Education:

• PhD., Horticulture, University of Maryland, 1974

• M.S., Horticulture, West Virginia University, 1969
• B.S., Biology, Alliance College, 1967

Educational Programs:

Resident Instruction

• Hort 433: Vegetable Production (3 credits)

Extension Programs

Integrated Crop Management Systems for Vegetables and Berries - Program Leader

1. Environmental Modification
2. Weed Management

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.
• Weed Management - use of cultural, chemical, and biological techniques for the control of supression of weeds in vegetable crops.

Recent Publications:

• 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.