One Step Towards Organic Seed Pumpkin Production in Québec: Evaluation of Three Varieties: ‘Kakai’, ‘Snackjack’ and ‘Styriaca’.
J. Boisclair1*, E. Lefrançois1, B. Estevez2, M. Leblanc1, G. Richard1, M. Lefebvre1 and M. Grenier1
1. Platform for Innovation in Organic Agriculture, Research and Development Institute for the Agri- Environment (IRDA), Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, QC.
2. Agronomist, M.Sc. consultant.
*
Background:
Seed pumpkin has been cultivated for many generations in Eastern Europe. Hulless pumpkin seeds offer an additional interest as they are easier to process and make oil extraction simpler. While consumers are concerned about food quality and nutritional value, the production of this type of pumpkin for snack and processing markets offers an interesting avenue for crop diversification on organic field crop farms and for additional revenue on small organic community supported farms (CSA).
Project Overview:
To evaluate the potential in Quebec of growing pumpkin varieties developed for seed production, a research project was implemented at the Platform for Innovation in Organic Agriculture. The main objectives of this study were to identify the best performing varieties of pumpkin for hulless seed production as well as the most appropriate and economical agricultural practices for organic growers. To reach these objectives, three varieties of pumpkin (‘Kakai’, ‘Snackjack’ and ‘Styriaca’) were grown under different practices: From seeds and from transplants, with and without insect netting against the striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum, SCB), the main insect pest of pumpkin. Seed yield and tolerance to SCB and to bacterial wilt (Erwinia tracheiphila, BW), a disease transmitted by SCB, were evaluated.
Our study showed that seeding these types of pumpkins gives very poor results. The use of insect netting allowed a good SCB control until flowering which is when the young plants are the most vulnerable to SCB attack. It also resulted in fruit and seed yield increase especially for ‘Kakai’ and ‘Styriaca’. ‘Styriaca’ is the variety with the highest seed yield (2009: 802.3kg/ha, 2010: 912 kg/ha). However, this variety requires more days to maturity (135 days). This is an important feature to consider under our climatic conditions. ‘Snackjack’ produces the smallest fruit (ø: 10 to 13.5 cm; ≤1 kg). This variety could be interesting to add to the baskets of CSA farms. This variety gave the following seed yield per hectare: 2009: 713.5 kg/ha, 2010: 585 kg/ha. ‘Snackjack’ has the advantage to require only 90 days to maturity. Also, this variety did not show to be attractive to SCB and had a very low mortality rate due to BW. ‘Snackjack’ was also the variety which performed the best at seeding very likely due to the presence of a very fine seedcoat. ‘Kakai’ was the variety the most affected by BW with mortality rate reaching up to 45% in 2009 and 2010. This resulted in seed yield losses which reached up to 500 kg/ha. Conclusions:
Until practices to protect the hulless seeds from soil pathogens and insects are available, the use of transplants should be favoured to ensure a vigorous stand. Most of yields observed in our study were comparable to the ones reported from Eastern Europe which are between 500 and 800 kg per hectare (Bavec et al. 2007).
Acknowledgments: Thank you to the Conseil du développement en agriculture du Québec (CDAQ) (Défi-Solution program) and to the ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec (INNOVBIO program) for the funding of this project.
Winnipeg, Manitoba February 21-23, 2012
Canadian Organic Science Conference and Science Cluster Strategic Meetings
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Orchard Floor Management Affecting the Performance of Young Organic ‘Honeycrisp’ Apple Trees.
J. Reekie*, E. Specht, G. Braun, and E. Bevis
Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, 32 Main Street, Kentville, NS B4N 1J5.
*
Background:
In an establishing apple orchard, weeds can out-compete young trees for space, nutrients and moisture leading to a cumulative decrease in tree vigour and poor productivity. Herbicides are often used to control weeds but orchard floor management has the potential to successfully replace agrichemicals in weed control. Research on long term, non-chemical and sustainable solutions are needed.
Project Overview:
Six orchard floor management systems (OMSs) were installed in an establishing ‘Honeycrisp’ apple orchard aiming to suppress weed growth. Bare ground used as control, reflective mulch, reflective mulch placed over composted manure, composted manure, green manure and bent grass as companion plant cover were set up as replicated, randomized plots. The effect of these OMS on weed abundance, tree growth and leaf photosynthesis was assessed in 2011.
Weeds in each plot were identified and their percentage coverage was quantified. Compost plots had abundant weeds with 61 % and 87 % coverage respectively in June and July. Green manure plots had progressively more weeds as the season progressed, reaching 74% weed coverage in July. Bent grass and reflective mulch were most effective in weed suppression. Weed composition differed in the OSMs; chickweed was predominantly found in the compost plots whereas sheep sorrel was abundant in green manure plots.
By the end of the growing season, trunk diameter was measured in each treatment tree and the cross-sectional area (TCA) 30 cm above the scion-rootstock union was calculated. TCA was highest in trees treated with compost, followed by trees growing in the reflective mulch and bare ground plots; trees in the bent grass and green manure plots had the slowest growing trees. Leaf photosynthetic rate was highest in trees treated with compost.
This is the first cropping season for this 3-year old orchard. Although trees have not yet reached their full cropping potentials, those in compost plots and reflective mulch plots yielded on average 31 and 12 fruits respectively. Placing reflective mulch over compost had enhanced fruit yield with an average of 45 fruits produced per tree. Trees in bare ground, bent grass and green manure plots produced few fruits (0 – 4).
Conclusion:
Reflective mulch in combination with compost as an OMS is effective in weed control and promotes tree growth and fruit production. Research is ongoing to provide all apple growers with access to new management techniques and information for organic tree fruit production.
Acknowledgments: Research funds received from the Organic Science Cluster and the Technology Development 2000 Program are gratefully acknowledged.