Overview
- A block was divided into 4 x 11 bed sub blocks (one boom width). Two sub blocks were treated and two were left as a control.
Program used was:
- 4lt/ha Digester immediately prior to sowing (18 Oct 2006).
- 5lt/ha Mycorrcin first true leaf (6 Nov 2006).
- 1lt/ha Mycorrcin + 1lt/ha Foliacin (11 Dec 2006).
- 1lt/ha Foliacin (12 Jan 2007).
- 1lt/ha Foliacin (25 Jan 2007).
- 1lt/ha Foliacin (15 Feb 2007).
- On the 23 Mar 2007 6 plots measuring 3m x 8.3m (25m2) were selected from the top, mid and lower areas of the treated and untreated areas. The pumpkins were weighed, counted and sorted by weight – small: less than 1.4kg, medium: 1.4kg – 3kg, large: +3kg.
- Right: Field weighing- large, medium, small.
Results:
Pumpkin trial layout (below):
Field weighing- large, medium, small (below):
Harvest results
Untreated (below):
| Rep 1 | Rep 2 | Rep 3 | Rep 4 | Rep 5 | Rep 6 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Pumpkins/25m² | 31 | 39 | 31 | 39 | 32 | 43 | 215 |
| Total weight kg/25m² | 79 | 107 | 99 | 104 | 74 | 114 | 566 |
| Avg Pumpkin weight kg | 2.53 | 2.73 | 2.89 | 2.64 | 2.31 | 2.65 | 2.63 |
| Number small (less than 1.4kg) | 11 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 79 |
| Number medium (1.4-3.0kg) | 13 | 11 | 10 | 22 | 11 | 15 | 82 |
| Number large (over 3.0kg) | 8 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 55 |
Treated (below):
| Rep 1 | Rep 2 | Rep 3 | Rep 4 | Rep 5 | Rep 6 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Pumpkins/25m² | 38 | 31 | 36 | 48 | 32 | 37 | 222 |
| Total weight kg/25m² | 104 | 95 | 101 | 127 | 101 | 108 | 636 |
| Avg Pumpkin weight kg | 2.74 | 3.06 | 2.81 | 2.65 | 3.16 | 2.92 | 2.89 |
| Number small (less than 1.4kg) | 12 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 54 |
| Number medium (1.4-3.0kg) | 16 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 10 | 18 | 106 |
| Number large (over 3.0kg) | 10 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 62 |
Summary (below):
| Untreated | Treated | % increase | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Pumpkins/25m² | 215 | 222 | +3% |
| Total weight kg/25m² | 566 | 636 | +12% |
| Avg Pumpkin weight kg | 2.63 | 2.89 | +10% |
| Number small (less than 1.4kg) | 79 | 54 | -32% |
| Number medium (1.4-3.0kg) | 82 | 106 | +29% |
| Number large (over 3.0kg) | 55 | 62 | +13% |
Return on investment (below):
| Untreated | Treated | |
|---|---|---|
| Total kg/ha | 37,729.00 | 42,395.00 |
| Total smalls kg/ka | 5,266.00 | 3,599.00 |
| Total marketable crop kg/ha | 32,463.00 | 38,796.00 |
| Price/kg | $0.60 | $0.60 |
| Gross return | $19,477.00 | $23,277.00 |
| Cost of BioStart/ha | $0.00 | $360.00 |
| Net return | $19,477.00 | $22,917.00 |
| Difference | $3,440.00 |
Conclusion:
- BioStart treatment has increased total count, total weight and average pumpkin weight.
- The treatment also reduction of the number of smalls and increased in the number of medium and slightly increased the number of large pumpkins.
- The treatment increased net return per ha by $3,440.00.
- The shift in pumpkin size had a significant impact on the return per hectare.
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