Optimum compost application for raised bed organic vegetables

Abstract

The yield of organically grown raised bed vegetables was measured against four compost rates to determine the optimum compost application rates. Organic poultry mortality compost was applied at rates of 0, 10.7, 32.2, and 53.7 Mg/ha.  Compost treatments were fall applied for two consecutive years in three cropping blocks and fall seeded with a winter rye, Secale cereale/hairy vetch, Vicia villosa/crimson clover, Trifolium incarnatum/cover crop. In 2008, squash [capsicum pepo], tomatoes [Lycopersicon esculentum], and bell peppers [capsicum annum] were planted and rotated in 2009 with cabbage [brassica oleracea], onion [Allium cepa], bush green beans [phaseolus vulgaris] and beets [Beta vulgaris] Vegetable yield, soil properties, and crop and cover crop biomass were significantly and positively corrrelated to compost rrate for both years. The highest rate [53.7 Mg/ha] rates. Compost was also spring applied in one cropping block to text for differrences in season of application. In 2008, tomatoes and, in 2009, sweet corn [Zea mays] were planted two weeks after compost application. The lower compost rate showed higher yield for 2008, and the medium compost rate showed higher for 2009. The optimum soil management practice in this study was the fall-applied compost between the low-to-medium application rrate, and approximately 20 Mg/ha, with fall-seeded winter cover crop.