Carrots

Improving herbicide options in beets, carrots, and other root crops

Weed management in table beets has improved with the recent registration of Dual Magnum. Hairy nightshade control continues to be a challenge, however. Nortron (ethofumesate) herbicide is now labeled for use and will help with nightshade control, but there is very little experience in the PNW on the best use patterns for this herbicide. Another concern is carryover, particularly for fresh market producers that often plant another crop immediately after beets are harvested.

Vegetable Yields and Quality Affected by Traces of 2,4-D

Drift or volatilization of chlorophenoxy herbicides with resultant damage to non-target plants is an increasing problem in the Willamette Valley. The number of damage claims is increasing each year despite growing regulation and training of growers and applicators. The effects of lethal doses of the chlorophenoxy 2,4-D on broadleaf plants are well-known, but except for a few crops such as tomatoes and grapes, the effects of sublethal doses have not been well documented.

Soil Acidity an Important Factor in Vegetable Yields

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of several combinations of soil pH and nitrogen fertilizer rates on yield and mineral uptake of bush beans, carrots, and crisphead lettuce. Of particular concern are the nutrient elements potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, and copper, and heavy metals such as manganese which may be toxic to plants if present in sufficient quantity. Optimal soil pH levels are not well known for many vegetable crops and probably vary with soil type, cation exchange capacity, amount of organic matter etc.

Response of Small-Seeded Vegetables to Several Anticrustants

Poor stand establishment is often a limiting factor in vegetable production in the Willamette Valley. Carrots, onions, and lettuce, in particular, often fail to emerge because of soil crusting. Most small-seeded crops lack the vigor necessary to emerge when resisted by significant soil impedance. A high degree of impedance or crusting (also known as soil mechanical resistance) is caused by breakdown of soil particle aggregates. Several treatments exist which may reduce the breakdown of aggregates.

Effect of Soil pH and Nitrogen Fertilizers on Stand Establishment of Small-Seeded Vegetables

Vegetable yields are, within limits, proportional to the initial stand establishment of the crop, i.e. the percentage of seed which successfully germinates, emerges, and commences sunlight-dependent growth. Improvements in stands should increase yields, reduce thinning labor, and may reduce variability in produce size and maturity at harvest. The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effects of soil pH and type (neutral, basic, acid-forming) of N fertilizer on stand establishment of several small-seeded vegetables.

Soil Acidity an Important Factor in Production of Beans, Lettuce, Carrots

These experiments in 1979 were a continuation of a series begun in the 1977 growing season and repeated in 1978. Bush beans, lettuce, and carrots were again the crops used to determine the effects of soil pH and N fertility level on vegetable yield. In 1979, new plots were established with lime rates of 0, 2, 4, and 6 tons/acre. This produced a narrower range of pH (5.0 to 5.8) than was present in the 1977 and 1978 experiments (4.9 to 6.6).

Methods

Response of Vegetables to Cytex, a Cytokinin Preparation

The purpose of these experiments was to determine the effect of a commercial cytokinin preparation on yield and quality of several Willamette Valley horticultural crops. Atlantic and Pacific Research, Inc. manufactures a marine algae extract, containing 100 ppm kinetin, which has increased fruit and vegetable yields in several areas of the country and is registered for use on tomatoes. This product, Cytex, is stable and can be applied with standard spray equipment.

Methods

Effects of Soil Acidity and N Fertilizers on Vegetable Stands

Previous experiments at the North Willamette Station (1979, 1980) have established that stands of carrot, cauliflower, and lettuce on Willamette silt loam are inhibited at pH less than 5.8 compared to higher pH. In addition, broadcast applications of N fertilizers have reduced stands when compared with unfertilized soil. In the 1979 experiments, ammonium sulfate at 112 kg N/ha depressed stands by approximately 15% to 45%, depending on the crop; at 224 kg N/ha, ammonium sulfate depressed stands by 30% to 55%.