Abstract
The relationships between shelterbelt (tree windbreak)-induced microclimate and muskmelon ( Cucumis melo L.) growth and development were investigated at the Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead, Nebr., during the 1992 and 1993 growing seasons. Wind speed, wind direction, air and soil temperatures, relative humidity, and soil moisture were monitored in both sheltered and nonsheltered areas. Plant growth parameters (plant height, vine length, plant dry weight, and leaf area) were measured at various stages of development. Shelterbelts provided improved growing conditions for muskmelon transplants. Direct wind damage and duration of higher wind speeds were reduced 47% to 56% in sheltered areas. Air temperatures in sheltered areas were slightly higher during daytime and slightly lower at night, and significantly so early in the growing season. Relative humidity was increased significantly in sheltered areas in 1992 and, while higher in 1993, the difference was nonsignificant. Soil moisture content was not affected significantly by wind protection. Sheltered plants exhibited earlier development and faster growth. The first female flower appeared 2 days earlier in sheltered areas in both years. The first fruit set, as indicated by fruit swelling and retention on the vine, occurred 6 days earlier and matured 5 and 6 days earlier in sheltered areas in 1992 and 1993, respectively. Leaf areas and dry-matter accumulation of sheltered plants were greater than those of exposed plants. The shoot relative growth rate of sheltered plants increased earlier in the growing season, but decreased slightly later in the growing season. The earlier development and faster growth of sheltered plants were related mainly to the reduction of wind speed, higher total accumulated air temperatures during the daylight hours (sum of daily average daytime air temperatures based on hourly averages), and higher soil temperature in sheltered areas. Total yields were not affected significantly in either year; however, early yields were significantly greater in sheltered areas in 1993. If earlier maturity and increased yield are possible in large sheltered fields, this practice would provide an economic benefit to producers.
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Claims 14
Claim · model-written summary
Shelterbelts reduced direct wind damage and the duration of higher wind speeds by 47% to 56%.
- Taxon
- muskmelon
.jpg?width=60)
Cucumis meloe0 - Treatment
- sheltered arease1
- Outcome
- Direct wind damage and duration of higher wind speedse1
- Direction
- reducede1
- Value
- 47% to 56%e1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“muskmelon ( Cucumis melo L.)”
e1“Direct wind damage and duration of higher wind speeds were reduced 47% to 56% in sheltered areas.”
Claim · model-written summary
Sheltered daytime air temperatures were slightly higher and nighttime temperatures slightly lower, significantly early in the season.
- Taxon
- muskmelonCucumis meloe0
- Outcome
- Air temperaturese1
- Qualifier
- early in the growing seasone1
- Setting
- sheltered arease1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“muskmelon ( Cucumis melo L.)”
e1“Air temperatures in sheltered areas were slightly higher during daytime and slightly lower at night, and significantly so early in the growing season.”
Claim · model-written summary
Sheltered areas had significantly increased relative humidity in 1992.
- Taxon
- muskmelonCucumis meloe0
- Treatment
- sheltered arease1
- Outcome
- Relative humiditye1
- Direction
- increasede1
- Qualifier
- in 1992e1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“muskmelon ( Cucumis melo L.)”
e1“Relative humidity was increased significantly in sheltered areas in 1992”
Claim · model-written summary
Relative humidity was higher in sheltered areas in 1993, without a significant difference.
- Taxon
- muskmelonCucumis meloe0
- Treatment
- sheltered arease1
- Outcome
- Relative humiditye1
- Direction
- highere1
- Qualifier
- in 1993e1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“muskmelon ( Cucumis melo L.)”
e1“Relative humidity was increased significantly in sheltered areas in 1992 and, while higher in 1993, the difference was nonsignificant.”
Claim · model-written summary
Wind protection had no significant effect on soil moisture content.
- Taxon
- muskmelonCucumis meloe0
- Treatment
- wind protectione1
- Outcome
- Soil moisture contente1
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“muskmelon ( Cucumis melo L.)”
e1“Soil moisture content was not affected significantly by wind protection.”
Claim · model-written summary
Sheltered plants developed earlier and grew faster.
- Taxon
- muskmelonCucumis meloe0
- Treatment
- Shelterede1
- Outcome
- development and faster growthe1
- Direction
- earliere1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“muskmelon ( Cucumis melo L.)”
e1“Sheltered plants exhibited earlier development and faster growth.”
Claim · model-written summary
The first female flower appeared two days earlier in sheltered areas in both years.
- Taxon
- muskmelonCucumis meloe0
- Treatment
- sheltered arease1
- Outcome
- first female flowere1
- Direction
- earliere1
- Value
- 2 dayse1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“muskmelon ( Cucumis melo L.)”
e1“The first female flower appeared 2 days earlier in sheltered areas in both years.”
Claim · model-written summary
The first fruit set occurred six days earlier in sheltered areas.
- Taxon
- muskmelonCucumis meloe0
- Treatment
- sheltered arease1
- Outcome
- first fruit sete1
- Direction
- earliere1
- Value
- 6 dayse1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“muskmelon ( Cucumis melo L.)”
e1“The first fruit set, as indicated by fruit swelling and retention on the vine, occurred 6 days earlier and matured 5 and 6 days earlier in sheltered areas in 1992 and 1993, respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
Fruit matured five and six days earlier under shelter in 1992 and 1993, respectively.
- Taxon
- muskmelonCucumis meloe0
- Treatment
- sheltered arease1
- Outcome
- maturede1
- Direction
- earliere1
- Value
- 5 and 6 dayse1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“muskmelon ( Cucumis melo L.)”
e1“matured 5 and 6 days earlier in sheltered areas in 1992 and 1993, respectively”
Claim · model-written summary
Sheltered plants had greater leaf area and dry matter accumulation.
- Taxon
- muskmelonCucumis meloe0
- Treatment
- sheltered plantse1
- Outcome
- Leaf areas and dry-matter accumulatione1
- Direction
- greatere1
- Comparator
- exposed plantse1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“muskmelon ( Cucumis melo L.)”
e1“Leaf areas and dry-matter accumulation of sheltered plants were greater than those of exposed plants.”
Claim · model-written summary
Sheltered plants had earlier increased shoot relative growth rate and a slight decrease later in the season.
- Taxon
- muskmelonCucumis meloe0
- Outcome
- shoot relative growth ratee1
- Qualifier
- earlier in the growing season, but decreased slightly later in the growing seasone1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“muskmelon ( Cucumis melo L.)”
e1“The shoot relative growth rate of sheltered plants increased earlier in the growing season, but decreased slightly later in the growing season.”
Claim · model-written summary
Earlier development and faster growth were related mainly to lower wind speed and higher daytime air and soil temperatures.
- Taxon
- muskmelonCucumis meloe0
- Outcome
- earlier development and faster growthe1
- Qualifier
- reduction of wind speed, higher total accumulated air temperatures during the daylight hourse1
- Setting
- sheltered arease1
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“muskmelon ( Cucumis melo L.)”
e1“The earlier development and faster growth of sheltered plants were related mainly to the reduction of wind speed, higher total accumulated air temperatures during the daylight hours (sum of daily average daytime air temperatures based on hourly averages), and higher soil temperature in sheltered areas.”
Claim · model-written summary
Total yields did not differ significantly in either year.
- Taxon
- muskmelonCucumis meloe0
- Treatment
- sheltered arease1
- Outcome
- Total yieldse1
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“muskmelon ( Cucumis melo L.)”
e1“Total yields were not affected significantly in either year; however, early yields were significantly greater in sheltered areas in 1993.”
Claim · model-written summary
Early yield was significantly greater in sheltered areas in 1993.
- Taxon
- muskmelonCucumis meloe0
- Treatment
- sheltered arease1
- Outcome
- early yieldse1
- Direction
- greatere1
- Qualifier
- in 1993e1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“muskmelon ( Cucumis melo L.)”
e1“early yields were significantly greater in sheltered areas in 1993”