Articles
RESPONSE OF PROCESSING TOMATOES TO AN ALTERNATIVE PHOSPHATE FERTILISER INCORPORATING COMPOSTED FISH WASTE
Article number
724_25
Pages
203 – 206
Language
English
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for plant growth and is applied extensively to crops, particularly in P deficient soils such as those commonly found in Australia.
A new phosphorus fertiliser, derived from activated rock phosphate composted with fish waste from the seafood industry, has been proposed for agricultural use in Australia.
Such a product has the dual advantages of providing nutrients to agricultural crops as well as utilising waste materials that are otherwise economically and environmentally costly to dispose of.
It also meets requirements for use in organic production systems in New Zealand, and is likely to be accepted for similar applications in Australia and other countries.
Field experiments were conducted over two seasons (2002-04) on a low-P loam soil at Tatura in south-eastern Australia, to examine the effectiveness of this material in comparison with a traditional P fertiliser (Superphosphate) on processing tomatoes (Heinz 9035). The application rate for P was determined from commercial recommendations based on pre-season soil tests, and fruit yields above the industry average were achieved in both seasons.
Results in both seasons also showed that plant growth and yields were similar between the two P treatments, but that treated plots were significantly more productive than the unfertilised control.
Indices of fruit quality for processing (fresh weight per fruit, soluble solids, colour and pH) were largely unaffected by the treatments.
A new phosphorus fertiliser, derived from activated rock phosphate composted with fish waste from the seafood industry, has been proposed for agricultural use in Australia.
Such a product has the dual advantages of providing nutrients to agricultural crops as well as utilising waste materials that are otherwise economically and environmentally costly to dispose of.
It also meets requirements for use in organic production systems in New Zealand, and is likely to be accepted for similar applications in Australia and other countries.
Field experiments were conducted over two seasons (2002-04) on a low-P loam soil at Tatura in south-eastern Australia, to examine the effectiveness of this material in comparison with a traditional P fertiliser (Superphosphate) on processing tomatoes (Heinz 9035). The application rate for P was determined from commercial recommendations based on pre-season soil tests, and fruit yields above the industry average were achieved in both seasons.
Results in both seasons also showed that plant growth and yields were similar between the two P treatments, but that treated plots were significantly more productive than the unfertilised control.
Indices of fruit quality for processing (fresh weight per fruit, soluble solids, colour and pH) were largely unaffected by the treatments.
Authors
W.J. Ashcroft, A. Surapaneni, A.D. Milner
Keywords
nutrition, phosphorus, composted fish waste, yield
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