EFFECTS OF COVER CROPS, COMPOST AND MANURE AMENDMENTS ON YIELD OF FRESH-MARKET TOMATO

Authors: Carrera, Lidia; Abdul Baki, Aref; Sikora, Lawrence; Buyer, Jeffrey; Teasdale, John

Submitted to: Horticultural International Congress Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/11/2002
Publication Date: 8/1/2002
Citation: CARRERA, L.M., ABDUL BAKI, A.A., SIKORA, L.J., BUYER, J.S., TEASDALE, J.R. EFFECTS OF COVER CROPS, COMPOST AND MANURE AMENDMENTS ON YIELD OF FRESH-MARKET TOMATO. HORTICULTURAL INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS PROCEEDINGS. 2002. P. 282.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Alternative tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) production systems that improve soil structure and reduce the use of synthetic N were investigated using poultry manure compost, poultry manure and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) cover crop. A randomized block design experiment was used and consisted of seven treatments: hairy vetch mulch (HV), conventional plastic mulch (PM), three levels of poultry manure compost (5, 10, 20 ton/ha - low, medium and high) with PM, two levels of poultry manure (2.5, and 5 ton/ha low and high) with PM and a mixture of HV plus compost (10 ton/ha) was included in the last year. Rates of N mineralization from compost and manure were determined prior to field application, and adjusted optimum levels of N were attained by adding NHNO at time intervals commensurate with plant growth. Tissue N analysis was performed during the growing season and showed adequate N levels in plant tissues. In the first year highest tomato yields were produced in soil amended with poultry manure at high level (52.2 ton marketable fruit/ha), hairy vetch at 8 t dry matter/ha (48.8 ton/ha), and soil amended with poultry compost at high level (48.3 t/ha). In the second year, highest yields were obtained in soil amended with the mixture of hairy vetch and poultry compost (57.8 ton/ha) and the poultry compost at high level (50.9 ton/ha). Fruit size was significantly smaller in the hairy vetch mulch and medium level poultry manure compost treatments than in all other treatments in the first year, but no significant difference in fruit size was found in the second year. Results indicated that a combination of cover crops with compost or compost alone can improve tomato yields and may also be beneficial to soil quality.