Third year of specialty crops research at RAREC is underway

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This summer marks the third year of specialty crops research in our agrivoltaics system at the Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center near Bridgeton, NJ. Like the past two years, this summer we are growing fresh-market tomato ‘ Red Deuce’, sicilian eggplant ‘Palermo’, and bell pepper ‘Turnpike’ under a no panel (control), single agrivoltaics (AV) panel, and double AV panels block in southern New Jersey.

The ground for the third year of our specialty crops research trial was prepped on 3 June, with the discing and spading of the plot areas and the application and incorporation of 80 lbs N/acre of 14-4-14 pre-plant fertilizer.

On 8 June, raised beds consisting on white on black plastic mulch were laid with drip irrigation set off-center prior to transplanting. Note the weather stations (which also run on solar power) positioned out of the way in the panel row.

On 9 June 2026, fresh-market tomato, eggplant, and bell pepper were transplanted for the third year at the RAREC Agrivoltaic (AV) research site near Bridgton, New Jersey. Each AV block (double panel, single panel, or no panel) contains 10 raised beds (55ft long) that were established between three rows of AV panels spaced 34 ft apart and 74 ft long. The southern most area of each block (~10 ft)  were not used in the study because of additional exposure to the sun on the southern most end of each block. Three reps per bed with a plot size of 15 ft in length with a 5 ft break between plots were marked before transplanting either Sicilian eggplant ‘Palermo’, bell pepper ‘Turnpike’, or fresh-market tomato ‘Red Deuce’. Transplants were set in each plot on-center in the white-on-black plastic mulch in a single row with 12″ between the bell pepper plants and 24″ between the fresh-market tomato and eggplant, respectively, using a water wheel transplanter. Two additional plants were transplanted at the end of each plot to fill in the breaks. With the AV panels parked at solar noon we are able to drive the tractor and the transplanter beneath.

Transplanting being done in the no panel (control) block.

This year, Campbell Scientific stations were placed in each of the main blocks to capture the effects of the weather on specialty crop production.

Please follow or visit our Blog page for more information on our agrivoltaics specialty crops research at RAREC this summer or during the past two years.

Articles and images can be used by Permission from the Rutgers RAPS Team only – For Permission contact RAPS at agrivoltaics@njaes.rutgers.edu.