using super-oxygenated water in high tunnel tomato and strawberry production, 2015

Using super oxygenated water in high

tunnel tomato and strawberry

production

Terrance T. Nennich, Extension Professor

Vegetable and Small Fruit Production

University of Minnesota Extension

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

© 2012 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

Oxygen and plants

• Uptake of nutrients

• Root growth

• Overall plant growth

• Resistance to insect and disease

• Fruit yield


Oxygen and Plant Roots

• No nutrient absorption occurs at the root

zone unless oxygen is present. At a

molecular level oxygen is required to

transmit nutrients across the cell wall and

into the roots.


Oxygen and Calcium

•

Oxygen is required to get nutrients in, but

calcium is required to make nutrients mobile

within plant tissue. This is critical if nutrients

are to be used properly by the plant.


Uptake of Nutrients

• Root Level - 02 goes across the cell wall

and into the roots

Increased 02 levels at roots, nutrient

absorption increases

• Ideal temperature for absorption is 65 -75

degrees


Uptake of Nutrients

• Warmer –Increase plant growth

• Cooler – slow down nutrient uptake.

• Constant feeding – available may help.

• Variance between crop and variety


Research Question

• If the oxygen levels in high tunnel irrigation

water, used through the drip tape was

maintained at about 12 ppm would the yield

and or quality of strawberries and tomatoes

and the fruit be affected.


Crops that Demand High Fertiliity

• Tomatoes

• Cucumbers

• Egg Plants

• Okra

• Peppers


Crops that use medium fertility

• Strawberries

• Raspberries

• Fruit Trees

• Beans

• Potatoes ??

• Carrots


Low Fertility Crops

• Lettuce

• Spinach

• Greens

• Beans

• Some cole crops


Untreated Water

• Most well water will contain about 1-3 ppm of

oxygen

• Some water sources can contain more

• How the water is pumped and moved can

make a difference.


Machinery for water treatment

• Water Dog Machine

• Model WD2C-HD

• Built for us by Gorecki MFG of Milaca Mn

• This is a experimental machine and is not

available at this time


Annual Strawberry Production

• Variety : Evie -2

• Planting date : Spring 2013

• First Harvest early August 2013

• Repricated in four blocks

• 21X48 high tunnel


STRAWBERRY OXYGEN SUPPLEMENTATION SUMMARY

Berry Yield thru Total Yield

Size (gms) 9/16 (lbs) 10/14 (lbs)

Block 1 Oxygen 10.7 28.3 53.7

Block 1 None 11.2 23.2 51.8

Block 2 Oxygen 10.6 24.9 47.2

Block 2 None 10.1 21.8 42.9

Total Oxygen 10.7 53.2 101.0

Total No Treatment 10.7 45.0 94.7

Percent O2 Advantage -0.2% 18.3% 6.6%

Confidence Level % -- 99 71


19.9%

24.1%

23.9%

19.7%

15.9%

16.8%

18.3%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

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Strawberry Oxygen Supplementation 2013Yields through mid-September

Oxygen Treated

Non-Treated

% Difference


19.9%

24.1%

23.9%

19.7%

15.9%

16.8%

18.3%

17.6%

15.4%

11.9%

10.6%8.8%

6.9%

5.9%6.6%

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

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Strawberry Oxygen Supplementation 2013

Oxygen Treated

Non-Treated

% Difference


Strawberry research results

• Data was analyzed until mid September and

the entire season

• Until Mid September the strawberry yield

increased 18.3 %

• No increase in berry weight, large increase

in number of berries.

• Increase was less after mid September, cool

temperatures.


Tomato oxygen study

• Variety : BHN 589 grafted with Maxiford

• Planted: spring 2013

• Harvest : August 2013

• Replicated in four blocks

• 21X48 high tunnel


Tomato research results

• Data was analyzed until mid September and

the entire season

• Until Mid September the tomato yield

increased 16 %

• No increase in individual tomato weight,

large increase in number of tomatoes.

• Increase was less after mid September, cool

temperatures.


11.8%

17.2%

16.3%

17.9%

13.7%

15.8%

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

8/23 8/26 8/29 9/1 9/4 9/7 9/10 9/13 9/16

Cu

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Oxygen Supplementation - Tomatoes 2013Yields through Mid-September

Oxygen Treated

Non-Treated

% Difference


11.8%

17.2%

16.3%

17.9%

13.7%

15.8%

11.5%

8.9%

6.8%

5.6%

5.7%

6.0%

5.1%

8.4%

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

8/23 8/27 8/31 9/4 9/8 9/12 9/16 9/20 9/24 9/28 10/2 10/6 10/10 10/14

Cu

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Oxygen Supplementation - Tomatoes 2013

Oxygen Treated

Non-Treated

% Difference


Total Yield Total Yield Total Yield

Fruit thru 9/16 thru 10/14 thru 10/14

Size (Good & Imperfect) (Good & Imperfect) (Good, Imperfect, Green)

(lb/fruit) (lbs) (lb) (lbs)

Block 1 Oxygen 0.49 135 499 772

Block 1 None 0.50 131 466 699

Block 2 Oxygen 0.53 142 462 858

Block 2 None 0.53 109 421 809

Total Oxygen 0.51 278 961 1631

Total No Treatment 0.51 240 887 1508

Percent O2 Advantage -1.1% 15.8% 8.4% 8.2%

Confidence Level % -- 83 89 84


Research Summary

• Research findings from this study indicates

that annual strawberry yield and tomato yield

was significantly increased using

oxygenated water of 12 ppm.

• With both strawberries and tomatoes the

increase came from the number of fruit

produced and not the weight of individual

fruit.


Research Summary

• The better the weather growing conditions

the more results

• Planed on repeating trials again in 2014.

• Also Flowers


Research Observations

• Followed by Disease 2014 study


Managing Soil Oxygen

• Non compacted loose soil

• Organic Matter

• Oxygen injection

• High yields will need more oxygen

• Variation in watering

• Non soaked soils


Water Yield Data

• Cucumber plants without water going in peak production

No break in watering 32 pounds plant

24 hours with out water 28 pounds plant



96 hours with out water 3 pounds plant.


• As you start your high tunnel up

for the 2015 season I wish you

all the best season ever.


Questions

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using super-oxygenated water in high tunnel tomato and strawberry production, 2015

Education

oxygen levels

calcium oxygen

ppm of oxygen

plant roots

water sources

untreated water

high tunnel irrigation

molecular level oxygen