PLANT BASED ORGANIC FERTILISERS – A VIABLE NUTRIENT SOURCE FOR ORGANIC MARKET GARDENS

Four plant based organic fertilisers were tested on their effect as N supply for two vegetable crops (Raphanus sativus L. and Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.). The fertilisers were made of (1) Castor pomace (Ricinus communis L.) {CP}, (2) crushed seeds of lupin (Lupinus luteus L.) {LSP}, (3) crushed seeds of faba bean (Vicia faba var. minor L.) {FSP} and (4) Phytoperls® (Zea mays L.) {PP}. They were applied in two N-levels: 80 and 140 kg N ha^-1 to radishes (Raphanus sativus L.) and 120 and 240 kg N ha^-1 to white cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) – tested only with fertiliser (1) and (2). An unamended control was included in both trials as reference for the calculation of N efficiency of the tested fertilisers.
Castor pomace and lupin seed pellets resulted in higher fertilising effects towards yield and N uptake than faba bean seed pellets and Phytoperls®; for radishes CP and LSP achieved >30% for level 1, but ~25% for level 2. FSP and PP were less effective and reached ~20% for both levels.
For cabbage >40% were achieved for level 1 and 2. In both cases lupin seed pellets were as efficient as castor pomace.
High levels of mobile N after harvest have to be considered as consequence to the amendment of easily mineralisable plant based organic fertilisers by adequate rotational management.
Lupin seed pellets can be defined as valuable nutrient source for organic horticulture.

International Symposium Towards Ecologically Sound Fertilisation Strategies for Field Vegetable Production

P. von Fragstein und Niemsdorff, T. Müller

organic horticulture, plant based organic fertilisers, radishes, head cabbage, yield, N-uptake, N-efficiency

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2006.700.44