The objective of this trial is to evaluate the potential of direct seeding pumpkins into a cover crop using no till and zone tillage techniques for benefits of weed control, moisture retention and fruit cleanliness and the effects upon fruit yield and quality.
The outcomes of this project should provide information to growers, researchers, crop specialists and Extension Agents in determining if no-till and/or zone till planting of pumpkins into a particular cover crop may benefit Ohio producers.
Growing conditions for this trial in 1995 were very poor. Due to a very wet spring, wettest in 44 years in Hillsboro, planting dates were delayed. The Rye crop prevented the soil from drying out making plots unworkable. Following planting, growing conditions became extremely dry causing the soil to become very hard resulting in a reduced plant stand. Weather conditions of extreme heat and humidity in 1995 resulted in pumpkin plants with many male blossoms resulting in a reduced or no fruit set. These weather conditions resulted in lower yields not only for this trial but for pumpkin producers throughout the state.
As in the spring of 1995, the 1996 spring planting season was also one of the wettest on record in the Hillsboro area, with over 17 1/2 inches of rainfall in April and May. We had hoped to make an early spring seeding of 5 different cover crops, then no till/zone till a pumpkin crop into the treatments in early June. However, the spring seeded cover crops were not able to be planted since field work was not able to be started until the last week of May and the first week of June. Therefore 5 cover crop treatments, Bluegrass, Wheat, Alfalfa, Annual Rye and Oats were seeded in October of 1996 and the No Till planting will be established in the Spring of 1997. Harvest data from the 1997 plantings will be available in the Fall of 1997.
Potential benefits from No Till and/or Zone Till planting techniques of a pumpkin crop into a cover crop include:
1) Fruit Cleanliness - pumpkins grown in cover crops are cleaner at harvest compared to pumpkins grown without a cover crop. The cover crop provides a buffer between the pumpkin and the ground, allowing the pumpkin to stay clean all season long.
2) Customer Satisfaction- for growers who have Upick operations where customers walk into the field to pick their pumpkin, customers will not come out of the field with muddy shoes and dirty clothes.
3) Satisfactory weed control- weed control for this trial in the 1995 season was fair, although some growers experienced very poor weed control using this growing technique throughout Ohio in 1995. Certain cover crops inhibit germination of annual weed seeds by preventing light from reaching them and probably through allelopathic effects. However perennial weeds should be cleaned up before trying a no till / zone till cover crop planting.
4) Reduced herbicide and fungicide applications. Cover crops may allow for a decreased use of herbicides for weed control. Fungicides use for ground rots of pumpkin fruit may also be reduced since the cover crop prevents direct contact of the soil with the pumpkin fruit, reducing the possibly of soilborn fungi attacking the fruit.
Problems to consider from using cover crops and no till / zone till planting techniques for pumpkin production include:
1) Under wet spring planting conditions spring seeded cover crops may not be able to be planted early enough to get adequate mulch cover and / or cover crop mulches have a tendency to hold moisture and prevents soil from drying out. Under a dry planting season this may be beneficial to seed germination but under wet spring conditions, like in 1995 and 1996, planting dates can become delayed due to unworkable field conditions.
2) Cover crop mulches have a tendency to keep soil temperatures slightly cooler, therefore planting dates may need to be adjusted accordingly for an early fall pumpkin harvest.
3) The Rye mulch in 1995 harbored mice and voles which caused extensive feeding damage to the fruit resulting in many low quality pumpkins. Growers throughout Ohio also experienced increased mice damaged fruit under Rye and Wheat mulch conditions. Damage will also be monitored under the cover crops plantings in 1997.
4) Seed emergence and plant stands were reduced under minimum and no tillage treatments due to a crusting of the soil in 1995. Under dry field conditions irrigation may be necessary for proper seed emergence. Seeding rates may need to be increased under these production practices.
Table 1. 1995 No Till Pumpkins into Rye Cover Crop. Observation trials. Harvest Date 10/26/95
| Variety | Marketable Fruit/Acre | Tons Marketable Fruit/Acre | Ave. Frt.Wt. | % plant stand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Pam | 2206 | 1.3 | .93 lb. | 65 |
| Howden | 588 | 1.3 | 2.20 lb. | 65 |
| Jackpot | 2500 | 8.1 | 6.54 lb. | 75 |
Table 2. 1995 Minimum Till Treatment. Observation trials. Pumpkin Harvest Date 10/26/95
| Variety | Marketable Fruit/Acre | Tons Marketable Fruit/Acre | Ave. Frt.Wt. | % plant stand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Pam | 1619 | 0.51 | .55 lb. | 70 |
| Howden | 882 | 2.13 | 2.56 lb. | 70 |
| Jackpot | 1618 | 3.81 | 3.49 lb. | 85 |
Table 3. 1995 Conventional Till Treatment. Observation trials. Pumpkin Harvest Date 10/26/95
| Variety | Marketable Fruit/Acre | Tons Marketable Fruit/Acre | Ave. Frt.Wt. | % plant stand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Pam | 3824 | 2.2 | 1.10 lb. | 95 |
| Howden | 2206 | 6.8 | 5.90 lb. | 100 |
| Jackpot | 3235 | 9.1 | 5.60 lb. | 95 |
Table 4. 1996 Cover Crops Treatments Seeding Rates. Seeded 10/2/96. Hillsboro, Ohio.
| Treatment # | Type | Seeding Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Control - Bare Ground | - |
| 2 | Kentucky Bluegrass | 5 lb. / acre |
| 3 | Wheat | 100 lb. / acre |
| 4 | Alfalfa | 18 lb. / acre |
| 5 | Annual Rye | 100 lb. / acre |
| 6 | Oats | 100 lb. / acre |
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