Floriculture Production Research Articles

Geographical Characterization of Greenhouse Irrigation Water

Chemical analyses of 4306 randomly selected greenhouse water samples for 1995 from the United States and Canada were obtained from four analytical laboratories and graphically characterized using a distribution analysis. For pH, electro-conductivity (EC), and nutrient concentrations, a mean and median value and the percentage of samples with concentrations above or below those generally considered acceptable are presented for all samples and the 10 leading states in floricultural production. The median nutrient concentrations were more representative of the type of water found throughout the United States and Canada than that of the mean values because of the unequal distribution of the data. The overall median water source had a pH of 7.1; an EC of 0.4 dS·m−1; an alkalinity of CaCO3 at 130 mg·L−1; (in mg·L−1) 40 Ca, 11 Mg, 8 SO4−S, 13 Na, 14 Cl, 0.02 B, and <0.01 F; a Ca: Mg ratio of 3.2, and a sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) of 0.7. The information presented characterizes irrigation water and may assist in developing more refined fertilizer recommendations for greenhouse crop production.

Indian Floriculture Industry is Poised to Bloom

Floriculture is growing at a frenetic pace in India. From a few units in 1990, nearly hundred units are either fully operational or at various stages of implementation. Almost seventy of these produce rose for the cut flower export market. The average unit size is two hectare under poly-cover. Anthurium, carnation, chrysanthemum, orchids and gerbera comprise the other cut flower producing units. Technology has come mostly from Holland, with Israel now giving severe competition to the Dutch. Germany, France, United Kingdom, and New Zealand are the other countries involved in technology transfer. Many units have the fan and pad system for temperature control along with drip irrigation and computer mediated operations. Most units use natural soil as the medium of growth whereas some have a combination of sand and natural soil and a few have adopted complete sand bed culture as practiced by Israeli growers. These hybrid as well as the state-of-the-art floriculture technologies are competing for the Indian market and the next few years will determine the system that is most suitable for adoption under local conditions. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), a wing of the Commerce Ministry of the Government of India, and the National Horticulture Board have indeed provided substantial support for the growth of Indian floriculture Industry. Meanwhile, more and more entrepreneurs are, on their own, setting up cold storages and operating cold trucks near major airports to maintain appropriate temperatures from harvest to destination. It is widely expected that more than 50% of the existing floriculture units will make good whereas the remaining may not survive either due to sourcing of unsuitable technologies or lack of expertise in floriculture production and management as well as international marketing prowess. There is also consensus that no single foreign technology giver is capable of meeting adequately the total needs in the Indian context and often it is a matter of the collaborators learning together. What seems certain is that India will, by the year 2000, be a major player in international floriculture because of the diverse agroclimatically suitable locations, lower labor cost, and talented human resource.

Characterization of Leca Clay Pebbles as a Growing Medium for Geranium (Pelargonium hortorum) Stock Plant Production

Leca clay pebbles were characterized and tested as a possible growing-medium for use in floriculture production systems that recycle irrigation water. Leca clay pebbles are light porous particles made by heating clay. X-ray diffraction tests indicate that high manufacturing temperatures (1100C) result in final particles composed primarily of quartz. Water-holding capacity was determined by pressure plate apparatus at eight pressures. Leca particles that were 4 to 8 mm retained more water than particles sized 12 to 18 mm. The bulk density of the particles were 0.43 and 0.37 g/cc for the 48-mm and the 12- to 18-mm particles, respectively. The pH of the leca particles was 7.77. The cation exchange capacity of the leca particles was relatively low compared to a standard soilless growing medium of 1 pine bark: 1 peat: 1 perlite (by volume). Leca particles have a CEC of o.82 me/100 g Ca and 6.36 me/100 g K, where the CEC of the previously mentioned soilless.medium was 24.21 me/100g Ca and 30.08 me/100 g K. Leca clay pebbles were tested as growing medium for the production of geraniums (Pelargonium hortorum) stock plants.

INSECTICIDAL CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERES FOR WHITEFLY DISINFESTATION

Whitefly infestation arises frequently from plant materials that were infested at the start of the season. Use of insecticidal controlled atmospheres (CA) with O levels < 1% and/or CO2 levels > 50% have proved effective in killing various species of insects on edible commodities. A CA treatment may also be used to eliminate whitefly on floricultural products. Our studies on the effects of insecticidal CA on greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporarium) showed that elevated CO2 (25% or 50%) eliminated all adult greenhouse whitefly in ≤10 hours but the same treatment had little effect on eggs and pupae. Further investigation revealed that insecticidal low oxygen treatment has a greater effect and 100% mortality of eggs, nymphs, and adults were obtained with 8, 4, and 2 hr of anoxic conditions (100% N2), respectively. Preliminary trials also indicated that 8 hr of anoxic atmosphere prevents the emergence of pupae. The use of no or low-O2 CA is, thus, potentially a good treatment for elimination of all stages of whitefly.

Parametric Cost Analysis of Robotic Preparation of Geranium Cuttings for Propagation

One of the areas of floricultural production which has yet to be automated is vegetative propagation. This study examined the effects of preparation efficiency, annual production level, robot number and cycle time, and labor on the costs associated with robotic preparation of geranium cuttings. The parametric analysis indicated allowable cost was most sensitive to robot cycle time, preparation efficiency, and cost of labor. A 33% decrease in time required for cutting preparation resulted in a prediction of a 100% increase in allowable cost per robot for one of the scenarios evaluated. A 2% reduction in preparation efficiency resulted in a decrease of allowable cost of 23% for an annual production of four million cuttings. An increase in labor cost of one dollar per hour may result in an increase of allowable cost of one robot by $5,000-$8,700, depending on other factors. The analysis provided meaningful design goals for an economically feasible system.

POSTHARVEST TECHNOLOGY OF IMPORTED AND TRANSHIPPED TROPICAL FLORICULTURAL COMMODITIES

Intercontinental trade in floriculture products exceeds US$ 1,250 mln annually. One fourth are tropical commodities. Most of the US$ 200 mln of tropical floriculture products imported into western Europe arrive by airplane and are transhipped before arriving at the country of destination. For cut flowers, it takes four to seven days from arrival at the port of entry to destination at the consumer. Mode of transport and market structure have as result that postharvest requirements for individual products are seldomly met. Potential vase life is reduced by five to ten percent for every day spent in the marketing chain. Because quality loss is often invisible, there is a necessity to have measures of internal quality. The only measure currently being used is a test on bacterial contamination. Internal quality tests based on carbohydrates, chlorophyll fluorescence or near-infrared spectra are being developed. Control on the application of pretreatments against bacteria, ethylene and drought needs to be intensified. Extension efforts continue to emphasize hygene and temperature control.

Determining Marketing Efficiency of Floricultural Production Firms by Market Channel, Market Period, and Size of Firm

Abstract Economic efficiencies were greatest in peak sales periods in surveyed floricultural firms selling both to retail florists, and mass markets. Efficiency decreased in intermediate and slack sales periods. About the same procedures were followed in each time period, but sales were reduced in intermediate, and slack periods. Surveyed firms selling to mass markets sold bedding plants during peak periods which required no variable labor or capital marketing inputs; thus, they were more technically efficient than firms selling to retail florists during the peak period. Economies of size were found in the retail florist channel but not in the mass market channel. Maximum economic efficiency was reached at a smaller size by firms selling to mass markets, indicating that the mass market channel was more competitive in the marketing function than was the retail florist channel. Large differences in technical efficiency were found within groups, indicating that increased profit could be made by the least efficient firms adopting the efficient technology of the most efficient firms within the same group. Within groups, the most efficient firms utilized more fully their fixed inputs than did the least efficient, and were thus able to expend a reduced percentage of sales on variable inputs. A persistant problem for the least efficient firms, especially during slack periods, was a delivery cost larger than that of the most efficient firms resulting from an increase in distance and number of stops.

Ella Grant Campbell, 19th Century Florist, Author and Historian

Floristry evolved from commercial floriculture production and women played a key role in its 19th century development. Ella Lawton Grant Campbell (Wilson) (1854-1939) was an important figure in 19th century American floriculture. Her publication, Floral Designs Series 1, A hand-book for cut-flower workers and florists (1888) aided florists in both constructing and selling floral designs, serving as consumer selection guide and professional technical manual. Her work provided a glimpse into Victorian-era floristry, a significant era in the history of floral design history.