2018 ASHS Annual Conference

Row covers are gaining interest in crop production to improve growth and yield in different agricultural climates and production systems. Growers use in low tunnels to extend the production season, frost, and it brings insect pest protection, water use efficiency and higher growth in crops. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the use of row cover (spun-bonded) on the growth and yield efficiency of four different leafy green vegetables in an organic production system. In a demonstration field trial, Kale, Collard, Swiss chard and Lettuce were evaluated on the organic research farm at Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN in the summer of 2017. Twenty plants of each vegetable type were cultivated on 4’ by 20’ rows with row cover (treatment) and without row cover (control). On maturity, plants were harvested, and data was collected on average per plant yield and percentage of leaves affected by pest and disease. The yield was larger under row cover [collards (443 g/plant), lettuce (248 g/plant), Swiss chard (174 g/plant) and kale (90 g/plant)] in comparison to control [collards (395.5 g/plant), lettuce (150 gm/plant), Swiss chard (17 g/plant) and kale (57 g/ plant)]. The pest incidence was greater without row cover [(13%) in Kale and (10.5%) in Collards] whereas there was no insect damage under row cover in all leafy green vegetables. Thus, employing row covers in a sustainable production system of leafy greens could potentially increase the productivity and income of vegetable growers