Trellising was evaluated for its effects on yields of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) cultivars Dasher II, Marketmore 76, and PetoTripleMech at Lane and Wilbutton, Okla. Trellising improved total and marketable yield at both locations compared with ground culture. `PetoTripleMech', evaluated as a fresh-market cultivar, produced yields equal to, or higher than, the other cultivars. Average marketable fruit weight was not affected by trellising but was affected by cultivar at Lane, with `PetoTripleMech' having the heaviest fruit. Economic analysis indicated that trellising is a viable management system for small-scale cucumber production.

Interviews of customers at direct produce markets were conducted to determine why expenditure patterns vary. Frequency of shopping at outlets, income, uses of produce, household composition, and distance to the outlet are important determinants of expenditures at direct product outlets.

Benomyl was compared with copper hydroxide, azoxystrobin, tebuconazole, acibenzolar-S-methyl, and basic copper sulfate for efficacy of cercospora leaf spot [incited by Cercospora brassicicola P. Henn] management on turnip greens [Brassica rapa L. var. (DC.) Metzg. utilis]. Treatments included various application times and were evaluated in three field experiments over 2 years. The few yield effects that occurred were not consistent between years. Copper hydroxide and basic copper sulfate were not useful alternatives to benomyl due to a combination of phytotoxicity symptoms and ineffective disease control. Inconsistent results were observed with acibenzolar-S-methyl. A single, early application of tebuconazole greatly reduced cercospora leaf spot severity relative to the control in both years. Tebuconazole may be a good alternative to benomyl if a label can be obtained. Multiple (at least two) applications of azoxystrobin may be needed to achieve the same degree of cercospora leaf spot control as would result from a single properly timed application of benomyl. Although azoxystrobin is now labeled for turnip greens, grower costs will likely increase as a result of benomyl being discontinued. Chemical names used: methyl-1-[(butylamino)carbonyl]-H-benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamate (benomyl); methyl (E)-2-{2-[6-(2-cyanophenoxy)pyrimidin-4-yloxy]phenyl}-3-methoxyacrylate (azoxystrobin); alpha-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-alpha-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-ethanol (tebuconazole); 1,2,3-benzothiadiazole-7-thiocarboxylic acid-S-methyl-ester (acibenzolar-S-methyl).

No abstract

The introduction or expansion of horticultural enterprises in southeastern Oklahoma is largely dependent on irrigation possibilities. Many vegetable crops are well suited to southeastern Oklahoma. A financial analysis package provides estimates of cash returns figures for scenarios involving the use of three irrigation technologies and three vegetable activities. Diversification in the agricultural sector into fresh market vegetable production could lead to substantial economic development for southeastern Oklahoma. The furrow irrigation system scenarios show greater cash returns due largely to lower investment costs than the other irrigation systems. The most profitable vegetable crop activity is tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) followed by seeded fall broccoli (Brassica oleracea). Over all sizes of operations and irrigation technologies considered, substantial increases in cash returns to operations and cash returns to family may occur by adding vegetable enterprises to the original crop mix.