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Compost can successfully replace mineral fertilizers in the nutrient management of commercial peach orchard
Author(s) -
Baldi E.,
Toselli M.,
Marcolini G.,
Quartieri M.,
Cirillo E.,
Innocenti A.,
Marangoni B.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
soil use and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.709
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1475-2743
pISSN - 0266-0032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-2743.2010.00286.x
Subject(s) - compost , orchard , sowing , phosphorus , chemistry , fertilizer , agronomy , manure , nutrient , horticulture , dry weight , zoology , human fertilization , biology , organic chemistry
The objective of this experiment was to evaluate in the long‐term (9 years), the suitability of compost as a fertilizer in commercial peach orchard. The experiment was carried out on nectarine trees ( Prunus persica var . nectarina ), Stark RedGold grafted on GF677 peach × almond ( P. amygdalus L.) hybrid. The treatments were: (1) unfertilized control; (2) mineral fertilization including phosphorus (P at 100 kg/ha) and potassium (K at 200 kg/ha) applied at planting and nitrogen (N at 70–130 kg/ha/yr) split in two applications at 40 days after full bloom (60%) and in September (40%); (3) cow manure supplied at planting [10 t dry weight (dw)/ha] and then, from the forth year at the rate of 5 t dw/ha/yr in spring; (4) compost supplied at planting (10 t dw/ha) and then, from the forth year at the rate of 5 t dw/ha/yr in spring; (5) compost supply at a rate of 5 t dw/ha/yr, and (6) 10 t dw/ha/yr, both treatment 5 and 6 split as described for treatment 2. Nitrate‐N soil concentration was usually not affected by treatments. Soil microbial carbon, organic matter, total N, P, K were increased by application of organic fertilizers. SOM and total N were positively correlated to soil microbial biomass. Aggregate stability, humic and fulvic acid concentration were not affected by fertilization treatment. Only the application of compost at 10 t dw/ha/yr (6) increased fruit production.