Fertility management of establishing organic blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum L.) in Atlantic Canada
D. Hobson, A. Hammermeister, D. Lynch and K. Pruski
Abstract
To study the effects of fertility rate and timing in Spring (SP + 0 kg ha-1 estimated available N (SP0), SP50, SP100, and SP150, Summer (SU150) and Split (SL50/100 and SL100/50) on vegetative growth and yield of establishing blackcurrants using organic amendments (blend of granulated poultry manure (Nutriwave®), and crabmeal), a factorial trial was established in 2009 on new plantings of cv. Titania (2 yr bare-root) at two sites in PEI. Measurements were collected on plant growth and leaf nutrients (LN) collected at the end of July for 2009 and 2010, and nutrient supply rate (Plant Root Simulator (PRS®) probes) buried at 10cm for two weeks in mid-June 2010, and berry size and soluble sugar content (Brix).
There were no differences in plant growth in the first year of growth. Differences in growth, yield and leaf N were greater at site 1 than site 2. In 2010, plant volume was greatest in SP150, but there were no significant differences between any of the other treatments and the control at site 1, and no differences at site 2. LN N was highest for SL50/100 while SU150 was lowest at site 1 (p=0.043), but site 2 had no differences (p=0.495). Plant available N from PRS® probes was highest in SP150 at site 2, but site 1 showed no significant differences (p=0.296). Yield was reduced for SP0 and SP50 at site 1; however, plants suffered raccoon damage which removed a significant quantity of berries from the bushes. Yield of SL100/50 was greatest in site 2, and lowest in the control. There were no differences in berry size or sugar content across any of the treatments.
In summary, blackcurrants yields but not berry quality increased in response to organic fertility amendments, but nitrogen levels showed little differences across the treatments.
Source
Plant Canada Conference. Saint Mary's University, Halifax, NS. July 17-21, 2011
Author Locations and Affiliations
(1) Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada, Department of Plant and Animal Sciences, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada B2N 5E3
(2) Department of Plant and Animal Sciences, Nova Scotia
Agricultural College, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada B2N 5E3
Posted May 2012