Articles
Effect of compost source and rate on tomato yield and Verticillium dahliae soil load
Article number
1378_40
Pages
303 – 308
Language
English
Abstract
A field experiment was carried out in the central coast of California to assess the effect of three types of compost applied at two different rates on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). The clay-loamy field had been under organic management for 15 years with 3.5% organic matter content.
The composts were prepared using dairy/horse manure, olive pomace, or grape pomace.
The rates applied were 25 or 50 Mg ha‑1 applied and mixed into the topsoil on April 5, two weeks before planting.
An unamended control treatment was used as a check.
Soil samples were taken before and after compost application and cultured on NP-10 selective media to determine the number of Verticillium dahlia colony forming units g‑1 of soil.
There was no significant effect of the compost treatments on soil V. dahlia loads, although the compost treatments (except dairy) tended to reduce this load during the summer months (June-September) compared to the control.
Compost sources or levels did not affect leaf SPAD absorbance or tomato fresh yield.
However, some compost treatments tended to reduce yields, especially with the 50 Mg ha‑1 grape pomace treatment which reduced the yield by 39% compared to the control.
The composts were prepared using dairy/horse manure, olive pomace, or grape pomace.
The rates applied were 25 or 50 Mg ha‑1 applied and mixed into the topsoil on April 5, two weeks before planting.
An unamended control treatment was used as a check.
Soil samples were taken before and after compost application and cultured on NP-10 selective media to determine the number of Verticillium dahlia colony forming units g‑1 of soil.
There was no significant effect of the compost treatments on soil V. dahlia loads, although the compost treatments (except dairy) tended to reduce this load during the summer months (June-September) compared to the control.
Compost sources or levels did not affect leaf SPAD absorbance or tomato fresh yield.
However, some compost treatments tended to reduce yields, especially with the 50 Mg ha‑1 grape pomace treatment which reduced the yield by 39% compared to the control.
Authors
A.M. Tubeileh, J. Hallmark
Keywords
manure compost, grape pomace compost, olive pomace compost, organic pest management, vegetable production, soil-borne disease management
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