plots in conventional  (P < 0.001) and organic (P < 0.0001) treatments (Table 1). Row covers did not have an effect on plant biomass. Black plastic and thorough tillage increased soil temperature, which enhances plant growth.  Yield. Conventionally tilled plots with black plastic mulch produced significantly (P ≤ 0.0001) more melons by weight than strip-tillage treatments in conventional and organic plots (Table 1). Row covers increased (P < 0.05) marketable melons in organic plots but had no effect (P = 0.68) in conventional plots.  Bacterial wilt in conventionally and organically managed plots differed between row cover treatments (P = 0.012 and P = 0.0004, respectively). Bacterial wilt was not affected by tillage methods (P = 0.40 and P = 0.64, respectively) and there was no interaction of row cover and tillage (P = 0.70 and P = 0.25) (Table 1).  Percentage insect culls in conventionally managed plots was higher (P < 0.01) in strip tillage treatments than plastic mulch, but row cover treatment did not influence (P = 0.16) late season fruit feeding. However, in organically managed treatments, neither tillage nor row cover treatments affected percentage insect culls (P = 0.18 and 0.15, respectively). The sudden increase in beetle feeding in late season is difficult to detect with weekly field scouting. Daily scouting may be necessary to manage this problem.  Row covers reduced the number of insecticide applications compared with plots without row covers from six to three for organically managed plots, and from five to four in conventionally managed plots. Organically and conventionally managed plots received two fungicide sprays for control of anthracnose (Champ WP and Bravo, respectively).  Acknowledgements This research was funded through a grant from the USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative. The authors would like to thank Syngenta for seed donations and Vince Lawson, Justin Rinas, Brock Hills, and many Iowa State students for assistance at the field site.  1Organic and conventional plots were analyzed separately. Differing letters in each column significantly (P < 0.05) differ based on protected least significant difference critical values. 2NRC = no row cover; RC = row cover. Table 1. Marketable and total yield (weight of melons per plant (lb)) and plant biomass (lb).1 Management Tillage Row cover Plant biomass Marketable yield Total yield Insect cull (%) Bacterial wilt (%) Organic Plastic NRC 0.18 a 2.5 a 5.1 b 32.8 ab 20.0 a   RC 0.21 a 2.8 a 7.3 a 50.7 a 1.7 b  Strip NRC 0.07 b 0.4 c 1.2 d 27.1 b 26.7 a   RC 0.09 b 1.5 b 3.1 c 33.9 ab 0.0 b         Conventional Plastic NRC 0.14 AB 3.2 A 6.1 B 33.7 A 15.0 A   RC 0.17 A 3.1 A 7.5 A 45.5 AB 3.3 AB  Strip NRC 0.10 BC 0.9 B 3.9 C 67.5 BC 10.0 AB   RC 0.09 C 0.7 B 4.6 C 85.9 C 1.7 B 

Strip-tillage and Row Cover Use in Organically and Conventionally Grown Muskmelon

Growing muskmelon in a more sustainable way involves multiple management practices. Cover crops often are incorporated into the soil before planting the cash crop. However, they also can be “rolled” and used as a ground cover throughout the growing season. The cash crop is planted in small, tilled strips within the residue. This “strip-tillage” technique provides a weed-controlling, moisture-retaining mat that does not need to be removed at the season’s end, as plastic mulch does. The reduction in tillage can improve soil structure and health.</p

Iowa State University, Muscatine Island Research and Demonstration Farm ISRF13-20  6 Strip-tillage and Row Cover Use in Organically and Conventionally Grown Muskmelon  RFR-A1329  Jennifer Tillman, graduate student Ajay Nair, assistant professor Department of Horticulture Jean Batzer, assistant scientist Mark Gleason, professor/extension Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology  Introduction Growing muskmelon in a more sustainable way involves multiple management practices.  Cover crops often are incorporated into the soil before planting the cash crop. However, they also can be “rolled” and used as a ground cover throughout the growing season. The cash crop is planted in small, tilled strips within the residue. This “strip-tillage” technique provides a weed-controlling, moisture-retaining mat that does not need to be removed at the season’s end, as plastic mulch does. The reduction in tillage can improve soil structure and health.  Row covers are placed over newly planted seedlings to provide a better microclimate and a physical barrier to pests. Extending the time of row cover removal by 10 days after the onset of female flowers has been shown to provide season-long prevention of bacterial wilt, which is spread by cucumber beetles. This may reduce the need for chemical sprays.  This report focuses on the first-year results of a two-year, multi-state effort with University of Kentucky, Pennsylvania State University, and Ohio State University. The goal was to determine the effects of strip-tillage and row covers on muskmelon production in terms of plant biomass, yield, weed pressure, and pest management.  Materials and Methods A double split-plot, randomized block experimental design was used. Main plots of management method (organic vs. conventional) and tillage (strip-tillage in rolled rye vs. conventional till with plastic mulch) were replicated once each and row cover treatment (row cover vs. no row cover) was replicated four times within each of these variables for a total of 32 subplots  (2 management methods × 2 tillage methods  × 2 row cover treatments × 4 replications).  Fields were planted with 50 lb/acre of cereal rye in October 2012. In May 2013 (at rye anthesis), the rye in the conventional till with black plastic plots was mowed with a rotary mower and incorporated into the soil. In the strip-tillage plots, the rye was rolled using an  I & J chevron-patterned back-mounted roller crimper. On June 3, 2013, a Hiniker strip-tiller was used to establish strips in the strip-tillage plots. A plastic mulch layer established raised beds and laid black plastic in the conventional till plots. The wet spring prevented earlier access into the field. On June 4, 26-day-old Athena muskmelon plants were transplanted. Conventional and organic no row cover treatments received imidichloprid drenches or sprays with Entrust and Cidetrack-D, respectively. Spunbond polypropylene row covers (Agribon-30) were applied to the row cover treatments within 24 hours of transplant. The ends of row covers over the muskmelons were opened when melons reached anthesis and left open for 10 days before being removed on July 21.  Iowa State University, Muscatine Island Research and Demonstration Farm ISRF13-20  7 Organic plots were managed using organic fertilizer and sprays, and conventional plots were managed with conventional fertilizer and sprays. All plots were scouted weekly for pests and disease. Since the one cucumber beetle per plant threshold was not reached, plots were not sprayed with insecticides after row cover removal. Labeled pesticides were applied with backpack sprayers.  Melons were harvested from August 1 to August 31, 2013, three times per week, then assessed for marketability.  Results and Discussion Plant biomass. Plant biomass was greater (P<0.0001) from black plastic conventionally tilled plots than in strip-tillage plots, and greater (P<0.0001) from row cover treatments than no row cover treatments (Figure 1). Black plastic and tillage increase soil temperature and row covers can increase air temperature, which enhances plant growth.  Weed biomass. Weed biomass tended to be greater in black plastic conventionally tilled treatments than in strip-tillage treatments (Figure 2). This reflects weed growth in pathways between the plastic strips and the weed-suppressive nature of rolled rye.  Marketable yield. After accounting for management, black plastic conventionally tilled plots produced significantly more melons by weight than strip-tillage treatments (P=0.002) (Figures 3, 4). Row cover usage did not affect melon yield weight per plot (P=0.55).  Pest management. Although row covers enhanced biomass (Figure 1) and total fruit yield, marketable yield did not increase (Figures 3, 4). Row covers reduced (P<0.0001) bacterial wilt by about 50 percent compared with no row cover treatments (Figure 5). However, a higher (P<0.0001) percentage of melons were culled as a result of insect damage in plots with row covers, 21 percent, as opposed to 3 percent culled in no row cover plots (Figure 6). An interaction of row cover treatment and management method suggests that plots with conventional management practices were subject to higher pest pressures than plots with organic practices.  Conclusions The black plastic no row cover treatments performed the best. Soil health, an expected benefit of strip-tillage, has not yet been assessed. The transplant delay required for strip-tillage plots negated the benefits of the row covers to protect plants from early inclement weather. Also, the overwintering cucumber beetles emerged before planting, so row covers were not needed to protect plants from early season bacterial wilt. The delayed removal of row covers resulted in late-season harvest that coincided with high beetle pressure. More aggressive insect control was needed late season.  Iowa State University, Muscatine Island Research and Demonstration Farm ISRF13-20  8       Iowa State University, Muscatine Island Research and Demonstration Farm ISRF13-20  9      010203040Black+Plastic Strip+Till Black+Plastic Strip+TillConventional Conventional Organic OrganicNo+RowcoverRow+CoverFigure+5.+Percentage+of+bacterial+wilt+with+and+without+row+covers+at+first+harvest.+Differing+letters++show+significant+differences+(P<0.05)+within+each+set+of+tillage+and+management+practices.010203040Black+Plastic Strip+Till Black+Plastic Strip+TillConventional Conventional Organic OrganicNo+Row+CoverRow+CoverFigure+6.+ Insect++culls+as+percentage+of+total+fruit+weight++from+plots+with+and+without+row+covers .++Differing+ letters++show+significant+differences+(P<0.05)+within+each+set+of+tillage+and+management+practices.bbbba a aa

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Strip-tillage and Row Cover Use in Organically and Conventionally Grown Muskmelon

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