High tunnels have been used in the United States for more than 50 years, and growers are encouraged to use them more frequently through government cost-share programs. Research on fruits and vegetable production systems has focused on high value crops such as tomato, salad greens, and several fruit crops. Maintaining soil quality and controlling insects and diseases are all issues that growers face. This review looks at current research on these issues as well as economic considerations addressed in the scientific literature. Global statistics and reports are also reviewed that complement the North American studies. Gaps in our understanding are identified, and directions for future research are suggested.
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Rudisill, M.A., Bordelon, B.P., Turco, R.F. and Hoagland, L.A. (2015) Sustaining Soil Quality in Intensively Managed High Tunnel Vegetable Production Systems: A Role for Green Manures and Chicken Litter. Hortscience, 50, 461-468.
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Bonanomi, G., D’ascoli, R., Antignani, V., Capodilupo, M., Cozzolino, L., Marazaioli, R., Pupolo, G., Rutigliano, F.A., Scelza, R., Scotti, R., Rao, M.A. and Zoina, A. (2011) Assessing Soil Quality under Intensive Cultivation and Tree Orchards in Southern Italy. Applied Soil Ecology, 47, 187-194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2010.12.007
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Rader, H.B. and Karlsson, M.G. (2006) Northern Field Production of Leaf and Romaine Lettuce Using a High Tunnel. Horttechnology, 16, 649-654.
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Martin, C.A. and Sideman, R.G. (2012) Survival and Yields of Fall-Planted Winter Sprouting Broccoli Grown in High Tunnels for Spring Harvest in the Northeastern United States. Horttechnology, 22, 345-352
Borrelli, K., Koenig, R.T., Jaeckel, B.M. and Miles C.A. (2013) Yield of Leafy Greens in High Tunnel Winter Production in the Northwest United States. Hortscience, 48, 183-188.
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Rowley, D., Black, B. and Drost, D. (2010) High Tunnel Strawberry Production. Utah State University Cooperative Extension, Logan. https://extension.usu.edu/Files/Publications/Publication/Horticulture_Hightunnels_2010-01pr.Pdf
Jett, L.W. (2009) Growing Short Day Strawberries within High Tunnels. West Virginia University Extension, Morgantown. http://anr.ext.wvu.edu/R/Download/52995
Medina, Y., Gosselin, A., Desjardins, Y., Gauthier, L., Harnois, R. and Khanizadeh, S. (2011) Effect of Plastic Mulches on Yield and Fruit Quality of Strawberry Plants Grown under High Tunnels. Acta Hort, 893, 1327-1332 https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2011.893.156
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Thompson, E., Strik, B.C., Finn, C.E., Zhao, Y. and Clark, J.R. (2009) High Tunnel versus Open Field: Management of Primocane-Fruiting Blackberry Using Pruning and Tipping to Increase Yield and Extend the Fruiting Season. Hortscience, 44, 1581-1587.
Hanson, E. (2012) Primocane-Fruiting Blackberry Performance in High Tunnels in Cold Regions. Acta Hort, 946, 397-401 https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2012.946.66
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