Sustaining Soil Quality in Intensively Managed High Tunnel Vegetable Production Systems: A Role for Green Manures and Chicken Litter

Abstract

<jats:p>Use of high tunnel crop production is expected to increase to meet the growing demand for locally produced fresh market vegetables. These structures have the potential to offer many production benefits; however, managing soil quality in these structures is challenging and work in the area is limited. In this 3-year study, we compared the impacts of organic and inorganic fertility amendments on soil quality, nutrient availability, and the productivity of chard (<jats:italic>Beta vulgaris</jats:italic> L.) and sweet peppers (<jats:italic>Capsicum annuum</jats:italic> L.) produced in high tunnel and open field systems. Fertility amendments included a green manure treatment [hairy vetch (<jats:italic>Vicia villosa</jats:italic> Roth) and dehydrated alfalfa meal], partially composted and pelletized chicken litter, urea, and an unfertilized control. Chard was grown in 2011, and peppers were grown in 2012 and 2013. Soil nutrients, microbial activity, active carbon, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total soil organic matter, and yield were quantified. Chard yield was lower in the high tunnel compared with the open field in 2011, but pepper yield was greater in the high tunnel in 2012 and 2013. Productivity of chard was lower in the green manure compared with urea in 2011 across high tunnel and open field production systems, but no difference in pepper yield was observed between plants receiving fertility inputs in either 2012 or 2013. Repeated application of green manure and chicken litter resulted in soils with increased microbial activity and active carbon, but the green manure was the only treatment successful at accruing carbon in the high tunnel over time. High tunnel production resulted in greater EC compared with the open field, but levels were not considered inhibitory for chard or peppers. High tunnels can increase vegetable crop productivity in the midwest United States, and organic fertility amendments can improve soil quality as measured by soil microbial activity and active carbon in high tunnel and open field production systems.</jats:p>

Tomato Domestication Attenuated Responsiveness to a Beneficial Soil Microbe for Plant Growth Promotion and Induction of Systemic Resistance to Foliar Pathogens

“…conventional conditions. Unlike in conventional production systems, where plants receive abundant supplies of inorganic fertilizers that are all readily available for plant uptake, plants in organic systems rely on organic fertility sources such as animal and plant residues that must mineralize before nutrients are available to plants (Hoagland et al, 2008;Rudisill et al, 2015;Reeve et al, 2016). Therefore, conducting breeding programs under organic conditions may favor selection for genotypes that are better able to support microbial symbionts like Trichoderma to help obtain nutrients.…”

Changes in the core endophytic mycobiome of carrot taproots in response to crop management and genotype

“…In particular, management practices commonly used in organic and conventional farming systems are well known for their potential to alter many soil properties 89 . For example, organic farmers commonly plant cover crops and apply organic fertility amendments, which increase soil organic matter and serve as the primary food and energy source for soil microbes 89 – 91 . Consequently, as the soil in the organic management system in this study had more active organic matter and a greater abundance of several types of soil microbial biomass including fungi (Table 2 and Fig.…”

Coastal Mudflat Saline Soil Amendment by Dairy Manure and Green Manuring

“…The OC concentrations in mudflat saline soil at all DMA rates were following the increasing trend of tilled total biomass of green manures. Previous studies in cropland showed that tilled green manure increased soil OC concentration [25] and then improved soil aggregation status and decreased the bulk density [9], increased porosity [26], and saturated hydraulic conductivity [27]. Therefore, salinity reduction of mudflat saline soil might be attributed to the fact that OM enrichment by dairy manure combined with green manuring reduced soil bulk density, broke soil capillary, and suppressed salt solution rise through soil capillary [28,29].…”