Articles
EFFICIENCY OF PLUG SOIL-BINDING METHOD IN ORGANIC ONION PRODUCTION
Article number
969_19
Pages
149 – 152
Language
English
Abstract
The use of non-permitted materials in organic onion production is restricted by The Organic Japanese Agricultural Standard System (the Organic JAS). Onion production in Hokkaido depends on seedling plugs manufactured by farmers and a high-speed automatic transplanting system.
Plug soil must be solidified in order to withstand the mechanical stress induced during transplantation; therefore, plug soil should be firmly bound with synthetic resin or another binding agent.
Because the use of existing synthetic resins is prohibited in 2012, we needed to investigate the efficiency of different organic binding materials using the process recommended by the Organic JAS and their usefulness in organic onion production.
Therefore, we designed some laboratory tests to identify potential organic binders and conducted actual binding tests in the onion nurseries and mechanical transplantation tests in onion fields in cooperation with organic farmers.
Plugs were bound by spraying 0.5% sodium alginate solution (one liter per cell tray), after this, they were dried without water for about 8 days.
For at least 6 days after spraying, the plugs were not watered to ensure that they became firm by drying.
Mechanical transplanting could then be accomplished successfully.
Plug soil must be solidified in order to withstand the mechanical stress induced during transplantation; therefore, plug soil should be firmly bound with synthetic resin or another binding agent.
Because the use of existing synthetic resins is prohibited in 2012, we needed to investigate the efficiency of different organic binding materials using the process recommended by the Organic JAS and their usefulness in organic onion production.
Therefore, we designed some laboratory tests to identify potential organic binders and conducted actual binding tests in the onion nurseries and mechanical transplantation tests in onion fields in cooperation with organic farmers.
Plugs were bound by spraying 0.5% sodium alginate solution (one liter per cell tray), after this, they were dried without water for about 8 days.
For at least 6 days after spraying, the plugs were not watered to ensure that they became firm by drying.
Mechanical transplanting could then be accomplished successfully.
Publication
Authors
E. Fukukawa, S. Tanaka, Y. Kimura, D. Yanagida
Keywords
organic JAS, transplanting, sodium alginate, pectin, pregelatinized starch
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