Michael Orzolek, Ph.D.

Michael Orzolek, Ph.D.

  • Professor Emeritus of Vegetable Crops

Education

  • PhD., Horticulture, University of Maryland, 1974
  • M.S., Horticulture, West Virginia University, 1969
  • B.S., Biology, Alliance College, 1967

Resident Instruction

  • Hort 433: Vegetable Production (3 credits)

Extension Programs

Integrated Crop Management Systems for Vegetables and Berries - Program Leader

  1. Environmental Modification
  2. Specialty crop and germplasm evaluation

Research Interests:

  • Environmental modification - use of High Tunnels, plastic mulches, row covers and drip irrigation on the growth and yield of vegetable/horticultural crops.
  • Culture and Management - effects of cultural techniques and management systems on growth, development and yield of vegetable crops.
  • Specialty crop and germplasm evaluation related to production, marketing and utilization.

Recent Publications:

  • Sanchez, E., W. J. Lamont, Jr. and M. D. Orzolek. 2008. Newspaper Mulches for Suppressing Weeds for Organic High Tunnel Cucumber Production. HortTechnoilogy. 18(1):154-157.
  • Tanaka, M., Robert Snyder, John K. Boateng, William J. Lamont, Michael D. Orzolek, Kathleen M. Brown, and Jonathan P. Lynch. 2006. Utility of Alumina-buffered Phosphorus Fertilizer for Vegetable Production. HORTSCIENCE 41(3):775-779. 2006.
  • Orzolek, M.D., W.J. Lamont, and L. White. 2004. Promising Horticultural Crops for Production in High Tunnels in the Mid-Atlantic Area of the United States. Acta Hort. (ISHS) 633:453-458
  • Orzolek, M. D.. 2004. Crop Establishment Options Machinery, and Spacings for Plasticulture. Chapter in NRAES-133 Publication “Production of Vegetables, Strawberries and Cut Flowers Using Plasticulture. P. 67-74.
  • Orzolek, M. D. 2003. Plasticulture in North America. Plasticulture (4) 122:33-47.
    Rangarajan, A, B. A. Ingall, M. D. Orzolek and L. Otjen. 2003. Moderate defoliation and plant population losses did not reduce yield or quality of Butternut squash. HortTechnology. 13(3):463-468.
  • Lamont, W. J., M. D. Orzolek, E. J. Holcomb, K. Demchak, E. Burkhart, L. White and B. Dye. 2003. Production system for horticultural crops grown in the Penn State High Tunnel. HortTechnology. 13(2):358-362.
  • Orzolek, M. D., W. J. Lamont and L. White. 2003. Production of Alliums in high tunnels. Proc. Nat. Ag. Plastics Cong. 31:83-86.
  • Garthe, J. W., B. G. Miller, R. S. Wasco, W. J. Lamont and M. D. Orzolek. 2003. Used Agricultural plastic as a coal fuel supplement. Proc. Nat. Ag. Plastics Cong. 31:53-57.
  • Demchak, K., W. J. Lamont, M. D. Orzolek and L. White. 2003. High tunnel bramble production. Proc. Nat. Ag. Plastics Cong. 31:68-72.
  • Orzolek, M. D., W. L. Lamont and L. Otjen. 2002. 1998 Ornamental Corn Trial in Pennsylvania. HortTechnology. In press.
  • Lamont, W. J., M. R. McGann, M. D. Orzolek, N. Mbugua, B Dye and D. Reese. 2002 Design and Construction of the Penn State High Tunnel. HortTechnology. In press.
  • Espenshade, W. R., W. S. Curran, G. W. Roth, N. L. Hartwig and M. D. Orzolek. 2001. Effect of row spacing, and herbicides on burcucumber (Sicyos angulatus) the emergence and control of in soybean (Glycine max). Weed technology. (In press).
  • Espenshade, W. R., W. S. Curran, G. W. Roth, N. L. Hartwig and M. D. Orzolek. 2001. Effect of tillage, row spacing, and herbicides on burcucumber (Sicyos angulatus) control herbicide resistant corn (Zea mays). Weed technology. (In press).
  • Espenshade, W. R., W. S. Curran, G. W. Roth, N. L. Hartwig and M. D. Orzolek. 2001. Effect of burcucumber (Sicyos angulatus) establishment date and crop competition on burcucumber fecundity. Weed Sci. (In press).
  • Orzolek, M. D., L. Otjen and J. E. Fleck. 2000. Update: Effect of colored mulch on pepper and tomato production. Proc. Internat. And Nat. Ag. Plastics Cong. 29:321-329.
  • Orzolek, M. D., W. J. Lamont, Jr. and G. Cowell. 2000. Early sweet corn production using the X-Tend system. Proc. Internat. And Nat. Ag. Plastics Cong. 29:568-574.
  • Lamont, W. J., M. D. Orzolek, L. Otjen and T. Simpson. 2000. Production of potatoes using plasticulture. Proc. Internat. And Nat. Ag. Plastics Cong. 29:597-602.
  • Leib, B. G., A. R. Jarrett, M. D. Orzolek and R. O. Mumma. 2000. Drip chemigation of Imidacloprid under plastic mulch increased yield and decreased leaching caused by rainfall. Transactions of ASAE. 43(3);615-622.
  • Orzolek, M. D., W. J. Lamont, Jr., and L. Otjen. 2000. 1997 Spring and Fall Cabbage Cultivar Trials in Pennsylvania. HortTechnology. 10(1):218-221.
  • Messersmith, D. T., W. S. Curran, G. W. Roth, N. L. Hartwig, and M. D. Orzolek. 2000. Tillage and herbicides affect burcucumber management in corn. Agronomy Journal. 92:181-185.
  • Messersmith, D. T., W. S. Curran, N. L. Hartwig, M. D. Orzolek and G. W. Roth. 1999. Evaluation of several herbicides for burcucumber (Sicyos angulatus) control in corn (Zea mays). Weed Technology. 13:520-524.
  • Fleischer, S. J., M. D. Orzolek, D. DeMackiewicz, and L. Otjen. 1998. Imidacloprid effects on Acalymma vittata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and bacterial wilt in cantaloupe. J. Economic Entomology. 91(4):940-949.
  • Orzolek, M. D., W. J. Lamont and L. Otjen. 1998. Day-neutral strawberry production on colored mulch? Proc. Nat. Ag. Plastics Cong. 27:199-202.
  • Ciardi, J. A., C. V. Vavrina and M. D. Orzolek. 1998. Evaluation of transplant production methods for improvingtomato plant establishment and yield. HortScience. 33(2)229-232.
  • Ciardi, J. A., J. Deikman and M. D. Orzolek. 1997. Increased ethylene synthesis enhances chilling tolerance development in tomato. Physiologia Plantarum. 101:333-340.
  • Orzolek, M. D. 1996. Stand establishment in plasticulture systems. HortTechnology 6(3):181-185.
  • Orzolek, M.D. 1996. Stand establishment in plasticulture systems. Hortechnology 6(3):181-185.
  • Orzolek, M.D., S.J. Fleischer, and L. Otjen. 1996. Interaction of mulch color and 'Adios' on cucumber beetle populations and cantaloupe production. Proc. Nat. Ag. Plastics Congress 26:173-179.
  • Orzolek, M.D. and L. Otjen. 1996. Is there a difference in red mulch? Proc. Nat. Ag Plastics Congress 26:164-171.
  • Kotch, R. S., J. H. Murphy, M. D. Orzolek, and P. A Ferretti. 1995. Factors affecting the production of baby corn, Zea mays. J. of Vegetable Crop Production. 1(1):19-28.
  • Orzolek, M. D. 1994. Update on hydrophyllic polymers: current uses and trends. Proc. Nat. Ag. Plastics Cong. 25:1-6.
  • Vavrina, C. S. and M. D. Orzolek. 1993. Tomato transplant age: a review. HortTechnology. 3(3):313-316.
  • Orzolek, M. D. amd J. H. Murphy. 1993. The effect of colored polyethylene mulch on the yield of squash and pepper. Proc. Nat. Ag. Plastics Cong. 24:157-161.
  • Orzolek, M. D. 1993. Use of hydrophyllic polymers in horticulture. HortTechnology. 3(1):41-44.
  • Smith, C. B., K. T. Demchak, P. A. Ferretti and M. D. Orzolek. 1992. Plant density as related to fertilizer needs for processing and fresh market tomatoes. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 23(13&14):1439-1449.
  • Orzolek, M. D. 1991. Stand establishment of vegetables in the field. HortTechnology. 1(1):78-81.
  • Orzolek, M. D. 1991. Reduction of nitrogen requirement for vegetable production with polymers. Proc. Nat. Ag. Plastics Cong. 23:204-210.
  • Parts of Books
  • Horticulture: Principles and Practices 4th edition by George Acquaah, published by Prentice Hall, 2009.  Chapter 20: Plasticulture in North America - pages 614-626.