ISHS Acta Horticulturae 627: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Toward Ecologically Sound Fertilization Strategies for Field Vegetable Production
BROCCOLI AND CAULIFLOWER RESPONSE TO SUPPLEMENTAL SOIL SULPHUR AND CALCIUM |
| Author: | K.R. Sanderson |
| Keywords: | calcite, potassium sulphate, gypsum, nutrient content, yield |
| Abstract:
In Eastern Canada, both gypsum and limestone have been used to increase yield and quality of certain cole crops such as Brussels sprouts and cabbage. Previous research indicates that gypsum tends to increase marketable yield of Brussels sprouts while calcite and elemental sulphur has little effect. It has also been reported that additions of supplemental sulphur as potassium sulphate or as gypsum are important in the production of locally grown cabbage. The current work examines the effect of sulphur and calcium on yield of broccoli (cv. ‘Premium Crop’) and cauliflower (cv. ‘Andes’) grown at various locations over several consecutive years. Treatments consisted of (1) a control, (2) calcitic limestone (approx. 100% Ca carbonate) at 2,088 kg ha-1, (3) potassium sulfate at 265 kg ha-1, and (4)gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) at 4,000 kg ha-1. For broccoli, treatments containing S increased yield up to 14%, however, yield response was quite variable on the sandy loam to loamy sand soils of Prince Edward Island. Combined over sites, gypsum increased yield by 25% for cauliflower. Calcitic limestone and gypsum tended to increase tissue Ca while gypsum and potassium sulphate increased tissue S. Soil pH was decreased with gypsum and increased with calcite. | |
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