Abstract
High tunnels are a form of protected agriculture that aids in season extension by creating a favorable microclimate using trapped solar heat. Tunnel structure is similar to a simple greenhouse, usually comprised of stretched plastic over a large ribbed frame. High tunnels are used extensively around the world for the production of high value crops. In 2010, the USDA-NRCS initiated a high tunnel funding program that aided in the erection of 4,500 new high tunnels across the U.S. in 2010 and 2011. As high tunnel use continues to rise, basic research is needed in this production system to investigate its effectiveness and begin developing specialized IPM solutions to pest-related problems. This study involved production of three crops: tomato, broccoli, and cucumber in three high tunnels as well as three comparison field plots over the 2010 and 2011 growing seasons. Season extension, yield, and fruit quality (size and marketability) were compared among traditional field plots and three different production systems within the tunnels: traditional black plastic mulch, containerized soilless production, and rockwool; however, the rockwool system was quickly abandoned after several failed attempts to maintain plant quality. Season extension was the most dramatic for tomatoes—fruit was harvested in the high tunnels more than two months before the field. Tomato size was also larger in the tunnels and there was a greater percentage of marketable fruit compared to the field. Conversely yield was not significantly different between production systems in the tunnel and the field for tomatoes. There was no significant difference in the broccoli or cucumber size between the high tunnel and the field; however, high tunnel yield was significantly greater for cucumbers and broccoli. There was no significant difference in the cucumber marketability, but broccoli marketability was significantly higher in the field. The containerized soilless production within the tunnel showed no significant advantages--decreased yields, smaller fruit, and lower fruit marketability. Pest density was also compared between the high tunnel and the field. Greenhouse pests were more prevalent in the high tunnels throughout the season. Common field pests such as hornworms and cucumber beetles were not significantly different between the high tunnel and the field; however the crucifer caterpillar complex including imported cabbageworms, diamond back moths, and cabbage loopers was significantly denser within the high tunnels. Multiple insecticide treatments were made in the high tunnels for various pests throughout the season. These results show that pest density is not significantly different in high tunnels compared to the field—implementing integrated pest management techniques is necessary in high tunnels just as it is in the field; however components may need optimized for this specialized form of production. Further research should aid in developing IPM decision making protocols for high tunnel producers.
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Claims 16
Claim · model-written summary
Season extension was the most dramatic for tomatoes, with fruit harvested in high tunnels more than two months before the field.
- Taxon
- tomatoes
Solanum lycopersicume1 - Treatment
- high tunnelse1
- Outcome
- Season extensione1
- Direction
- most dramatice1
- Value
- more than two monthse1
- Comparator
- the fielde1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“This study involved production of three crops: tomato, broccoli, and cucumber in three high tunnels as well as three comparison field plots over the 2010 and 2011 growing seasons”
e1“Season extension was the most dramatic for tomatoes—fruit was harvested in the high tunnels more than two months before the field”
Claim · model-written summary
Tomato size was larger in the tunnels than in the field.
- Taxon
- TomatoSolanum lycopersicume2
- Treatment
- the tunnelse2
- Outcome
- sizee2
- Direction
- largere2
- Comparator
- the fielde2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“Tomato size was also larger in the tunnels and there was a greater percentage of marketable fruit compared to the field”
Claim · model-written summary
Tomato fruit had a greater percentage of marketable fruit in the tunnels than in the field.
- Taxon
- TomatoSolanum lycopersicume2
- Treatment
- the tunnelse2
- Outcome
- percentage of marketable fruite2
- Direction
- greatere2
- Comparator
- the fielde2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“Tomato size was also larger in the tunnels and there was a greater percentage of marketable fruit compared to the field”
Claim · model-written summary
Tomato yield did not differ significantly between the tunnel and field production systems.
- Taxon
- tomatoesSolanum lycopersicume3
- Treatment
- production systems in the tunnele3
- Outcome
- yielde3
- Direction
- no_changeinferrede3
- Comparator
- the fielde3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e3“Conversely yield was not significantly different between production systems in the tunnel and the field for tomatoes”
Claim · model-written summary
Broccoli size did not differ significantly between the high tunnel and the field.
- Taxon
- broccoli
Brassica oleracea var. italicae4 - Treatment
- high tunnele4
- Outcome
- sizee4
- Direction
- no_changeinferrede4
- Comparator
- the fielde4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e4“There was no significant difference in the broccoli or cucumber size between the high tunnel and the field”
Claim · model-written summary
Cucumber size did not differ significantly between the high tunnel and the field.
- Taxon
- cucumber
Cucumis sativuse4 - Treatment
- high tunnele4
- Outcome
- sizee4
- Direction
- no_changeinferrede4
- Comparator
- the fielde4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e4“There was no significant difference in the broccoli or cucumber size between the high tunnel and the field”
Claim · model-written summary
High tunnel cucumber yield was significantly greater than in the field.
- Taxon
- cucumbersCucumis sativuse5
- Treatment
- high tunnele5
- Outcome
- yielde5
- Direction
- greatere5
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e5“high tunnel yield was significantly greater for cucumbers and broccoli”
Claim · model-written summary
High tunnel broccoli yield was significantly greater than in the field.
- Taxon
- broccoliBrassica oleracea var. italicae5
- Treatment
- high tunnele5
- Outcome
- yielde5
- Direction
- greatere5
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e5“high tunnel yield was significantly greater for cucumbers and broccoli”
Claim · model-written summary
Cucumber marketability did not differ significantly between high tunnels and comparison field plots.
- Taxon
- cucumberCucumis sativuse6
- Treatment
- high tunnelse0
- Outcome
- marketabilitye6
- Direction
- no_changeinferrede6
- Comparator
- comparison field plotse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“This study involved production of three crops: tomato, broccoli, and cucumber in three high tunnels as well as three comparison field plots over the 2010 and 2011 growing seasons”
e6“There was no significant difference in the cucumber marketability, but broccoli marketability was significantly higher in the field”
Claim · model-written summary
Broccoli marketability was significantly higher in the field than in high tunnels.
- Taxon
- broccoliBrassica oleracea var. italicae6
- Treatment
- the fielde6
- Outcome
- marketabilitye6
- Direction
- highere6
- Comparator
- high tunnelse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“This study involved production of three crops: tomato, broccoli, and cucumber in three high tunnels as well as three comparison field plots over the 2010 and 2011 growing seasons”
e6“There was no significant difference in the cucumber marketability, but broccoli marketability was significantly higher in the field”
Claim · model-written summary
The containerized soilless production in the tunnel decreased yields, fruit size and fruit marketability.
- Taxon
- tomato, broccoli, and cucumberCucumis sativusSolanum lycopersicumBrassica oleracea var. italicae0
- Treatment
- containerized soilless productione7
- Outcome
- yields, smaller fruit, and lower fruit marketabilitye7
- Direction
- decreasede7
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“This study involved production of three crops: tomato, broccoli, and cucumber in three high tunnels as well as three comparison field plots over the 2010 and 2011 growing seasons”
e7“The containerized soilless production within the tunnel showed no significant advantages--decreased yields, smaller fruit, and lower fruit marketability”
Claim · model-written summary
Greenhouse pests were more prevalent in the high tunnels throughout the season.
- Taxon
- tomato, broccoli, and cucumberCucumis sativusSolanum lycopersicumBrassica oleracea var. italicae0
- Interactor
- Greenhouse pestse6pest
- Outcome
- Greenhouse pestse6
- Direction
- more prevalente6
- Setting
- the high tunnelse6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“This study involved production of three crops: tomato, broccoli, and cucumber in three high tunnels as well as three comparison field plots over the 2010 and 2011 growing seasons”
e6“Greenhouse pests were more prevalent in the high tunnels throughout the season”
Claim · model-written summary
Common field pests such as hornworms and cucumber beetles were not significantly different between the high tunnel and the field.
- Taxon
- tomato, broccoli, and cucumberCucumis sativusSolanum lycopersicumBrassica oleracea var. italicae0
- Treatment
- high tunnele7
- Interactor
- hornwormse7pest
- Second interactor
- cucumber beetlese7pest
- Outcome
- Common field pestse7
- Direction
- no_changeinferrede7
- Comparator
- the fielde7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“This study involved production of three crops: tomato, broccoli, and cucumber in three high tunnels as well as three comparison field plots over the 2010 and 2011 growing seasons”
e7“Common field pests such as hornworms and cucumber beetles were not significantly different between the high tunnel and the field”
Claim · model-written summary
The crucifer caterpillar complex was significantly denser within the high tunnels.
- Taxon
- tomato, broccoli, and cucumberCucumis sativusSolanum lycopersicumBrassica oleracea var. italicae0
- Treatment
- high tunnelse7
- Interactor
- crucifer caterpillar complexe7pest
- Outcome
- crucifer caterpillar complexe7
- Direction
- densere7
- Qualifier
- including imported cabbageworms, diamond back moths, and cabbage looperse7
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“This study involved production of three crops: tomato, broccoli, and cucumber in three high tunnels as well as three comparison field plots over the 2010 and 2011 growing seasons”
e7“the crucifer caterpillar complex including imported cabbageworms, diamond back moths, and cabbage loopers was significantly denser within the high tunnels”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend implementing integrated pest management in high tunnels as in the field.
- Taxon
- tomato, broccoli, and cucumberCucumis sativusSolanum lycopersicumBrassica oleracea var. italicae0
- Outcome
- implementing integrated pest management techniquese7
- Qualifier
- necessary in high tunnelse7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“This study involved production of three crops: tomato, broccoli, and cucumber in three high tunnels as well as three comparison field plots over the 2010 and 2011 growing seasons”
e7“implementing integrated pest management techniques is necessary in high tunnels just as it is in the field”
Claim · model-written summary
The rockwool system was quickly abandoned after several failed attempts to maintain plant quality.
- Taxon
- tomato, broccoli, and cucumberCucumis sativusSolanum lycopersicumBrassica oleracea var. italicae0
- Treatment
- rockwoole7
- Outcome
- quickly abandonede7
- Qualifier
- after several failed attempts to maintain plant qualitye7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“This study involved production of three crops: tomato, broccoli, and cucumber in three high tunnels as well as three comparison field plots over the 2010 and 2011 growing seasons”
e7“the rockwool system was quickly abandoned after several failed attempts to maintain plant quality”
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See all 25 papers →8 of 9 groups shown: named compounds and organisms first, then groups whose results differ (checked claim by claim), then those with positive and negative results, then the smaller groups.
Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.