U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Vegetable Research: Charleston, SC
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    Cucurbit Genetics CooperativeSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Southeast Area Charleston, South Carolina Vegetable Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            WARD, BRIAN - Clemson Universityitem
                                            SMITH, P - Clemson Universityitem
                                            JAMES, S - Clemson Universityitem
                                            Stansell, Zacharyitem
                                            Farnham, Mark
  Submitted to: HortTechnology
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 4/9/2015
                                    Publication  Date: 7/1/2015
                                    Citation: Ward, B., Smith, P., James, S., Stansell, Z.J., Farnham, M.W. 2015. Increasing plant density in eastern United States broccoli production systems to maximize marketable head yields. HortTechnology. 25:330-334.Interpretive Summary: Eastern environments do not have conditions conducive to broccoli production much of the year, but most areas have a specific season (e.g., late fall in South Carolina or late summer in upstate New York) when market-quality broccoli heads can be produced.  However, there is a need to establish systems to optimize broccoli yield and quality from eastern productions and to increase the likelihood of producing a competitive crop.  Thus, ARS scientists at Charleston, South Carolina, in cooperation with scientists at Clemson University have been working to determine the best methods to use in maximizing broccoli yield and quality and to increase the likelihood of producing a competitive crop.  These scientists conducted three field studies in South Carolina in the fall of 2012 and 2013 and evaluated the effect of variable plant densities ranging from about 25,000 plants per acre up to about 100,000 plants per acre on harvested heads.  They showed that weight and quality characteristics of heads were not generally affected by the variable densities, but they did demonstrate that the highest marketable yields were measured using the highest plant densities.  Results indicated that eastern producers can increase populations compared to what they previously used in order to maximize yield.  These findings provide useful information for eastern vegetable growers and extension agents who advise them.
                                Technical Abstract: Increased demand for fresh market broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) has led to increased production along the eastern seaboard of the United States.  Maximizing broccoli yields is a primary concern for quickly expanding eastern commercial markets.  Thus, a plant density study was carried out in the fall of 2012 and 2013 using the hybrid cultivar ‘Emerald Crown’ on a commercial farm in Summerton, SC, and in the fall of 2013 using ‘Emerald Crown’ and another hybrid ‘Durapak 19’ on a research farm in Charleston, SC.  The objective was to determine the effect of variable within-row spacings of 10.2, 15.2 and 20.3 cm (employing a system with double rows spaced 30.5 cm apart) on marketable yields and quality in the three environments.  Results from this study indicated that increasing plant density by reducing within-row spacing to 10.2 cm, significantly increased overall yield•ha-1over the 15.2 and 20.3 cm spacing treatments in two of four comparisons.  Stem diameter and average head weight were unaffected by plant density; however, heads harvested from plots with the highest plant densities exhibited significantly lower bead uniformity in the Summerton 2012 trial, and significantly larger bead size in the two trials conducted in 2013.  In general, the highest total marketable yields were obtained using the 10.2 cm within-row spacing, but increased competition at the highest density may increase the risk of plants producing lower quality characteristics.   Yield and head quality attributes may be optimized at the 15.2 cm within-row spacing.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov