ISHS Acta Horticulturae 517: XXV International Horticultural Congress, Part 7: Quality of Horticultural Products
COMPOSTED YARD WASTE IMPROVES STRAWBERRY SOIL QUALITY AND SOIL WATER RELATIONS |
| Authors: | R. C. Funt, P. Bierman |
| Keywords: | Fragaria ananassa, Compost, Soil quality, Soil water, strawberry |
| Abstract:
Earliglow (cv.) strawberry Fragaria ananassa; plants were planted in a matted row system and harvested for three years (yrs). Composted yard waste (CYW) was obtained in May 1994 from a facility near Columbus, Ohio, USA. A field previously planted to strawberries was selected near The Ohio State University campus in Columbus. Main treatments were fumigated methyl bromide (MeBr) and non fumigated with sub plots of: 1) control - no CYW 2) CYW on the soil surface 3) CYW incorporated 10 cm into the soil and 4) CYW - incorporated 10 cm into the soil and surface applied. All compost amounts were placed in a band 2.5 cm deep and 30 cm wide. Measurement of soil physical properties 3 yr. after CYW application indicated that CYW improved soil structure. All CYW treatments significantly decreased soil bulk density. The CYW incorporated decreased the percentage water-filled soil pore space and therefore increased aeration. Surface applied CYW increased soil respiration, indicating increased biological activity. Both the surface and subsurface applied CYW increased soil water holding capacity and speed of water infiltration. Fumigation increased the number of plants per plot. Non fumigated CYW plants had more multiple crowns than fumigated but this difference was not significant. | |
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