Protected Cultivation Of Vegetables Research Articles

Development of Integrated Farming System Model—A Step towards Achieving Biodiverse, Resilient and Productive Green Economy in Agriculture for Small Holdings in India

The agrarian communities of South Asia are dominated by small and marginal farmers (<2.0 ha operational holdings) and are confronted with manifold challenges of lower productivity, income, and resource degradation. For optimized and efficient resource use, a shift from business as usual towards green economy is imperative. Therefore, a study to address these challenges, through integrating diverse crops and allied enterprises under an integrated farming system (IFS) model was carried out. We hypothesized that a standardized IFS model with appropriate location-specific modules will have higher system output, income, and lesser environmental footprints. Vegetable cultivation (VC), protected vegetable cultivation (PVC), field crops (FC), mushroom production (MP), and beekeeping (BK) were evaluated under the IFS model, with objectives to optimize the coherent use of available farm resources with enhancing system productivity and profitability. Among the FC module, the system productivity increased from 21–247% of different cropping systems, over the predominant rice–wheat system (RWS). The integration of different components, viz., VP + PVC + FC + AHS + MP + BK + VC in M10 resulted in achieving the maximum water productivity (6.72 kg/m3), energy productivity (1.50 kg/MJ), net return (9446 USD/ha), employment opportunities (792 man-days), sustainable livelihood index (70.2%), and nutrient cycling (138.12, 67.9, and 381.6 kg/ha of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, respectively). These findings can be a scientific basis for the optimization and sustainable management of natural resources under different modules of IFS for the less-endowed small and marginal farmers.

Distribution and Environmental Significance of Rare Earth Elements in Typical Protected Vegetable Soil, Northern China

The concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs) in protected vegetable soils in Wuqing district of Tianjin City, Jinzhong district of Shanxi Province, Shenyang district of Liaoning Province, and Wulanchabu district of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in northern China were measured to analyze the change characteristics of soil REEs in the process of protected vegetable cultivation. Additionally, we sought to use the REEs parameters to trace the feasibility of characterizing the interference of human activities on the soil ecological environment. The results showed that the total content of REEs (REE) in the topsoil of protected vegetable fields ranged from 146.52 to 158.76 mg·kg-1, with an average of 152.34 mg·kg-1 in Shenyang; 92.16 to 137.69 mg·kg-1, with an average of 115.03 mg·kg-1in Wuqing; 91.38 to 118.84 mg·kg-1, with an average of 108.03 mg·kg-1 in Wulanchabu; and 97.62 to 111.27 mg·kg-1, with an average of 102.43 mg·kg-1in Jinzhong. The REEs distribution patterns in the soils of the four areas, standardized with chondrite, characterized by a right tilt, showed that light rare earth elements were obviously enriched in the soil, demonstrated by the ratios of LREE/HREE and (La/Yb) N, which were greater than 6 and 7, respectively. The values of (La/Sm)N in the soils were higher than 3, suggesting that there was an obvious fractionation between light rare earth elements, whereas the values of (Gd/Yb)N were between 1-2, and there was a weak fractionation between heavy rare earth elements. The values of δEu in the soils were between 0.56 and 0.61, showing that Eu had a negative abnormality. The values of δCe were between 0.89 and 1.11, showing that Ce had no abnormality or weak positive abnormality. The higher LREE/HREE and (La/Yb)N in protected vegetable soil than that in open-air vegetable soil indicated the increasing differentiation degree between light and heavy rare earth elements in protected vegetable soil. The lower (La/Sm)N in protected vegetable soils indicated the reduction in the differentiation among light rare earth elements in soil. Higher δCe values and lower δEu values suggested that Ce and Eu were relatively enriched and depleted, respectively, during vegetable planting. The REE, LREE, (La/Sm)N, and δEu in protective soil decreased with the number of cultivation years, whereas the (Gd/Yb)N and δCe increased, but the HREE values did not change significantly. There was a significant correlation between δCe, δEu, (La/Yb)N, (Gd/Yb)N, and soil bulk density, soil moisture content, and soil organic matter in Tianjin protected vegetable soils, showing preliminarily that rare earth elements can be used as tracer elements to characterize the interference intensity of human activities on soil.

Techno-Economic Feasibility of In Situ Vegetable Residue Return in the Chinese Solar Greenhouse

The tremendous scale of protected vegetable cultivation incidentally produces considerable vegetable residue, which refers to the remaining parts of plants after the final harvest. The low use rate of vegetable residue results in nutrient waste and environmental pressure in China. In this study, we put forward vegetable residue directly returned to the soil and investigated its feasibility. Residue return was steadily conducted 5 times in a Chinese solar greenhouse with the cucumber–tomato rotation pattern. Results showed that residue return increased the soil alkali-hydrolysed nitrogen and available potassium contents by 4.97–26.22% and 9.31–21.92%, respectively, along with slightly reduced soil pH and bulk density by 1.00–5.39% and 6.72–11.81%, respectively. Gemmatimonadetes, Firmicutes, Acidobacteria, Basidiomycota, and Mortierellomycota were the major phyla with noticeable changes when residue return was conducted 5 times. Fruit yield began to obtain remarkable increase by 5.81–9.26 t·ha−1 after residue return was conducted 3 times, bringing about additional profits of 5382.0–8519.2 USD·ha−1. Residue return could cut down the disposal expense of vegetable residues by 480.89 USD·ha−1. Moreover, residue return could supplement nutrients to soil, potentially contributing to reducing chemical fertilizer inputs. In conclusion, in situ vegetable residue return could be considered to be a feasible and sustainable use technique for vegetable residues in the Chinese solar greenhouse.

Light-altering cover materials and sustainable greenhouse production of vegetables: a review

Greenhouse horticulture (protected cropping) is essential in meeting increasing global food demand under climate change scenarios by ensuring sustainability, efficiency, and productivity. Recent advances in cover materials and photovoltaic technologies have been widely examined in greenhouses to improve light transmission and solar energy capture with promoting energy-saving. We review the studies on advanced greenhouse cover materials with variable light transmittance, the effects of which on leaf photosynthesis, physiology, and yield. We provide insights into the potential key biological processes of crops responding to these light changes, specifically light receptors, signal transduction, nutrient biosynthesis pathways (e.g., carotenoids, antioxidant compounds) during fruit development and ripening. A better understanding of greenhouse cover materials with a focus towards energy-efficient cover materials equipped in greenhouse is an opportunity for better yield and higher nutrient products production in vegetables in response to global climate challenges. Interdisciplinary research on the application of novel cover materials in greenhouses and biological investigation of light-induced physiology and nutrient formation in vegetables may promote yield and health attributes for protected cultivation of vegetables with energy use efficiency.

Yield and net income derived by the farmers from capsicum crop under protected vegetable cultivation

Yield and net income derived by the farmers from capsicum crop under protected vegetable cultivation

Acúmulo e partição de biomassa e macronutrientes de cultivares de feijão-vagemem cultivo protegido fertirrigado

For a better management of fertigation in protected cultivationof vegetables such as snap beans, it is important to know the nutritional requirements of the plants. Thus, weaimedto characterize the biomass and macronutrients accumulation ofbush snap beansgenotypes. For that, an experiment was carried out in greenhouse, where the genotypesUEL-1 and Alessaweregrown in plastic pots with coarse sandas substrateand fertigation by micro sprinklers. Each ten days, plants were sampled and measured the dry matter and the concentrations of elements such asnitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sulfur (S)for different plant parts, adjusting their accumulation over timeby the gaussian model.The fresh pods yield (kg m-2) was also evaluated. The accumulation of biomass and macronutrients wasintensified from 20 days after emergence (DAE), reaching maximumvaluesnear 50 DAE. The genotype Alessa presented a higher overall accumulation, while UEL-1 was more productive regarding fresh pods, characterizing suchgenotypeas more efficient for using the macronutrients. For both genotypes, N hadthe highest accumulation, followed by K, Ca, P, S and Mg.

Economic Benefits of Protected Vegetable Cultivation by the Farmers Trained by KVK Jalandhar

The study was undertaken to examine the economic benefits of protected vegetable cultivation. A total sample of 200 respondents practicing protected vegetable cultivation was selected from Jalandhar district from which 150 respondents were trained by KVK Jalandhar and the remaining 50 respondents were non-trainees. The findings concluded that 42.0 percent of trainees and 38.0 percent of non-trainees were in the age group of 39-52 years. It was revealed that 19.3 percent of trainees had a graduate level of education while 20.0 percent of non-trainees had a middle level of education. It was found that 66.0 percent of trainees and 54.0 percent of non-trainees had medium landholding. The majority of trainees (78.6 percent) and non-trainees (86 percent) had farming as an occupation. Most of the trainees and non-trainees contacted horticulture development officers. It was concluded that 32.6 percent of trainees procured seed or seedling from private firms whereas 40.0 percent of non-trainees procured seed or seedling from fellow farmers. The trainees obtained higher yield and net profit than non-trainees from all sample vegetable crops.

Management of Heat Stress in Tomato Seedlings under Arid and Semi-Arid Regions: A Review

The production of protected cultivation of vegetables could be considered a sustainable solution in arid and semi-arid regions. These regions already suffer from the raising temperature due to the global warming, which represents a great challenge facing our universe nowadays. Hence, the production of vegetables under greenhouse system during the high temperatures may be considered a serious problem in these arid zones due to heat stress. In greenhouses, the production of tomato seedlings should avoid the high temperature stress in particular in arid and semi-arid in summer. The heat stress may cause a lot of troubles for the tomato seedlings in greenhouses in summer starting with the photosynthetic rate, and the metabolism processes in seedlings and in turn the growth and development of these seedlings. Although studies have recognized heat stress on tomato seedlings, research has yet to systematically investigate the effect of heat stress on tomato seedlings in greenhouse in summer under arid and semi-arid regions particularly in developed countries, which their greenhouses have not any climate controllers. Therefore, the management of tomato seedlings may need to address the production problems caused by heat stress in greenhouse conditions particularly in arid and semi-arid zones

Activity of four nematicides against Meloidogyne incognita race 2 on tomato plants

AbstractMeloidogyne incognita is one of the most important causes of disease in protected vegetable cultivation in North China Plain, but chemical control options for it are currently limited. In the present study, we measured activity of four nematicides with M. incognita race 2 in the laboratory and greenhouse pots. Fluensulfone and fluopyram had a greater negative effect on the motility of M. incognita second‐stage juveniles (J2) than avermectin B1a (AV‐B1a) and fosthiazate had, especially at low concentration, with respective EC50 values of 0.29, 0.13, 0.68 and 2.48 mg/L. AV‐B1a significantly and uniquely inhibited egg hatching, which indicated that it was the only nematicide that could readily be transported across the eggshell. In greenhouse pots, fluensulfone (10 mg−1) and fluopyram (1 and 10 mg−1) caused the greatest inhibition of formation of galls in tomato roots, with decreases of 98.6%, 96.2% and 99.2%, respectively. This indicated that some M. incognita J2 lost their root penetration ability without losing their motility.

Vegetables cultivation under protected conditions

In addition, the biotic stresses also do not allow successful production of vegetables like capsicum, cucumber, tomato, chilli, okra/bhindi, cauliflower, cabbage, leafy vegetables etc. in the fields mainly during rainy and winter season. In spite of the great importance of vegetable crops, it faces a lot of restraints like temperature stress, photostress, moisture stress and weeds growth, nutrients deficiency in the soil, excessive wind velocity and atmospheric CO2. Some possible ways to reduce green house gas emissions are suggested and some sustainable adaptation strategies are indicated. We expand our survey of the existing research to the entire production system, including greenhouse structure, energy, electricity, growing media, and fertilizers. Different protected cultivation structures having different temperature, humidity, UV radiation ranges and also having different cost involvement in construction of structure which may results the production of vegetables with distinct advantage of good quality fruits, productivity and favorable market price to the growers/farmers. These limitations can be alleviated by adopting a unique, specialized hi-technology is called as protected cultivation. Intense heat and high incidence of UV rays in dry months reduce the quality of leafy vegetables in open which otherwise very good in protected structures. Protected cultivation has great scope to achieve self-sufficiency in vegetable sector even with less area. The shade net house is ideal for cultivation of vegetable during dry period in the tropical islands when extreme sunshine and heat are limiting factor to vegetable production. These structures are constructed using a UV stabilized agro-shade net (35%-70% shade) materials for creating partial shade condition inside the structure to favour the growth and development of partial shade requiring crops or to protect crop from scorching heat during hot/summer months. The partial shade effect helps in fast and better growth of leafy vegetables besides reducing the evapo-transpiration loss of water. Low cost shade net for high value leafy vegetables like coriander, palak, fenugreek and insect free brinjal crop. Consequently more pesticides are being used for protecting the crops which deteriorate the vegetable quality by the presence of residues. This also creates environmental concern as the limited soil and fresh water bodies are get contaminated. The net house can be used for year round cultivation of crops such as Capsicum, tomato, okra, cauliflower, cabbage, brinjal, beans, parthenocarpic cucumber and other cucurbits with reduced incidence of insect-pest and diseases and consequent low chemical residues on the produces. The cost can be reduced drastically by the use of local wood materials like bamboo/wooden poles. Vegetable growers can substantially increase their income by protected cultivation of vegetables in off-season as the vegetables produced during their normal season generally do not fetch good returns due to large availability of these vegetable in the markets. Off-season cultivation of cucurbits under low plastic tunnels is one of the most profitable technologies under northern plains of India. Protected cultivation enables us to grow vegetables in the off-season and also to extend the vegetable growing seasons for a much longer period than is possible under open field conditions. Though certain breakthroughs in vegetable cultivation in adverse climates using protected devices have been registered, more extensive research and generation of awareness are required to tap potential of protected cultivation of vegetable crops and also increase the area under protected devices.

Hydrogen-rich water promotes elongation of hypocotyls and roots in plants through mediating the level of endogenous gibberellin and auxin.

The aim of this study was to investigate effects of the hydrogen-rich water (HRW) on the vegetable growth, and explore the possibility of applying HRW for protected cultivation of vegetables. Results showed that compared with control, HRW treatment significantly promoted fresh weight, hypocotyl length and root length of mung bean seedlings. The strongest stimulation was observed for 480 μM H2 (60% of saturated HRW concentration) treatment. This concentration was used in the following experiments. The enhanced cell elongation was correlated with the changes in the level of endogenous phytohormones. In the dark-grown hypocotyls and roots of mung bean seedlings, HRW significantly increased the content of IAA and GA3. Addition of GA3 enhanced the hypocotyl elongation only. uniconazole, an inhibitor of GA3 biosynthesis, inhibited HRW-induced hypocotyl elongation, but did not affect root elongation. Exogenous application of IAA promoted HRW effects on elongation of both the hypocotyl and the root, while the IAA biosynthesis inhibitor TIBA negated the above affects. The general nature of HRW-induced growth-promoting effects was further confirmed in experiments involving cucumber and radish seedlings. Taken together, HRW treatment promoted growth of seedlings, by stimulating elongation of hypocotyl and root cells, via HRW-induced increase in GA and IAA content in the hypocotyl and the root respectively.

Development of A Combined Insect Trap for Whitefly (bemisia Tabaci) And Tomato Leaf Miner (tuta Absoluta) Management

Whitefly Bemisia tabaci and tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta are two important insects that are causing serious damage to crops in protected vegetable cultivation. There is an international call from scientists to find a non-chemical way to manage those pests. This study tested the effect of a new combined light trap with different colors, named GLT trap, on the management of whiteflies and tomato leaf miners in protected vegetable cultivation. The results showed that whiteflies are significantly attracted to the yellow light traps (828 insects) compared to (73 insects) on white traps which captured the least number of insects. Although whitefly is diurnal, a higher number of insects were captured by the yellow-light colored traps (910 insects) than both yellow traps without light (302 insects) and light without color (51 insects) in 6 days. This showed the superiority of GLT trap over the yellow traps by about three times and about 20 times more than light traps without colors. In addition, a higher mean number of leaf miners were captured by yellow traps (14.33), and the lowest number of insects (3.5) was captured on violate traps. The new GLT trap is a promising IPM mean to manage those important insects in greenhouses in both developed and developing countries. It is an inexpensive, effective, and homemade way to control whiteflies and tomato leaf miners without negative consequences

Brassinosteroids Regulate Antioxidant System and Protect Chloroplast Ultrastructure of Autotoxicity-Stressed Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Seedlings

Autotoxicity is a common problem being faced in protected vegetable cultivation system. Phytoremediation of plant autotoxicity is an emerging concept to minimize deterioration of soil environment and reduction of yield and quality of vegetable crops. Brassinosteroids (BRs) have been reported as a potential phytohormone to assist phytoremediation. However, the effects of BRs-induced autotoxicity stress on plant growth, photosynthesis and antioxidant defense system are poorly understood. Hence, we focused on the changes in physiological characteristics and ultrastructure of cucumber leaves in response to the application of 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) under autotoxicity stress conditions. The results showed that leaf area, plant height, fresh weight and dry weight of cucumber were obviously decreased under autotoxicity stress conditions. EBR application obviously improved the phenotypic characteristics of cucumber seedlings. Chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate of cucumber leaves were markedly reduced under autotoxicity stress conditions. Application of EBR improved the photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a by 15.80%, chlorophyll b by 18.70% and total chlorophyll content by 17.30%), net photosynthetic rate by 36.40% and stomatal opening of leaves under autotoxicity stress conditions. EBR application also maintained the integrity of chloroplast and thylakoid structures under autotoxicity stress conditions. The activity of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and antioxidative compounds ascorbate (AsA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) contents were markedly decreased, however, these were obviously increased after EBR application under autotoxicity stress. EBR application also increased the soluble sugar and protein, and proline concentration by 59.70%, 7.22% and 36.58%, respectively in the leaves of cucumber, decreased malondialdehyde by 24.13% and reactive oxygen species contents (H2O2 by 35.17%, O2− by 12.01% and •OH by 16.59%), and reduced the relative permeability of the cell membrane by 14.31%. These findings suggest that EBR application enhanced the photosynthetic capacity of leaves, maintained the integrity of chloroplast and thylakoid structures, and effectively alleviated the damage of membrane caused by lipid peroxidation and root damage under autotoxicity stress conditions. The growth inhibition effect of autotoxicity stress on cucumber was reduced by EBR application.

Heavy metal and soil nutrient accumulation and ecological risk assessment of vegetable fields in representative facilities in Shandong Province, China.

Shandong is one of the main areas for protected vegetable cultivation in China. A total of 88.5% of the facility soil samples had a pH between 7.0 and 8.4, indicating the majority of the soils were alkaline. Key properties, including total nitrogen (TN), organic matter (OM), electrical conductivity (EC), available phosphorus (AP), and available potassium (AK), showed an increasing trend with the number of years. The geoaccumulation index (Igeo) indicated that the Cd and Hg contents ranged from uncontaminated to moderate contaminated, while the risk of Hg and Cd reached the class of considerable risk as indicated by the potential ecological risk factor ([Formula: see text]). The mean of Hakanson potential ecological risk index (RI) was 234.00, with the highest contribution from Hg (55.26%), followed by Cd (38.81%). It indicated that the survey area was at the moderate-risk level and Hg had the highest potential ecological risk factor, followed by Cd.

Sunlight transmitted by colored shade nets on photosynthesis and yield of cucumber

ABSTRACT: Black shading nets are widely used in the protected cultivation of vegetables as a technique for controlling light and temperature, while the colored shading nets, with special optical properties to improve the use of solar radiation, appeared recently in the agricultural plastics market. Light quality transmitted by gray, aluminized, pearl, blue, red and black (control) nets with 30% shade was evaluated, as well as its effects on photosynthetic properties and fruits production of cucumber plants. Treatments (shade nets) were established under a randomized complete block design with four repetitions. The red net transmitted 23.7 and 40.3% more photosynthetic photon flux density (400 to 700nm) and red light (600 to 700nm) and the blue net transmitted 36% more blue light (400 to 500nm) in comparison with the respective transmissions of black net. All nets increased the photosynthetic responses: transpiration, stomatal conductance and CO2 assimilation, observed in plants grown under black net. Leaf greenness (41.6 SPAD units) and foliar area (90dm2) increased 22.8 and 38.9% with the red net, while the dry weight of leaf (52.5g) increased 21.9% with pearl net. Pearl, red, aluminized and blue nets showed to be viable alternatives because the production of fruit increased in 71, 48, 46 and 46%, respectively, in comparison with the conventional black net (52t ha-1).

Use of bio-waste as fertiliser for the protected vegetable cultivation

The number of biogas plants in Germany is increasing from 3,711 in 2007 to 8,075 in 2016. In these biogas plants, it occurred more than 50 Mt digestate. Therefore, several investigations are started to use digestate as organic fertiliser mostly for field crop cultivation. Experiment with tomatoes was carried out were digestate was used as a supplement to the growing media in an amount of 5%, 15%, and 25%, compared with a treatment of mineral fertiliser and lupine wholemeal. The tomato yield was highest in the treatment with mineral fertilisation, the yield with 25% digestate was only a little lower. More experiments are necessary for particular regarding the amount and frequency of fertilization with digestate from biogas plants. In Germany and in Vietnam the number of sheep flocks is increasing, high amounts of uncleaned sheep wool are available. Because of the high amount of nutrients - especially nitrogen -, sheep wool pellets could be used as multi-functional fertiliser in vegetable cultivations. Four types of sheep wool pellets have been tested in protected cultivation. Tomatoes were cultivated in a greenhouse using substrate culture with perlite, bark compost, sheep wool slabs, respectively, and sheep wool pellets as fertiliser. Best growth and highest yield for tomatoes were obtained using pine bark and perlite as a substrate, both fertilised with sheep wool pellets. Based on the results of the yield and the analyses of the nutrient content in plants it seems that sheep wool pellets can be used, for the cultivation of vegetables in greenhouses.
 Số lượng các nhà máy biogas tại CHLB Đức tăng từ 3.711 năm 2017 lên 8.075 năm 2016. Các nhà máy biogas sản sinh ra hơn 50 triệu tấn chất thải. Vì vậy đã có nhiều nghiên cứu liên quan đến sử dụng nguồn chất thải này làm phân bón hữu cơ cho canh tác nông nghiệp. Thí nghiệm với cà chua sử dụng chất thải biogas làm chất bổ sung dinh dưỡng cho giá thể trồng cây theo các tỷ lệ 5%, 15% và 25% đối chứng với công thức sử dụng phân hóa học và bột nguyên vỏ họ đậu. Năng suất cà chua thu được từ các công thức bổ sung chất thải biogas đều cao hơn đối chứng, chỉ có công thức bổ sung 25% có năng suất thấp hơn. Tuy nhiên vẫn cần có những nghiên cứu tiêp theo về lượng và tần xuất sử dụng bón phân với chất thải từ nhà máy biogas. Ở Đức và ở Việt Nam số lượng đàn cừu đang tăng lên, một lượng lớn lông cừu phế phẩm phát sinh. Với hàm lượng dinh dưỡng cao, đặc biệt là nitơ, viên nén từ lông cừu phế phẩm có thể sử dụng làm phân bón đa chức năng cho trồng trọt. Nghiên cứu đã sử dụng 4 loại viên nén lông cừu làm phân bón trong điều kiện trồng có kiểm soát. Cà chua được trồng trong nhà kính với 3 loại giá thể là perlite, vỏ cây thông đã ủ hoai, thảm lông cừu với phân bón là viên nén từ lông cừu phế phẩm. Năng suất cao nhất và đem lại sinh trưởng tốt nhất cho cây cà chua là công thức sử dụng vỏ cây thông và perlite. Dựa trên kết quả về năng suất và phân tích dinh dưỡng trong cây và sản phẩm, nghiên cứu cho thấy sự phù hợp của viên nén từ lông cừu phế phẩm làm phân bón cho canh tác rau trong nhà kính.

Investment appraisal and risk assessment of protected vegetable cultivation under Leyte conditions

Protected cropping technology has been introduced to address the inability of farmers to achieve a successful year-round vegetable production. However, small scale farmers are reluctant to adopt this technology due to huge investment costs and the risk associated with extreme weather conditions. Hence, this study was conducted in some parts of Leyte, to evaluate the profitability and assess the risk of protected and open-field cultivation during the occurrence of extreme weather conditions such as tropical cyclones and strong wind phenomena. Results show that protected cultivation generates higher yields compared to open field cultivation. In Baybay site, investment on steel-type high-strength-tunnel covered with polyethylene plastic is the most viable option as it attained the highest net present values (NPVs), benefit-cost ratios (BCRs) and internal rate of return (IRRs). It also has the earliest payback period across different climatic scenarios. At the Cabintan site, the low-tunnel-structure is the most viable when a high-end market is established. This implies that market outlet is one of the critical factors affecting profitability and pricing. Given the potential of protected cultivation in minimizing crop failures, it is recommended that the government and private sector shall extend financial and technical assistance to farmers. Investors shall be covered with crop and structure insurances as risk of crop failures and loss of capital is high during inclement weather conditions.

Effects of strong reductive process on transformation of heavy metals in protected vegetable soil

The application of sewage and manure in protected vegetable cultivation can induce the occurrence of heavy metals contamination. The present research studied the transformation of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) by incubating contaminated protected soil with maize straw and then leaching. The results showed that soil pH was significantly decreased, being more evident in maize straw treatment; soil Eh dropped quickly below -280 mV. Maize straw treatment promoted the activation of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn from soil, and the total percent of oxidizable fraction and residual fraction of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn declined at 9th day; the amount of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in soil reduced 18.1%, 19.0%, 16.1% and 15.7% at 15th day, respectively. Compared to control, maize straw treatment could increase the concentrations of dissolved Cd and Zn, but Cu decreased. The concentration of colloidal-bound Cd and Pb increased, Cu decreased and no significant change occurred in Zn in maize straw treatment. Strong reductive approach could activate heavy metals in protected vegetable soil, increase the risk of heavy metals accumulation in vegetables, and possibly cause water pollution accompanied with soil water mobilization.

Sustainable vegetable production through the use of low-cost protective structures: a farmer’s experience in Bontoc, southern Leyte, Philippines

For years, Lucio Boie' R. Gerona, a civil engineer by profession but with a passion for business and farming by family orientation, had been dreaming of becoming a progressive farmer. Countless attempts in farming on his self-acquired land in Pamahawan, Bontoc, southern Leyte, Philippines, were made but often failed and/or were non-profitable. Among the many constraints, he found continuous heavy rains the most difficult and almost impossible to manage. With the use of protective structures (curved-roof and vent types with plastic roofing and bamboo framings) as rain shelters, year-round production of vegetables was made possible. Results showed that yields of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), ampalaya (Momordica charantia L.), and two croppings of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) were consistently higher with gross margins of nearly three fold as compared with those in the open field. Yields of two croppings of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thunb.), which were planted during the dry months, were also high although statistically comparable with those in the open field, which was understandable since watermelon is a sun-loving crop. With the adoption of the technology, Boie attained rewarding outcomes: sustained productivity and profitability which enabled him to put up other farm improvements (irrigation system, enclosed structures for leafy vegetables, vermiculture shed and mini-piggery to start diversification); capacity building that allowed him to serve as a consultant/resource speaker/panelist in farmer's fora/FFDs/training sessions specifically on protected vegetable cultivation and marketing; and not to mention the enhanced publicity of his farm, which is now a favorite educational trip destination for many people from all walks of life.

Production and Marketing of Vegetables as a Part of Integrated Farming: A Case Study of Entrepreneurial Efficiency

The present study pertains to a small but innovative farmer, having a land-holding of just 2.5 ha, who adopted integrated farming including protected cultivation of vegetables in three net houses covering an area of 1500 m2, open cultivation of cash crops in one hectare, processing of tomatoes, turmeric, mushroom (dhingri) cultivation, livestock, vermi-composting, and growing of general crops, like basmati, wheat and fodder in one hectare. Budgeting Technique and other statistical tools have been applied to work out the economics of his adopted separate enterprises as well as the entire integrated system as a whole. For the purpose of marketing and disposal of his produce, the vehicle, being used to sell small packets of well graded fresh vegetables to well defined clientele at some fixed destinations within the district on a particular time during the days of weeks, has also been purchased after having availed the subsidy of the due kind from the National Horticultural Mission. He is earning a net income in the tune of more than 8 lakh per annum. The economics of his farm speaks volume of his entrepreneurial ability and the hidden strength of new technologies and farm integration.