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Title: EFFECT OF SOIL AMENDMENTS ON YIELD OF FRESH-MARKET TOMATO PRODUCTION

Author
item Carrera, Lidia
item Abdul Baki, Aref
item Sikora, Lawrence
item Buyer, Jeffrey
item Teasdale, John

Submitted to: Horticultural International Congress Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/22/2001
Publication Date: 8/1/2002
Citation: Carrera, L.M., Abdul Baki, A.A., Sikora, L.J., Buyer, J.S., Teasdale, J.R. 2002. Effect of soil amendments on yield of fresh-market tomato production. XXVI International Horticultural Congress & Exhibition Proceedings (ICH2002). p. 282.

Interpretive Summary: .

Technical Abstract: Utilization of poultry manure compost and poultry manure as alternatives to synthetic N source for tomato (< italic Lycopersicon esculentum >Mill.) production, and as amendments to improve soil structure was investigated. A randomized block design experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD, and consisted of seven treatments: hairy vetch (Roth.) mulch, conventional plastic mulch (PM), three levels of poultry manure compost (5, 10, 20 ton/ha) with PM, and two levels of poultry manure (2.5, and 5 ton/ha) with PM. Rates of N mineralization from compost and manure were determined prior to field application, and adjusted optimum levels of N were attained by adding NHNO at time intervals commensurate with plant growth. Tissue N analysis was performed during the growing season and showed adequate N levels in plant tissues. Highest yields were produced in soil amended with poultry manure at 5 t/ha (52.2 ton/ha), hairy vetch at 8 t dry matter/ha (48.8 ton/ha), and soil amended with poultry manure compost at 20 t/ha (48.3 t/ha). Fruit size was significantly smaller in the hairy vetch mulch and medium level poultry manure compost treatments than in all other treatments. The highest levels of poultry manure and poultry manure compost resulted in yields similar to that in hairy vetch mulch. This research suggested that the addition of farm by-products such as poultry manure compost or manure that are available in most farming areas can efficiently provide part of the N requirement for tomato production.