The weather this season in southern New Jersey was nothing short of very dry for most of the second half of the summer and fall. In total, since 1 Aug. less than 2 inches of rainfall has been recorded at the research station. Fortunately, overhead irrigation was available to supply supplemental water to the soybean blocks when needed. Most soybean growers throughout the state don’t have this option.
On 1 November, the removal of the plastic mulch and drip lines at RAREC began. The day prior, the specialty crops were mowed down with a bushhog to allow the plastic mulch lifter to cut and pull the plastic and drip line out of the ground.
The presence of the panels and the width of the mulch lifter did not all us to pull the plastic mulch on each side of the panel row; where the removal of the plastic and drip line will be done by hand.
Because of the extremely dry soil conditions and the depth of the plastic mulch buried, the plastic mulch would often tear.
As soon as all the plastic mulch and drip are removed the ground will be worked so a fall cover crop of cereal rye can be sown in the field.
Articles and images can be used by Permission from the Rutgers RAPS Team only – For Permission contact RAPS at shawn.sorrels@rutgers.edu.
The harvesting of the agrivoltaics specialty crops study came to close on 18 Oct. at RAREC in southern New Jersey. The work could not have been done without the dedicated volunteers of the Master Gardener Program of Cumberland County, New Jersey led by Kaylynn Hyson. Dr. Wesley Kline, Cumberland County Agricultural Agent, was instrumental in helping us harvest and train our volunteers.
In total there were 13 eggplant ‘Palermo’, 10 fresh-market tomato ‘Red Deuce’, and 7 bell pepper ‘Turnpike’ harvests for the season. Once fruit were harvested, they were brought into our post harvest building and graded according to USDA standards. The harvest data we collected will be presented at local and regional meetings this winter and upcoming spring.
Much of the harvested fruit was donated to local food banks, churches, and senior living care facilities in the area by members of the Cumberland County Master Gardeners. In total for the season, ~ 1,300 lbs. of eggplant, 2,500 lbs. of tomato, and 2,100 lbs. of bell peppers were donated to local charities.
Articles and images can be used by Permission from the Rutgers RAPS Team only – For Permission contact RAPS at shawn.sorrels@rutgers.edu.