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Crop Competition
and Yield and
Quality Modeling
Objective:
The goal
of this project is to develop an integrated Resource Optimization Model
for optimizing both carrot yield and quality. The ROM will comprehensively
synthesize the effects of population densities, moisture status, nutrient
regimes, and the physical environment. The specific objectives are
to
i) identify the effects of various population densities and the physical
environment (irridance, temperature, CO2 concentration, vapour pressure
deficit, soil texture, soil water and nutrients) on photosynthesis, source-sink
relationships, plant water and nutrient relations, growth, yield and quality;
ii) generate field information from the distinct process carrot production
zones of Nova Scotia on microclimate (irridance, photo-period, temperature,
vapour pressure deficit, windspeed, atmospheric water demand, rainfall)
and soil (moisture, nutritional, physical) factors to assist in establishing
relationships between physiological (Ps, RUE, WUE, NUE), growth (LAI,
LAD, NAR, RGR, HI), environmental (HU), soil (moisture, nutrient availablity)
variables and carrot yield and quality;
iii) develop an intergrated yield and quality model (ROM) involving plant
densities, physiological, growth, environmental, and soil variables for
the promising dicer (Red Core Chantenay, Cascade) and slicer (Oranza, Carochoice)
varieties; and
iv) evaluate and calibrate the ROM with independant field data.
Project Director: Dr.
R Lada
Project Cooperators: Dr.
T Astatkie, Dr.
R. Gordon, A. Ells, T. Meredith Jr.
Personnel: Mr. Arumugam Thiagarajan M.Sc, M.Sc (April 2005 - Present)
Mrs. Azure Stiles - Scientific
Officer
Ms. Christine Pettipas - Research
Technician
Funding Source: NSERC-CRD
and Oxford Frozen Foods Ltd.
Interim Progress
Report December 2002
Interim
Progress Report December 2003
Interim Progress
Report December 2004
Publications:
S. Kyei-Boahen,
Lada R. Rajasekaran, T. Astatkie, R. Gordon, and C. Caldwell 2003. Photosynthetic
response of carrots to varying irridances. Photosynthetica 41(2): 301-305, 2003
Kyei-Boahen,S., Astatkie, T., Lada, R., Gordon, R.,
Caldwell,C. 2003. Gas exchange of carrot leaves in response to elevated CO2 concentration. Photosynthetica 41(4): 597-603
Pettipas, F. C., Rajasekaran, L.R., Caldwell, C.,
and Miller, C. The Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization on Soil-Plant Nitrogen Relationships,
Growth, and Yield in Carrots. Hort Science. (submitted)
Pettipas, F. C., and Rajasekaran, L. R. Leaf gas
exchange of carrots in response to increasing leaf temperatures. Photosynthetica
December 2004. (submitted)
Pettipas, F. C., Rajasekaran, L.R., Caldwell, C.,
and Warman, P. Critical Tissue Identification and Soil-Plant Nutrient Relationships
in the Dicer Carrot Variety Red Core Chantenay. Plant and Soil December 2004
(submitted)
Rajasekaran, L.R., Astatkie, T., Caldwell, C.D. 2004.
Seeding rate and seed spacing modulate yield and recovery of slicer and dicer
carrots differently. Scientia Horticulturae (under review)
Posters:
Population
Pressure Dynamics
Maturity,
Yield and Quality Modeling
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