Marion, Kentucky
July 22, 2009
Research shows that growing
vegetables on plastic mulch with drip irrigation offers many
benefits including increased soil temperature, cleaner products,
reduced water problems and maximized fertilizer use. Using
onions, a Crittenden County commercial vegetable producer and a
University of Kentucky
Cooperative Extension associate demonstrated this growing
technique to other area producers.
The project, funded through a Kentucky Horticulture Council
Grant from the Agricultural Development Board, was on display
during the recent Vegetable Field Day.
“This project helps producers who have never grown on plastic
before to learn about and start growing on plastic,” said Vaden
Fenton, UK extension associate. “They get a feel for growing on
plastic, and the community members can see and maybe become
interested in growing on plastic themselves.”
In addition to the project, Fenton and the producer are
comparing and contrasting growing conditions, vegetable quality
and yield from two different plastics: white over black and
solely black. The comparison will go through harvest.
“At the end of the harvest, we will have a feel for which
particular plastic probably produced the best,” Fenton said.
While the onion project was highlighted, UK entomologist Ric
Bessin, plant pathologist Kenny Seebold and vegetable crops
specialist Tim Coolong talked to the farmers about insect and
disease control. Participants brought in damaged crops for the
specialists to diagnose.
“They loved it, especially the information on diseases,” said
Corey Payne, Crittenden County agriculture and natural resources
extension agent. “The specialists were able to diagnose some
problems onsite and took those that couldn’t be quickly
diagnosed back to UK’s diagnostic lab.”
UK College of Agriculture, through its land-grant mission,
reaches across the commonwealth with teaching, research and
extension to enhance the lives of Kentuckians. |
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