Application Methods of Organic Poultry Feather Meal to Flue‐Cured Tobacco

Abstract

Optimal application methods of organic poultry feather meal for flue-cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) production are unknown. Research was conducted in 2012 and 2013 to quantify the effects of two poultry feather meal sources, 13-0-0 Nature Safe and 12-1-0 Nutrimax, applied using three different methods: 100% broadcast before transplanting, 50% broadcast before transplanting + 50% sidedress, 10 d after transplanting, and 100% sidedress 10 d after transplanting. A conventional N treatment comprised of 28% liquid urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) was split-applied 10 d after transplanting and at layby. Leaf yield was similar between each individual organic N treatment and UAN. Nature Safe applied 100% sidedress resulted in leaf N concentration and cured leaf quality similar to UAN. In the absence of the UAN treatment, application method typically had a greater impact on measurements than feather meal source. Leaf N concentration was generally increased with the 100% sidedress application, most likely due to closer nutrient proximity relative to roots. Increased N assimilation from 100% sidedress treatments also produced a slightly darker leaf color as quantified by Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) measurements and a higher total alkaloid concentration in cured leaves. Leaf yield was similar among application methods in 2012, but was highest in the 100% sidedress treatment in 2013 due to high early season rainfall. Results from this study demonstrate the effectiveness of both feather meal sources and that 100% sidedress applications may prove ideal under a range of environmental conditions commonly encountered in North Carolina.

Winter cover crop management in the production of organic flue‐cured tobacco

“…As documented in other organic tobacco production research, there is considerable risk of late ripening and maturation in the tobacco product in low moisture environments (Bennett et al, 2018). While the use of a cover crop does not ameliorate this concern, in the comparison of a typical N regimes under organic N management to cover crop alternatives, this study found evidence indicating the capacity for incorporation of cover cropping into flue-cured tobacco systems without compromising the quality of the cured leaf.…”

“…Conventional practices were utilized to examine a specific organic management practice: the incorporation of leguminous cover crops. Other studies have used similar methodology to explore questions where measurements of completely organic production were not the goal Bennett et al, 2018).…”

“…Conventional practices were utilized to examine a specific organic management practice. Other studies have used a similar strategy to explore a subset of organic management objectives, while conventionally controlling for other variables (Bennett et al., 2018; Vann et al., 2017).…”

“…Research in organic tobacco fertilizer has demonstrated the potential for organic fertilizer products to produce yields and quality on par with conventional methodology, but these studies have also shown variability in chemical characteristics of the cured leaf attributed to environmental conditions (Bennett et al., 2018; Vann et al., 2017). Despite the high cost, these fertilizers still remain dependent on environmental factors, and the potential for a slow release and prolonged mineralization due to unfavorable climatic conditions (such as drought), poses difficulties in applying precise amounts of PAN, regardless of up‐front investment.…”

Effect of feather compost on soil chemical indicators in CCN-51 cocoa plantation (Theobroma cacao L.)

“…Currently, pen_based compost (FC) is not applied or produced; however, research notes that feather-based compost is a bio-bone with excellent characteristics for its high content of organic matter and nitrogen (Florida and Reategui, 2019) and that it shows great potential to be used in agriculture (Florida, 2019), particularly in crops that require low but constant amounts of nitrogen, as evidenced in organic tobacco (Bennett et al, 2018;Vann et al, 2017) and cocoa that responds negatively to excess fertilization (Puentes et al, 2014) could show positive results regarding the application of this bio-fertilize.…”