Final Report for FNE00-320
Project Information
Note to readers, attached is a complete final report for FNE00-320.
Overall, there were a few differences in growth, color, size, saleability, etc., in all of the groups. The fertilized groups showed slight improvements over controls. Perhaps the most important difference was in the cost of the fertilizers, $15/50lbs or natural/organic vs. $63/50lbs of controlled release fertilizer. In addition, compost based systems, such as ours, have shown that they can perform as well as more conventional systems.
Our farm has been 'certified organic' for a number of years and we still feel this is the best way for us to go in the future. As regulations and nutrient management requirements hit production nurseries, large and small, we feel that we will be well positioned to meet or exceed those requirements.
Copies of our research results as published are enclosed. Other groups, including NOFA-NJ, and PASA also published the results of out research in 2000. In addition an article is to be published in the 5/15/01 issue of American Nurseryman on this same topic.