QEnergySpa, BEFE Pumpkin Trial

QEnergySpa, BEFE Pumpkin Trial

Meringandan Pumpkin Trial

Jap Pumpkin Trial

 

Jap Pumpkin Trial Log (Meringandan)

Day 1

 

The trial commenced on the 23^rd October 2003 at Freda Garret’s property at Meringandan in Queensland, Australia.

A fenced area was provided to conduct the trial. The preparation of the seed mounds required the ground to be dug and potting mix applied and mixed in with the soil of each mound.

Prior to the charging session a pH and conductivity test was done on the bore water.

Readings
pH	7.3	Conductivity	1.8mS/cm

8 Jap Pumpkin seeds were placed in a 10 litre container and covered with water.

A 3050 QEnergySpa, BEFE and Orb were used to charge the water for a period of 35 minutes on low setting due to the high conductivity of the bore water.

After the charging session the seed was planted into the mounds with 4 seeds per mound and planted at a depth of 40 mm. After planting, each mound was identified according to the type of water treatment it was to receive.

Each mound was watered with 20 litres of water according to its water rating.

Figure 1 – Fenced area for the trial

Figure 2 – Four (4) mounds prepared for planting

Figure 3 –  Taking pH and Conductivity Readings

Figure 4 – Charging the pumpkin seeds

Figure 5 – Planting out the trial. Latex gloves were                                                                                                     worn to  prevent contact with the seeds.

 

 

 

31^st October 2003

Trial pumpkins monitored and it was observed that seeds in the groups had emerged.

Only one seed had struck in the uncharged seed and charged water group.

Each group was watered according to its treatment.

Readings of pH 7.8 and Conductivity of 1.8 mS/cm were recorded after the water had been charged.

 

 

 

 18^th December 2003

Uncharged seed, charged water	Charged seed, charged water

 

Charged seed, uncharged water	Uncharged seed, uncharged water

 

27^th February 2004

 

Charged Seed Charged Water

7 fruit in the first fruiting, average 2 1/2kg

Largest area covered by plant

A lot of fruit in second fruiting being formed

 

Uncharged Seed Charged Water

First to form Fruit

1 fruit in first fruiting 3kg

Second fruiting already evident 1kg

 

Charged Seed Uncharged Water

Slow to form pumpkins

3 fruit in first fruiting 2kg

Second fruiting just evident

 

Uncharged seed Uncharged Water

Very late to form fruit

First fruiting 3 pumpkins

Second fruiting 2 pumpkins

Not much time between fruiting

 

5^th March 2004

(A)     Uncharged seed and uncharged water.

Brix leaf reading   2

Weight   # 1 – already picked

               # 2 – 1.5 kgs

               # 3 – 2.7 kgs

               # 4 – 2.6 kgs

Measurement (diameter)   # 1 – already picked

# 2 – 190 mm

                                         # 3 –  200 mm

                                          # 4 – 200 mm

 

#1

#2

#3

#4

 

(B)     Uncharged water charged seed

Brix leaf reading   3.4

Weight   # 1 – 4.2 kgs

               # 2 –  3.4 kgs

               # 3 – 3.9 kgs

Measurement (diameter)     # 1 – 245 mm

                                                        # 2 – 220 mm

                                                        # 3 – 235 mm

 

Left # 1   Right # 3

 

#2

 

(C)    Uncharged seed charged water

Brix leaf reading  4

Weight    # 1 – 4.8 kgs

               # 2 – 3.2 kgs

               # 3 – 2.5 kgs

Measurement (diameter)  # 1 – 245 mm

                                                    #  2 – 210 mm

                                                   # 3 –  220 mm

 

 

#1

 

#2

 

#3

 

(D)     Charged seed charged water

Brix leaf reading  4.4

Weight    # 1 – 4 kgs

               # 2 – 3.2 kgs

               # 3 – already picked

               # 4 – 2.1 kgs

               # 5 – already picked

               # 6 – 2.3 kgs

Measurement (diameter)       # 1 – 230 mm

                                                # 2 – 230 mm

                                                # 3 – already picked

                                                # 4 – 190 mm

                                                # 5 – already picked

                                                # 6 – 210mm

 

#1

 

#2

 

#4

 

#6

 

 

19.03.2004 – Brix test readings and conductivity
Group A – uncharged seed, uncharged water	6.8 flesh	sap 16.5	9.4 mS/cm
Group B – charged seed, uncharged water	5 flesh	sap 10.3	8.1 mS/cm
Group C – uncharged seed, charged water	5.6 flesh	sap 8	6.9 mS/cm
Group D – charged seed, charged water	6.8 flesh	sap 13	6.8 mS/cm
Comparing each of the pumpkins, the riper the pumpkin the darker the colour of the flesh and the higher the brix level.

 

 

 

 

19.03.04 A Sample from each of the trial pumpkins was taken, cooked and mashed for a taste test. Each taster was asked to rank the pumpkins in order of sweetness and texture. The following is the majority preference (1 being the most preferred).
(A)	Uncharged seed, Uncharged water	3
(B)	Charged seed, Uncharged water	5
(C)	Uncharged seed, Charged water	4
(C2)	Uncharged seed, Charged water	2
(D)	Charged seed, Charged water	1
Pumpkins B, C & A were not quite mature.
Pumpkins C2 & D were ripe.
Pumpkin C2 was extra to the trial.

 

Note the colour difference between the pumpkins