Articles
Do higher fertilization doses guarantee higher vegetable yield?
Article number
1416_21
Pages
157 – 164
Language
English
Abstract
Currently in regards to Green Deal policy, the main challenge in vegetable cultivation is to ensure high yield and quality using sustainable farming methods.
Appropriate use of fertilizers in vegetable growing reduces production costs simultaneously increasing the nutrient content available in the soil to a level that optimally ensures plant growth and development.
Thus, appropriate fertilizers doses and the use of green manure should be promoted in vegetable cultivation.
To address the aforementioned challenges, in 2021, a study on vegetable fertilization efficiency was started in the frame of the project Optimizing the fertilization of more widely grown field vegetables in Latvia to ensure sustainable growing technologies financed by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Latvian Republic.
The field trials were established in LatHort and in 10 farms widely spaced throughout Latvia, representing both integrated and organic growing systems.
The four most widely grown field vegetables are included in the trials: cabbage, carrot, onion and red beet.
The agrochemical nutrients content of soil and plants was determined, yield and plant biomass were measured in order to calculate nutrient balances.
The amount of applied fertilizers was registered in order to calculate nutrient balance.
The results obtained until now show the huge influence of soil and meteorological conditions of particular year on the yield outcome and nutrient balance.
However, in many cases, no clear positive correlation is observed between the amount of fertilizers applied and yield outcome.
Trials have continued to come up with clear recommendations for sustainable fertilization strategies for field vegetable production in agro-ecological conditions of Latvia.
Appropriate use of fertilizers in vegetable growing reduces production costs simultaneously increasing the nutrient content available in the soil to a level that optimally ensures plant growth and development.
Thus, appropriate fertilizers doses and the use of green manure should be promoted in vegetable cultivation.
To address the aforementioned challenges, in 2021, a study on vegetable fertilization efficiency was started in the frame of the project Optimizing the fertilization of more widely grown field vegetables in Latvia to ensure sustainable growing technologies financed by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Latvian Republic.
The field trials were established in LatHort and in 10 farms widely spaced throughout Latvia, representing both integrated and organic growing systems.
The four most widely grown field vegetables are included in the trials: cabbage, carrot, onion and red beet.
The agrochemical nutrients content of soil and plants was determined, yield and plant biomass were measured in order to calculate nutrient balances.
The amount of applied fertilizers was registered in order to calculate nutrient balance.
The results obtained until now show the huge influence of soil and meteorological conditions of particular year on the yield outcome and nutrient balance.
However, in many cases, no clear positive correlation is observed between the amount of fertilizers applied and yield outcome.
Trials have continued to come up with clear recommendations for sustainable fertilization strategies for field vegetable production in agro-ecological conditions of Latvia.
Publication
Authors
L. Lepse, S. Zeipiņa, M. Gailīte
Keywords
cabbage, carrot, onion, red beet, sustainable, integrated growing
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